Puffing Billy Steam Train

On Wednesday, we decided to ride the puffing Billy steam train. After grabbing breakfast at McDonalds (THe Mates Brekkie box - included two breakfast sandwiches, two hash browns and two drinks) we hopped on the metro for our one hour ride out of the city. It was very cool to watch the city give way to the suburbs, and eventually the more rural homes at the base of the Dandedong mountains.

Upon arrival we had about an hour before our train left. The engineer invited us right up into the engine and showed Geoffrey how he shoveled coal into the hot fire box (cool and a bit scary!) He and Gary talked steam trains and that was fun. We also enjoyed the signs in the bathrooms illustrating the appropriate and inappropriate ways to use western toilets. (I took a picture of the sign in the bathroom because I thought it amusing, and then Blake came out to show me the picture he took in his bathroom - um, his sign was way cooler and more in depth. Guess guys need more instruction...

The Puffing Billy was neat - you could sit on the window if you want with your arms and legs hanging out. So cool. Geoffrey fell asleep about 10 minutes after the train left, and took his nap all the way up - from about 12:45 - 1:45. The scenery through the mountains was beautiful!

We had about 45 minutes at the top before heading back down. The conductor told us to wait a moment and he came out with sunflower seeds so that Grant could feed the parrots that were right there at the station. One came out and was super tame and landed right on Grant's hand!

We grabbed a quick lunch at the lakeside cafe and then took the train back down. Geoffrey was awake this time and enjoyed sitting with Grandpa and looking at the scenery. We saw Kookaburras!

Back on the metro, we were back at our hotel by around 5:30.

We headed out for dinner around 7:00, taking the trolley to a fish and chips shop. Geoff fell asleep on the warm trolley and didn't wake back up.

Apparently, they use shark in their fish and chips, which we didn't know until we were about half way done eating - not that it matters, it was very tasty, but shark is high in mercury so it is on the avoid list for preggos like me - so, good to know that I should not eat fish and chips too much here!!!

Drinks are so expensive!!! $3.50 - $4.00 for a soda or a bottle of water!!! yikes!!! Everywhere! 6 packs of soda are 12$ in the grocery store!

(Geoff slept until 5:00. At 5:45 he gave up trying to wake us up (I had also given him his milk at 5:15) and fell asleep for another 45 minutes or so...) sigh...