Melbourne was AMAZING. I’ve decided that Melbourne is my city. Everything about it was wonderful. It was clean, interesting, artsy, friendly, and fabulous. There is so much to do and see. It was very European. It really didn’t feel like I was in australia, but I don’t think I would be able to place where I was on a map. The city itself is really nice. Much like any other city it has tall buildings and shopping. But it has all these trams that run through it, which is the main form of public transport. Outside the city are all these little towns and such. There is St. Kilda, which has a bunch of shopping and is on the water. Then there is Fitzroy, which has Brunswick St. which is really artsy and alternative. Then there is South Yarra, which is more upscale shopping and such. It was really just a great city, very user friendly.

We flew in on Wednesday with this cheap ass airline Tiger Airways. So we get to the airport and go to find our gate, which is in like the airport’s basement. We have to walk on the runway for like 5 minutes before we get to the actual plane, which is like half empty. BUT first, when we get to the airport we go to get our boarding passes. So we walk up and they are like, you didn’t “web check-in” so that will be $20, plus a $5 service fee, and oh, you’re using a card, we charge another $6.25 for that. WHAT THE HELL I HATE YOU TIGER AIRWAYS. The security in australia is seriously lacking. When we went through the metal detectors we didn’t have to take off our shoes, or jackets/sweatshirts or anything. On the way home we didn’t even have to show ID. Crazy business. But anyway, when we land in Melbourne we don’t even go in the actual airport. We land and walk on the runway, then through this like tin tunnel and into like the freight area. We were treated like cargo. Ok so the flight was really cheap, but seriously, I am a human being. I deserve to go through the airport. But we survived.

We get to the hostel, which is in like the perfect location, right across from Federation Square and Flinders St. Station. Our room is an 8 person room, but luckily the only open beds were in the corner so no one walked by us. But the light above my bed was broken, and the main switch light was on this 1 hour timer, so at night, when the light went off, it was bed time for me. The showers on the floor we were on didn’t get good hot water so we had to go up 2 floors to shower, which was a pain. But it was fine. It was clean and everything, so no worries there.

Thursday was our first full day in the city. We started the morning off by wandering around the streets and stores near the hostel, just to get our bearings and such. Then we walked over to Federation Square, got lunch, and went and saw the Tim Burton exhibit at the Australian Center for the Moving Image. That was really cool, I had no idea he did so much, and that Johnny Depp was in like all his movies. But there were props and such from his various movies and a bunch of his sketches and such. Then we walked around a little more and then went and got dinner. The food in Melbourne is so good. There are a bunch of like lanes and alleys that have little cafes and stuff. We went to this one cafe and I had the best chai latte I have ever had in my life. Literally it was great. So good.

Friday, it was overcast and a little rainy in the morning. But we avoided that well and went to the aquarium. That was pretty cool, got to see some authentic australian fishes. We watched them feed these giant sting rays and sharks and sea turtles. Man, I’ll tell you, those sea turtles are a pain in the ass. They bite the people that feed them and won’t let go. And the sting rays are very greedy. They just like flopped over the divers and kept coming back for more. It was enjoyable. In the afternoon we met up with my cousin, whom I was meeting for the very first time in australia, how weird. But we met him in St. Kilda and walked along the beach to see wild penguins. We saw two of them because most of them were out and about. But they were really small, it was neat. Then he took us for a drive to Arthur’s Seat, which has really good views. We got to see more outside the city, which was nice. We had scones, with jam and cream and tea, which is called something, but it has escaped me at this moment. But it was delicious. Then Ahron and his wife took us out for dinner at this chinese restaurant. It was just a great day.

Saturday in the morning we went and got crepes that were delicious. Then we headed over to the Old Melbourne Gaol (jail) where the infamous Ned Kelly was hanged. He was a notorious killer with like a political agenda. But it was cool to see. That’s where they shipped a lot of the convicts from Tasmania and such to. After that we walked over to Brunswick Street, which is really artsy and has all these shops and cafes and such. It was cool to see. For dinner we got sushi and then went to the Eureka Skydeck. It’s like 92 stories high, but the actual deck part is 88 stories up. We went on the Edge, which is like this glass box thing that moves 3 meters out from the building, it moves while you are in it. They do this like light and sound show while you’re in it as well. It was actually a little scary. I felt like I had to hold on and couldn’t look down. But I did, and it was really cool. After that we walked around Southbank or something like that, which is just on the other side of the Yarra river. It was really pretty.

Sunday we went shopping. All day. We started the day on Ackland Street in St. Kilda. That’s where all the European Jews first settled, but they have long since gone. But they did leave behind all their food. I had a smoked salmon sandwich was spinach and cream cheese. Delicious. Then I got chocolate mousse and it was delicious. The shopping was amazing. After Ackland St. we went to Chapel Street which is more upscale shopping. That was also fabulous. And we all know how much I love shopping, it was just a great day. For dinner we went to China Town and had wonderful chinese food. We were the only white people in the restaurant besides this one guy eating by himself. But I take that as a good thing, meaning the food is probably good, which it was.

All in all Melbourne was everything I wanted it to be. We got to do everything we said we wanted and then some. The city was a perfect fit for australia, a city, yet very relaxed. Everything worked out very well for a trip planned by ourselves. The timing was perfect, we avoided the rain, the weather was wonderful for Melbourne, and it was actually really nice to be in a colder climate.

Coming up we have the British India concert on Thursday and then next Wednesday we take off for the Whitsundays. I think we’re going to spend a few days on a yacht, which will be very nice. Much more relaxing than our trip to Melbourne, but should be just as enjoyable.