We loved it here. It is a relaxed, confident and engaging city. (We preferred it to Sydney!)
We had a day in the CBD checking out some sights and just walking around.
Rich and I went to Old Melbourne Gaol while Gordon and Carolyn went to the museum. The Gaol was great. Full of information about early Melbourne; lots of stuff about how hard it was back then, the crime, the poverty, the racial diversity and discrimination.
I had never really appreciated the major differences in the origins of Sydney and Melbourne. Whereas Sydney was a convict town with thousands of transported souls arriving yearly, Melbourne was a free settlement whose growth was fueled by Victoria's gold rush.
I kind of knew these things in theory but the Gaol's exhibits were excellent in putting them all together.
And it was spooky in that instantly recognisable "old English prison" way.
There was a lot of information on Ned Kelly and his crimes and demise which was good too. Separating the folk stories and songs from the facts.
After the Gaol we wanted some fresh air so headed towards the Royal Botanical Gardens a few stops away on the excellent tram. You walk past the Shrine of Remembrance to get there which is pretty impressive too.
One thing which struck me everywhere we went in Australia was the masses of Agapanthus. They're like weeds over there! I'm just praying that the measly little specimen I planted last year made it through the winter!
It's not just the bright colours and beautiful vistas but massive, impressive trees which take your breath away.
It was a small area of paradise just a couple of tram stops from the CBD. Gorgeous, gorgeous gorgeous.
Then back to St Kilda to cook supper, drink beer and watch cricket. Bliss.
No comments:
Post a Comment