Summer in the city

Today's adventures began after a quick dip in the pool. Popps drove us to a place called Box Hill where we were able to catch a tram to our lunch appointment in Kew. Trams are quite peculiar. They look like trains and are electric but they travel down the centre of ordinary roads, just like cars, and in order to get on or off them you have to walk out in front of (stopped) traffic, in the road. Epic. Here is one for you to see. This is the 109, the very one we travelled on:

We had lunch at Emma and Damien's lovely home. Emma is a friend of Josh and Nush, they met when they lived in Australia, and she has a 13 month old called Tom who is very cute.

Their home was very festive and we noticed quite a few doors in the neighbourhood dressed with beautiful wreaths made out of fresh flowers.

After a delicious meal, Em and Damien very kindly dropped us at another tram stop so we could travel into the CBD to meet Granny and Popps. We walked in the cool shade of the tall buildings down  Collins Street until we made our rendezvous at the intersection with Swanston St. As we turned the corner, we discovered just the thing for a weary, hot Abi and Louis - a shallow paddling river.

Check out Abi's shadow. She's secretly half-reindeer!!

At the end of the splash-trail we stumbled upon something even better, an ice cream cafe!! A branch of Brunetti, where Josh and I had enjoyed our refreshing sorbets the night before. We sat in the shade of this magnificent church and ate our iced treats (quite quickly, before they melted!!)

When we were ready and able to move on, we walked round the corner to admire the Lego Christmas tree in the middle of Federation Square.

We spotted this old style tram in the middle of the city and thought it was pretty cool.

Before long it was time to go home to Anna and Jack so we boarded a regular train at Flinders Station (beautiful facade pictured below) and headed back to the suburbs. 

We were back in no time and there was a race to see who could get in the pool the quickest. Once in, it was a game of "who can drown Daddy first." Guess who won? 

After showers and with PJs on, Auntie Anna and Uncle Jack threw some fish on the barbie and we had a late supper in the garden.