Moving stuff
Trip Start
Dec 22, 2011
1
65
129
Trip End
Apr 18, 2012
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Saturday, February 18, 2012
One of the issues about moving so often is that things move and are not where you expect to find them. For example, every time I stagger into the bathroom in the morning [when admittedly I am not exactly firing on all cylinders], the shower is where I expect the loo to be... and this can be disconcerting to a bear of little brain.
After a deliciously leisurely breakfast, we were on our way out when we bumped into Captain Courageous and his lovely wife by the lift. They had just got back from a guided walk, following the route suggested in a booklet which they picked up from the concierge earlier and recommended it to us. Recommendation enough.
The route led us through little alleyways with chic coffee shops and eateries and arcades with gorgeous and unusual shops... I could have lightened the royal purse by several hundreds of dollars with no problem at all.
Melbourne is different again to the other cities we have seen so far. It seems to be proud of its colonial roots and many things boast a royal connection. The streets are wide and treelined, the buildings more varied and interesting, there are hills rather than everything being pretty flat, the shops are varied and interesting and there are zillions of appealing coffee shops and eateries generally. I suppose it feels more like a European city.
It breathes culture, cafe society, understated wealth, the pace is easy and unhurried.
It is also the city of the tram. The variety of trams is pure theatre. Pink ones, maroon ones, green, blue... and they are undoubtedly the king of the road. We decided we would do the free maroon tram ride which circles the city. It was like stepping back to the 50s. Squeezed on the small seats we were gently jolloped from side to side as we trundled elegantly down the streets. On the steps of the town hall, there was a wedding sausage machine in operation; weddings about to happen, with the stretch limos drawing up, those which had just happened and the photos were taking place on the grand steps in front of the building... in one vista we could see about 5 different brides and all the accompanying paraphernalia. The tram itself was squashed full with smartly dressed wedding guests, getting on or off by the town hall, including one vast woman swathed in black and diamante whose enormous cleavage shook alarmingly in time to the general movement of the tram. I don't fully understand how tsunamis start, but I think this may be the root cause.
Having completed the tour, we then reverted to foot and continued the exploration. Nick's description of Ozzie menswear is "Billabong, vest & thong", which pretty much sums it up. Here in Melbourne, girls wear the shortest skirts and dresses you have ever seen. They make the old micros of the 70s look like midis.
[Won't they get piles?]
Walking down by the river, we enjoyed the views of the various art pieces and the buildings, both new and old. Aboriginal story poles again highlighting the injustices to which they had been subjected.
For a light supper, we walked back to the one of the little alleys near Flinders Station which we had passed earlier. A little like the Mediterranean in atmosphere, the whole street was a mass of little restaurants, cafes and bars, where all the tables and chairs are out in the street and it is hard to see where one stops and the next starts.
Although we had been meandering all day, there was still heaps to see and do.
But tomorrow is another day.
Comments
Nice one, love! Glad to see you're enjoying the quirks of 'Strine culture. Hope you are liking the space... Well dOne on the blog - very good. I'm off to Gabon for 6 weeks next week so see you when we both get back and good luck with the rest of your trip x
Good on ya, Id! Have a good one! x
They'll get PILES of admirers I reckon !
Keep on blogging. It's brill'.
Aww... thanks Ig.
Hope the shed is doing you well.
:D
x