Melbourne

When you travel, you often get told to stick to the main streets. Do not head off down random dark alleys because that’s where you lose your passport, your money, and most likely your kidneys. However if you followed this advice in Melbourne you would miss out on the very heart of the city.

It all happens down little alleyways. Wonder down one, and then another one, and then another one, and you will find where the locals hang out. In bars that have graffiti art on the wall, and nothing but milk crates to sit on. Or arty cafes that would be impossible to locate on a map. That’s the trick, once you have found one of these places, it’s almost impossible for tourists to find it again, or describe it to other tourists because of the maze of back alleys with punky looking kids loitering by rubbish bins it took to get there. It’s the locals best kept secret, and it almost seems that the more remote the location is, the more popular it is.


Don’t get me wrong, stick to the main streets, and you will find some great places, but they will all be out of the centre of the CBD. Have fun taking advantage of capitalism, and get as much as possible for free on Lygon Street where you will find stretches upon stretches of mainly Italian restaurants with matradees pretty much down on their knees begging you to pick their restaurant. Or head to Brunswick Street for that alternative and colourful vibe. If shopping is your thing, then try out Bridge Road where you will find some bargains. Too much to do in 5 days in this city!

One of the highlights was doing a wine tour in the Yarra Valley. The Yarra Valley is mainly known for producing chardonnays and piont noirs, two wine varieties that make me dry wrench a little bit, but after the 6th taster they were going down rather smoothly. Lunch was delicious with roast chicken breast with marinated sundried tomato sauce, and salad – a big upgrade from the frozen fish and pies we got served on the tour the day before! And we visited the vineyard of Moet and Chardon who produce “sparkling wine” - exactly the same way as they produce champagne (it can only be called champagne if it comes from the province Champagne in France). They played on my weakness and gave us baguettes, cheese and chutneys to munch on while we slurped down our full glass of sparkling Chardon. Yum!  




There is an aliveness to Melbourne, always something to do, and something to see, festivals galore, street performers abundant in Federation Square. Although I was only there for 5 days, the city grabbed me, and shook me awake. No time to be lazy and read or watch TV, it pulled me out in to the thick of things, and made me explore. Once again that feeling you get while you are travelling swept over me, that feeling of freedom, and the realm of possibility is endless.  

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