Life on 'The Edge'

Or should I say 'Over the Edge'. Yep, that's what Hans, Bill & I did on Saturday afternoon. What is she on about - well you might ask. Melbourne's newest tourist attraction is called Skydeck 88, an observation deck on the 88th floor of the recently completed Eureka Building. It is about 3 blocks from home and since it's completion last year it has become the focal point of the city skyline from just about all over Melbourne. It is the centre of the view from our apartment.

For the last few weeks we have been noticing a new addition to the building. A little box beside the outdoor observation cage has been moving in & out at regular intervals during the day. Of course, being the adventurous souls that we are, we set out to get to the bottom of it. (OK, it was in the paper with all the fanfare of a newly opened extreme activity for brave tourists - or stupid ones).

So being the wonderful friends we are, we decided to wait for Lorraine & Hans, who were coming to visit for the footy - more on that later, before we went to check it out. After watching the box (The Edge) go in & out all morning we ventured up to see what it was all about. Wow, the ride up to the 88th floor in the automatic lift takes about 13 seconds and is an adventure in itself given that we all have a healthy fear of heights. Once up there you are looking at the view from the highest point in town. The view is magnificent and terrifying as you look down on 60 storey buildings that until this moment had looked huge. The floor to ceiling windows with not a rail in sight make for a nerve racking experience as you decide how close you can go to them, but if you can overcome your fear the experience is one to remember.

And so after watching many people venture into The Edge and come out none the worst for wear 3 of us decided that maybe it could be done and we could live to tell the tale. And - we did it. Lorraine stayed outside with the camera, braving the airlock to go outside into the cage, to take a photo of us inside the cube. When it came to our turn we had to put on overshoes as the cube is all glass, walls, floor & ceiling, all 45 mm thick. You walk into the cube and once inside you are in a dark room which starts to shake and rock a little with wind like sounds. The cube starts to move out and then after a big cracking noise, like breaking glass, the windows all become clear and you are suspended outside the building able to look through the glass floor to the ground 88 floors below. With that all windows become opaque and then become clear one side at a time so you can see the view as you turn. The view is even more amazing than from inside if that is possible, probably the terror aspect heightens the senses. Finally all windows become clear again as the cube begins to retract back into the building. While outside an official photo is taken which is the one I have used today.

What a feeling, we did it, not one of us thought we could but we did and it really is quite an amazing thing to do & see. For those that can 'walk on the wild side' I would say give it a go. For those that can't you can watch from home and shake.

We had a great time with Lorraine & Hans. It was the return visit for the big game - West Coast Eagles vs. Essendon at Telstra Dome. Last year those pesky Eagles got in the way of a home victory and of course that set the expectations of some misguided souls for a repeat performance this year. I have to admit that for a long time it did look like we would have to hang our heads once more but after a great game when the siren went it was the Bombers song that was played over & over. 1 point was a little close though. So there was our first knife edge experience of the weekend. Hans & Lorraine have graciously accepted defeat and now the stage is set for next years rematch.

They left on Monday to return to work the next day so we had a quiet afternoon wandering around the Ian Potter Centre seeing the Australian Impressionism art exhibition. It was very good. Last night we ended the week with a night at the circus seeing Cirque Du Soleil's Varekai. After a very cold & misty walk to 'the grande chapeteau' it was with great relief to find it was heated and cozy warm inside.

A quiet day today as Bill prepares to head to Adelaide to see 'The Bombers' play tomorrow. All in the name of 'work' he tells me. Oh well some guys have all the luck. So on that note I'm off to see what other attractions I can find.

until next time..........