I have come to the conclusion that, like most water sports, kite surfing is harder than it looks. I have no idea how they manage to steer those things. If my failed waterskiing attempts are any indication, I would be an awful kite surfer. I'll leave this activity to Peter, who said he would love to try it. 

I love being able to sit on the beach and simultaneously enjoy views of the ocean and the Melbourne skyline.  

Beach selfie. It's hard to take pictures together when it's just us two, so until we make some friends you'll probably be forced to look at one too many close-ups of our faces. 

We got some ice cream and then walked back to the train station through a beautiful, quiet neighborhood lined with extremely nice houses. One was for sale and the sign advertised it as "3 million plus". Which basically means if you have to ask, you can't afford it. 

Today it's back to work for Peter, and back to job searching/sending heated emailed to the landlord for me! We hope the end of our apartment nightmare is in sight. 

Peter next to the United States panel on the Sandridge Bridge over the Yarra River, which is devoted to immigrant history and features 128 of these panels representing countries from which Melbournians originally immigrated. 

This is the Southgate shopping center on Southbank. It's kind of an indoor-outdoor mall with an extensive food court and restaurant selection. Among them, an ice bar, which I am dying to try. Basically, you put on a ridiculous looking parka and go into a really cold room with ice sculptures and a bar carved out of ice and drink. What's not to love? Plus, the Real Housewives of the OC went to one last season, so you know it's cool-no pun intended.  

This is an Instagram photo of Federation Square, right across from Flinders Street Station and a popular gathering place in the CBD. The Square has free wifi, which is handy for those of us whose wifi works approximately 27% of the time. On a good day. 

On Sunday we took the train up to the Melbourne Zoo. I had read it was the most "conventional" of the three zoos in our area, and I thought that might translate into underwhelming. False. The Melbourne Zoo is probably the best zoo I have ever been to, not counting of course the Wild Animal Safari in Springfield. That's just on another level entirely. But the Melbourne Zoo comes close. For one thing, the animals seemed much happier and more active than at any of the zoos I have been to. Most of the time, at least in my experience, you walk up to the glass and struggle to find whatever animal is in the cage, finally spotting some fluffy ball in the very top corner sleeping behind a rock. Entirely underwhelming in my opinion. That's why this zoo was so great. The animals were often sitting right next to the glass, like these monkeys: