Downunder in Australia...a second summer: Vires Acquirit Eundo, or Little Miss Muffet

Vires Aquirit Eundo, or she gathers strength as she goes is the motto of Melbourne as presented on the city's coat of arms. The shield, with a cross of St. George, has a sheep, a spouting whale, a cow, and a sailing ship in the four quadrants of the shield, with a kangaroo on top. We've seen several of these symbols of Melbourne; this one is on the Princes Bridge (1888) which crosses the Yarra River.

Melbourne City Coat of Arms

A quick trip into the city on Saturday to catch an exhibit at the Australian Center for Contemporary Art and to have lunch at the Queen Victoria Market. First stop was the Turkish food stall to buy a lamb and a potato Borek. The meat or potatoes are wrapped in a thin dough bread and baked...very tasty and filling at only $3 each. The Queen Victoria Market, built in 1878, is not only the biggest market in Melbourne, it's the biggest open air market in the Southern Hemisphere. The Vic Market has deli shops selling all manner of cheeses, salamies, breads, olives, and other condiments, as well as fresh fruits and vegetables. There's even a shop selling curds and whey (spiders excluded).

Shop in the Vic Market selling cheese, curds, and whey

Borek--flashback to the Ottoman Empire

We took a tram back to Flinders Station for our train ride back to Mooroolbark, passing the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT)....an example of modern archicture in Melbourne.

RMIT

Saturday evening was sister-in-law Sin Ling's night...her birthday. Several of the relos went out to a fine restaurant called Plantinum...with dishes ranging from duck confit, steaks, swordfish, and of course, lamb. Add, along with a bottle of Mornington Peninsula Pinot Noir, all was good.

Sin Yi, Ma, and Sin Ling at the restaurant celebrating Sin Ling's birthday