Fitted Up Like Kippers

View from Rialto Towers

It's time for a bit more activity today so we walk into town and head for the Rialto Towers to get a bit of perspective on the city.
Although at 253m high it's only Melbourne's second highest building, the thought of the glass floor in the Eureka Skydeck is just a bit much before breakfast.

Romantic Architecture

We wander for a bit deciding what we want for breakfast. Melbourne is just a top notch city for eating in, there's thousands of restaurants, cafes, bars and every type of cuisine you can think of.
But in this instance the outdoor crepe bar wins, a decision which is helped along by the fact that they're playing Manu Chao on their stereo.

After brekkie we spend a good few hours wandering around the city and hopping on and off of the tram.

Then we decide to go to jail.

Initially we just want to wander round Melbourne's old Gaol at our own pace, but the guide suggests that we take the 'tour'. And although a bit wary, we do.
From the moment that the Sergeant opens the Gaol Doors, brings you in one at a time and gives you a charge sheet, you start to get an impression of what life was really like in this place when it was active.
The role playing element is very lightly used, but the tour guide is an actual police officer who plays his part pretty convincingly.

We all knew it would happen sooner or later

We are filed into the charge room, spared the cavity search, then marched into the jail where our hands and feet are checked for contraband. We are then taken into an actual cell and locked in darkness for 3 minutes.
Even though there are about 8 of us in a cell it's still quite an eery experience with an audio background of deranged mumblings and threatening jibes.

Happiness is a padded cell

When you gotta go.....

It may not sound like it, but this was a lot of fun, and a better experience than just wandering around a disused building.

After we are freed we then wander round the older Gaol which was where Ned Kelly was hung (hanged?).

Then down to the beer cafe at Federation Square.

We're hungry from jail so it's down to the South Bank of the Yarra and some Turkish tapas (meze) at Kouzina.