2022
by Maria Ngo (25/2/2018, 5:54 pm)
Promptly at 1:15 pm on Saturday 24 February, Melbourne's local guides started arriving. I was there in my white San Fran cap and dark blue backpack waiting under the dome at one of Melbourne's iconic sites - Flinders Street Railway Station. Due to a more than 90% chance of precipitation being predicted, I had made a last minute change to our meetup location. I was therefore very relieved that the message had gotten through. We hung around for a little while for any who might have been held up.
If I were to ask each person in the group what makes Melbourne special for them, I think I'd get a different answer from each person.Is it the people? Or is it the architecture? Perhaps it's the cafe life, rejuvenated lane ways or street art? Or perhaps its the glitz and the bling? Perhaps its the street signs or construction? Or perhaps it's the freedom of speech? Or maybe it's the street lamps and the mixture of old and new? Did you know the oldest building in Melbourne, which is still standing, was built in 1837? It's the Mitre Tavern (unfortunately we didn't make it there, but perhaps next time, on a different type of walk). Whatever it is, perhaps your answer might vary with the weather -- for which Melbourne is well known for (?!) or the time of year? Regardless what it is, you'll be anything but bored.
The eight of us set off about 20 minutes or so later after a quick group photo on the top steps.
There is one thing that I've always valued in Melbourne - our freedom of speech. Here are two pics - the first was at the start of our walk, the second at the end of our walk.
The latter photo captures something which fascinates me - street signs.
Melbourne is such an organised and orderly city of which I think street signs play a vital role.
Street signs may contribute to the orderliness of a city but no amount of that would be of any good if its citizens were not inclined to pay it any attention.
That Melbourne's drivers, pedestrians, bikers and cyclists get along so well on the whole, I believe, is because of the general goodwill and heart of those who live here.
Hardware Street as it turns out is home to one of Melbourne's street cafe scene.
From smashed avocados to Belgian waffles, Melbourne has it.
There are many things to feast on in Melbourne - food is one, street art is another.
Melbourne is full of colour - her art and her people are but some of them.
Melbourne is a city of contrasts. It is one at the same time being constructed and deconstructed.
We like to immortalize our greats - whether of the theatre or print. We are not fussy.
Not quite Hollywood, but, she'll do.
Art or history, to Melbourne, they belong together. Have you ever seen lamps like these in a shopping mall or arcade?
Gog and Magog in Melbourne's Royal Arcade. "These two seven-foot pine gents, who have been striking the time on Gaunt's clock since 1892, are modelled on figures found in London's Guildhall and symbolise the conflict between the ancient Britons and the Trojan armies" (https://www.weekendnotes.com/gog-and-magog-royal-arcade-melbourne/).
What will you discover when you visit Melbourne?
What is it about Melbourne that you like?
What will you discover in your next walk in Melbourne city?
Who will you meet? Wonderful people to share a photographic adventure and a meal with?
I hope you'll be as lucky as I was on Saturday 24 Feb 2018.
