Hanging out on the Yarra River. Always good to know where the toilets are.
Melbourne by nightMelbourne is a great city...and even with a packed work schedule, it was necessary to make time to see what it was like to live in this stylish, event-filled city! Here are my favorite things about Melbourne.
1. Eating.
Ok - if you know me, then you know I am a foodie. If a little bit of a picky one. I love learning about cultures through food, and traveling is just better because I get to eat new foods. Last time I was in Melbourne I was pregnant, and as a result, I didn't have fond memories of the food. How sad I am now that I missed out the first time around. Things you need to try in Melbourne:
- Cookie - a restaurant/bar with yummy asian food, and also a great spot to socialize after work or school.
- dumpling place in Chinatown - no idea what it was called, but go down a side street in Chinatown and there are millions of good places to eat. Don't eat on the main drag. You'll miss out.
- Chapel Street - not only great for shopping. Lots of eateries, bars and coffee shops. For great Thai Food, try Patee Thai or Thai Lemongrass (I know...I left Maryville, and went to eat at Lemongrass in Australia!)
- Little Creatures - ok, so this is a Brewery. Little Creatures is a microbrewer in Melbourne. But the food was awesome. Lots of traditional Aussie fair, like the Kranski (it is a sausage with cheese in it. I know. Fabulous.)
- Meat Pies - there are lots of places. But Williamsons' Pies & Pasties on Chapel Street is phenomenal. You can get traditional beef pies, or pies with spagetti bolognese in them....you see where I am going? How can you go wrong? I also liked Pie Face (a chain) which had a pie that had mashed potatoes on it.
- For Breakfast: Toast with Avocado & tomato, drizzled with olive oil and lemon juice. Heaven. Speaking of which. Go to The European, across from Parliament for Sunday Brunch.
- French Fries with sweet chili sauce and sour cream to dip them in.
Tell me you don't want soup from here (on DeGraves)2. Places.
St. Kilda's - view of Melbourne - St. Kilda's. The only beach in the city. I'm not sure I would swim there, but there are beautiful views of the city. And Penguins. That is all one needs.
- Federation Square. Ugly at first site, but a nice meeting spot, and kinda artsy.
- DeGraves Street - I already wrote about it. No where like it anywhere else in the world.
- Queen Victoria Market - fruit, fish, food, and cheap goods. I wish I lived somewhere with a good market. And right in the CBD!
Yes. A Live Penguin.
- Etihad Stadium - home to AFL (FOOTIE!), concerts, cricket
- Australian Open - I was told I could play on the Australian Open Courts. Unfortunately, ther was an event and it wasn't possible. But I tried.
- Moomba Festival. Ok, this isn't the best example of festivals in Melbourne...and there are events of all sorts. But it was on when I was there, and it represents what is great about this city. There is always something going on.
4. Footie.
Footie Fans. No explanation needed.It deserves a category of it's own. Who knew I would love Australian Rules Football? Sadly it was the pre-season, but I still got to go to a live footie game, and it was amazingly easy to fall in love with. Next time I am going to pick a team and learn their fight song. We cheered for the NAB cup winners the Western Bulldogs (Cmon Doggies - pronounced KARN DAWGIES!) Then we took a plane to Brisbane with the Brisbane Lions. Very Tall. I'm going to pick a Melbourne team though. AFL is a Victoria sport at heart!
Monsterous Oval Field. Guys in short-shorts.Well, you get the idea. Lots to love. Definitely come here!
Oh wait -one more thing....HYBRID TAXIS! I'll share a pic in future blogs. Tired of the formatting!