THE City

Melbourne. 

Capital of Victoria. 

Population 4.1 million. 

THE city to be in Australia.

I did things a bit backwards. I moved to Perth. I had never been to Sydney to see the Opera House. I had never been to Melbourne to watch to footy and have a cup of coffee. But as soon as I started saying I was moving to Australia,  I started hearing the Melbourne rumors.

• It is home to the biggest horse race in the world, and they get the day off work for it.
• They have the best (wanky) coffee. I saw a coffee shop in Perth advertising that they had "Melbourne coffee for Melbourne prices".
• The restaurants have awesome food. Heston Blumenthal opened a Fat Duck there. But don't think you can get a reservation. There was a ballot in October for the $525 dinner (not including drinks).
• Of the 18 teams in the AFL, 10 are essentially in Melbourne. Plus it's the home to the MCG (Melbourne Cricket Ground for those uninformed who need an explanation).
• It's the only city in Australia with "culture"
• You get four seasons of weather in a day (not really a positive but makes things interesting)
• Effective public transport, free trams!
• It's currently the world's most liveable city, And has been the past four years.
• It has real shopping. They had a Zara long before Perth did. Plus they have an H&M.
• You could probably spend weeks eating and drinking your way through Melbourne, but more on that in the next blog...

Needless to say Melbourne had a lot to live up to.

 But even with all these wonderful things, Melbourne to me, will always be home to the hook turn.
Imagine driving into a strange city at night. You don't know where you're going. There are  one way streets and streets for trams only. Add in the fact that you haven't driven in almost two years. And the last time you drove was on the other side of the road (minus that brief stint in New Zealand. You want to turn right from the left side of the road so you get into the left lane. Then you see a sign that you can only make a right turn from the left lane. What?! (think making a left turn in the US from the right lane).

It's bizarre. Luckily I read some Australia tourist book before I moved here and vaguely remembered this crazy idea. Apparently it's so you don't block the trams. They need some warning before you get in the city. Maybe a sign on the highway saying, "BEWARE: Get in the opposite lane to turn. We thought it'd be funny". Not funny Melbourne. Not funny at all.

After getting over the absurd hook turns, it was hard not look up and notice that Melbourne has some pretty buildings.

The Royal Exhibition Building was home to Australia's first Parliament (before Sydney an Melbourne got into such regular arguments and decided to create Canberra).

The railroad station overlooking the corners of Flinders and Swanston Streets is spectacular. Apparently the plans were originally intended for Calcutta (or Mumbai), but somehow they ended up in Melbourne where work got underway. Once they realized the error, it was already to late. Or so the rumor has it...

Melbourne is an old city, by Australia standards. When the ships brought passengers (aka convicts) over from Europe, they needed ballast and used iron. When they returned full of Australia goods and cargo, they left the iron on the docks. Those thrifty Australians turned it into superb wrought iron railings and fences.

 

And who could forget Australia's favorite building, the MCG, home of AFL football. 

But I'd say that's just water under the bridge.

But what good is a building if you don't go in it? 

Or between them...?

City of Churches (or at least one of 'em)

A view of Adelaide from Mt Lofty

Just like I had never heard of Perth before I was considering moving here, I'm not so sure I had heard of Adelaide. The only way I knew about South Australia was the Gaelic Storm version of the sea shanty song that the swashbucklers would sing heaving in the anchor on the schooner next to our steamboat.

Adelaide is the fifth largest cities in Australia, capital of South Australia, and unlike many of the other cities, it was founded as a free city for religious freedom and not by convicts. Thus it became the "City of Churches". Ironically, today it is the least religious city in Australia.

From the original Holy Trinity to St. Peter's cathedral, the city's skyline is speckled by steeples.

Ironically, there a bunch of "City of Churches" in the world, including Christchurch, New Zealand. Luckily, there is more to Adelaide than churches.

They've got some cool rocks.

Recommended by Professor Leon

South Australia is home to Coober Pedy, the self-proclaimed Opal Capital of the World. Did you know Australia produces 90% of the worlds opal? I think it'd be cool to go to Coober Pedy, a real rough and tough outback adventure (I may have just read a novel about two young Perth boys' adventures in the opal mines) and maybe find me a black opal to bring home as a souvenir.

