When I arrived in Melbourne, the weather was dark and rainy. It remained this way throughout the entire weekend. I must admit that my first impressions of the city were not overwhelmingly positive. There was nothing wrong with the city, but it just failed to draw me in.
The Central Business District (where my hotel is located) contains a lot of modern office buildings, restaurants, and a shopping mall the spans several city blocks. Walking around, I strangely felt like I was in Toronto. Everything seemed very "live-able" and clean, but also somewhat generic.
The view from my hotel was equally as uninspiring. All I could see were railroad tracks, some green space, and an under-developed river.
Gradually, Melbourne grew on me. I went out a couple nights and appreciated the "buzz" of the downtown area. Even on the weekends, people were enjoying the restaurants and bars, which is more than can be said about many cities in Midwest USA.
The arts scene is thriving, with several large theaters and art galleries downtown. One evening, the cast of "Wicked" was out on the streets in full costume, performing snippets from the show. I doubt you would ever see that in Manhattan!
As the days passed, I started noticing the interesting mix of 'old' and 'new' in Melbourne. Beautiful historic buildings like you would see in Europe intermingle with modern architecture. Gothic-style cathedrals are dwarfed by neighboring skyscrapers that have grown up around them. The result is a city that appears modern in every panorama but has pockets of history that can be appreciated by anyone who is willing to look deeper.
One of my friends lived in Melbourne for a year and he described it as "England mixed with Baltimore". Phrases like "How ya goin?", "good on you", and "no worries, mate" reflect an amazingly relaxed lifestyle that mixes perfectly with the old English sophistication. Everyone loves to talk and - more importantly - they love to have a good laugh.
On Mother's Day, I was invited to join the local staff on an 8k run, which was a surprisingly huge event. Thousands of people packed the course to raise money for breast cancer. The Mother's Day Classic is a national event and I love how Australians embrace the spirit of charity in conjunction with a day to celebrate Mom.
On my way back to the hotel, I discovered an alley that is filled with graffiti. Normally, I detest this form of self-expression but Melbourne has found a way to show off its artistic value. Fortunately, the graffiti is confined to just a few streets, while the rest of the city is impeccably clean.
The more I explored Melbourne, the more I discovered its fun side. Hidden in the seemingly boring business district are musicians, parks for relaxing, and buildings with unconventional character. Just like Sydney, Melbourne is filled with hidden gems.
I am happy that I have four weeks to explore Melbourne because it is a city that requires a little extra time to really appreciate. Tourists have even fewer sites to visit than in Sydney, but lifestyle is what really makes the difference here.
The Central Business District (where my hotel is located) contains a lot of modern office buildings, restaurants, and a shopping mall the spans several city blocks. Walking around, I strangely felt like I was in Toronto. Everything seemed very "live-able" and clean, but also somewhat generic.
The view from my hotel was equally as uninspiring. All I could see were railroad tracks, some green space, and an under-developed river.
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| Good morning Melbourne! Look at railroad tracks and a deserted river! |
Gradually, Melbourne grew on me. I went out a couple nights and appreciated the "buzz" of the downtown area. Even on the weekends, people were enjoying the restaurants and bars, which is more than can be said about many cities in Midwest USA.
The arts scene is thriving, with several large theaters and art galleries downtown. One evening, the cast of "Wicked" was out on the streets in full costume, performing snippets from the show. I doubt you would ever see that in Manhattan!
 |
| One of several theatres in Melbourne CBD |
As the days passed, I started noticing the interesting mix of 'old' and 'new' in Melbourne. Beautiful historic buildings like you would see in Europe intermingle with modern architecture. Gothic-style cathedrals are dwarfed by neighboring skyscrapers that have grown up around them. The result is a city that appears modern in every panorama but has pockets of history that can be appreciated by anyone who is willing to look deeper.
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| Historic Hotel Windsor juxtaposes with the ultra-modern Sheraton |
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The spires of St. Patrick's Cathedral no longer dominate the skyline
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| Interior of St. Patrick's Cathedral rivals any in Europe |
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| Many photograph opportunities in the cathedral |
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| Interior of St. Patrick's Cathedral |
One of my friends lived in Melbourne for a year and he described it as "England mixed with Baltimore". Phrases like "How ya goin?", "good on you", and "no worries, mate" reflect an amazingly relaxed lifestyle that mixes perfectly with the old English sophistication. Everyone loves to talk and - more importantly - they love to have a good laugh.
 |
| One morning, I captured these unique personalities on the street |
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| I prefer the marshmallow peeps to anything advertised here! |
On Mother's Day, I was invited to join the local staff on an 8k run, which was a surprisingly huge event. Thousands of people packed the course to raise money for breast cancer. The Mother's Day Classic is a national event and I love how Australians embrace the spirit of charity in conjunction with a day to celebrate Mom.
 |
| Photos from the Mother's Day Classic in Melbourne |
On my way back to the hotel, I discovered an alley that is filled with graffiti. Normally, I detest this form of self-expression but Melbourne has found a way to show off its artistic value. Fortunately, the graffiti is confined to just a few streets, while the rest of the city is impeccably clean.
 |
| Graffiti has transformed this alley in a surprisingly aesthetic way |
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| I felt very "hipster" in this part of the city. |
The more I explored Melbourne, the more I discovered its fun side. Hidden in the seemingly boring business district are musicians, parks for relaxing, and buildings with unconventional character. Just like Sydney, Melbourne is filled with hidden gems.
 |
| A street performer entertains people in the CBD |
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| People enjoy the beautiful weather in front of this building |
I am happy that I have four weeks to explore Melbourne because it is a city that requires a little extra time to really appreciate. Tourists have even fewer sites to visit than in Sydney, but lifestyle is what really makes the difference here.
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