Tram Police, My New Favorite Food, and Movies

Melbourne has an excellent public transportation system, and seeing as Eric and I do not have a car, I've spent some time trying to get to know it. It's a system of buses, trains, and trams that will take you pretty much anywhere in and around the city. I've tried to get around a fair bit and at least learn where everything is. Eric hasn't been around quite as much, but that's to be expected from a working man, no? In any case, I was told when I first got here to make sure I always have my metro ticket on me because there are metro police that will come on and ask you for your ticket. If you don't have one, they'll write you a ticket for something outrageous, like $150 (as opposed to the $6.10 it costs for a day pass on the tram). Well, I recently had my first encounter with the tram police. They got on in a swarm, about four or five of them, dressed all officially in their blue trench coats and matching police hats, announced their presence (as if everyone couldn't tell who they were) and ask everyone to see their tickets. They were quite nice - simply asking to see your tram ticket, making sure it was validated, and then moving on - but it still felt a bit like being in the middle of a swat raid.

Also, I've found my new favorite food down here...potato skins with sweet chili sauce and sour cream - they're amazing. The very first night that Eric and I went there with some people that he works with, but I was so tired, I hardly remembered the deliciousness. But, we went back to that same place for my birthday dinner and I had the potato skins again...oh so yummy!

And one other point of interest, we went to the movies the other night and it's a bit of a different experience here. When you buy tickets, you get an assigned seat! So, no movie free-for-all. Also, you can see the Gold Pass movie, which means that they server you dinner while you're watching the movie. So, it's just interesting how things like that are different.

Well, I'm off to start my day now. I hope you are all well and I miss you guys!

~Sabrina