At O-dark-hundred we get up to fly from Auckland to Melbourne for two nights. I think it’s time to share a bit about
airport security in NZ/Australia. We
first noticed the difference when we flew from Queensland to Rotorua…the
security was actually non-existent! No
screening whatsoever, you simply got your boarding pass and went to the
gate! When I asked someone they said if
you were able to get into the country then that was good enough! I was hesitant to write about this since low security could attract problems...but hey, they seem proud of it!
So we arrive in Melbourne and head to our hotel, another
Langham, right off the water. We dump
our bags and stroll down to find ourselves some lunch.
Like Sydney this place is hopping with activity and full of young people partying!
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| The train station |
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| Look at the hopping bar under the bridge |
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| The Langham Hotel |
Like Sydney this place is hopping with activity and full of young people partying!
We learn there is a free tram system that rings the center
of the city so we find it and go for a ride.
It’s a big square loop that brings us to various areas of the city.
It’s a big square loop that brings us to various areas of the city.
Anne and I have made arrangements to meet Maureen and Melvyn
Klotz who moved from South Africa almost 15 years ago. They are relatives of mine; however, I have
not been able to document the exact connection.
It's an interesting story as to how I discovered them. Shortly before my mom suddenly passed away I had been working on genealogy records. I was going thru some of her papers and discovered a newspaper clipping about my aunt Jean, who in the '50s had to get out of Israel because of an impending war, and went to South Africa to stay with relatives!
Also in her papers was a picture of a family inscribed with a lot of first names...with this information I began to search the internet for South African records. At one point I reached someone who offered to post the picture in an online Jewish newspaper...shortly after that I received an email from Melvyn Klotz who was able to identify all the people as his family. He recalled my Aunt Jean visiting and at a later time, Dave Klasson. I don't know yet how these Klotz's are related to the US Klotz's…I just need to dig up the historical paperwork which is either in Lithuania or the Ukraine!
It's an interesting story as to how I discovered them. Shortly before my mom suddenly passed away I had been working on genealogy records. I was going thru some of her papers and discovered a newspaper clipping about my aunt Jean, who in the '50s had to get out of Israel because of an impending war, and went to South Africa to stay with relatives!
Also in her papers was a picture of a family inscribed with a lot of first names...with this information I began to search the internet for South African records. At one point I reached someone who offered to post the picture in an online Jewish newspaper...shortly after that I received an email from Melvyn Klotz who was able to identify all the people as his family. He recalled my Aunt Jean visiting and at a later time, Dave Klasson. I don't know yet how these Klotz's are related to the US Klotz's…I just need to dig up the historical paperwork which is either in Lithuania or the Ukraine!
They take us to a wonderful local Greek restaurant where we
have an excellent meal and get to know these newly discovered family members. BTW, their son Julian lives and works in LA...Anne and I met him last year when we got together with some newly discovered Bader's in Laguna.
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| Melvyn Klotz |
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| Maureen Klotz |
We sleep in the next
morning while the rest of the group goes on a boat ride. In the afternoon the women go off on a
shopping expedition and the guys decide to go to the top of the nearby 88 story Eureka Skydeck building to experience an alleged “cheating death” ride at the top. https://www.eurekaskydeck.com.au/
The consensus is that it was somewhat of a bust! However, it provides some great views.
The consensus is that it was somewhat of a bust! However, it provides some great views.
Dinner was in Chinatown at a place called Bamboo House http://www.bamboohouse.com.au/. We signed up for set meal and the food
started coming and coming until we could not push another morsel in.
A long walk back to the hotel felt great and
again we got to see this hopping city at night.
Any young person should consider Melbourne or Sydney if looking for an
exciting place to live.
Another early morning as tomorrow we are flying clear across the country to Perth on the west coast.
Another early morning as tomorrow we are flying clear across the country to Perth on the west coast.
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