But while I wait for my black opal, there's always chocolate. And  on the east coast, Haigh's chocolates, where they still hand make and wrap their chocolates, seems to be the thing.

A Hot Cross Bun truffle!

It was only short, rainy trip and there were many parks to see and trams to ride, but it was on to the city of legends, where rumor has it the coffee is better, the bars are better, the footy is better (or at least more plentiful), and is the "best" city in Australia...

Perthfect Ponderings Travel Agency

I have been planning for my first visitors since I got to Perth. Making a list of places to show off, tailored to the interests of my visitors that is. I finally got the chance when two of my favorite people (my parents), showed how much they loved me and flew around the world to see me and the country I've been lucky to call "home" for the past year and a half. 

I like to be organized, but I've never thought of myself as a control freak. After reading this, some of you may view me differently. I prefer to think of myself as organized, efficient, and a superb hostess. With only 2.5 weeks to see Western Australia, I wanted to make the most of it. Hence, I went into travel agent mode.

 Here follows the briefest itinerary summary. 

Please contact Perthfect Ponderings Travel for your own unique Australian experience.

Part One: Perth

Yes, it takes a long time to get to Australia. So what better way to relax than with a Coopers in a stubby holder with your new authentic Akubra hat?

 

A day in the bush with gumtrees and kangaroos.

 

A day at the races. You can't come to Australia and not partake in the gambling culture. Even if it's just having a beer in the sunshine.

Part 2: The Western Australia Loop

2,188 km

Despite speeding through 8 days and spending a lot of the time on the road, please note how little of the STATE of Western Australia we covered. Granted, the majority of the rest of the state is pretty barren and the roads don't even go there.

We spent the day at the SuperPit gold mine in the goldfields of Western Australia, Kalgoorlie

The authentic Australian Pub is a necessary experience. What doesn't sound appealing about sleeping in a less than new, old room complete with a bed and a communal bathroom down the spooky hallway? Norseman Hotel is one of the best (according to some).

 

Jack lives here. It's a sign.

And just outside of Norseman is where I have found what I think just looks like Australia. Complete with some of WA's largest lakes. See the water?

Then on to my favorite coast line with white sandy beaches and blue water. It was a bit cloudy and cool, but I think my visitors still got a bit of the Esperance magic.

We wound our way along the coast to Mt Barker, Albany, Denmark, Pemberton, and Augusta where the rain finally hit us. That didn't stop us from heading to Cape Leeuwin where the Southern and Indian Oceans meet.

No trip down south would be complete without a stop and wine tasting (or two) in Margaret River.

Part Three: Flying from Perth to Adelaide

A short flight to the nearest city, 2,133 km

Part Four: The East

1,651 km

Most people who come to Australia come here, well at least Sydney, possibly Melbourne, and then up to Cairns. Not including Western Australia, they may still miss some of Australia's character hidden away in towns like Mt Gambier, Beechworth, and even Canberra.

A whirlwind tour of Adelaide, what some describe as Perth 20 years ago.

 Overlooking Adelaide from Mt. Lofty.

Then on to the Blue Lake of Mt Gambier.

 

And the hill I made my parents climb up :)

One of Australia's most famous coast lines is the Great Ocean Road, home of the 12 Apostles (which we decided were overrated). And it was spectacular.

 

On to Melbourne where we had dinner on a Tram and headed down to see the Littlest Penguins on Phillip Island.

We headed up through Ned Kelly country through Wangarratta to Beechworth and on to Canberra. I don't care what Australian's say, I like Canberra. Even in the rain.

 

The steps my father would take to get a picture of Australian fauna.

And Canberra is where I parted ways with my visitors. They headed on the Sydney and I flew back to Perth. They successfully navigated Sydney's roads, enjoyed a bit of Australia's most iconic city and made it safely back to American soil.

My dad clearly belonged here.

But this is only the beginning of the adventures we had. 

There's no way to show and tell it all. You just had to be there. And there. And there. But I'll share some of the highlights.

To be continued...