Melbourne to Run

View of Pedestrian Bridge to Strain Station

I arrived in Melbourne by train and stayed withing walking distance of the train station. My hotel was very nice and I arrived at around 7:30 PM.  I asked the hotel clerk where I could go to get something to eat and he said around the corner.  Around the corner was a huge stadium with a lit up video screen.  It looked like a rugby game going on.  I asked someone and they said, it was an Australian football game.  There was no stopping me.  For 16 dollars I bought a general admission and sat on the fifty yard line.  The field is twice as big as an NFL field and it is almost as long as it is wide.

Hari Krishna Girls On Street

Please note, I did not have my camera much on me in Melbourne and most of the pics are taken with my cell phone, which is an old blackberry.  Incidentally,  I have an international cell phone plan.  Where I get email and internet.  Instead of using the Verizon plan to make calls, both in Australia and New Zealand I bought pre paid plans with SIM cards.  I am able to take the Verizon card out of the phone and put in the host countries card.  So it is like having two phones in one.

Melbourne Looking Very Chicago Lik

Melbourne is like Chicago.  It is clean, modern on a river and you can tell the city cares for its people.

Federation Square

There is a huge gathering are called Federation Square, which has shops and restaurants and an open area to hang out. 

Melbourne is vibrant.  There are a lot of people moving about and big change from bucolic New Zealand.  It is a fun city to just hang out and walk around. 

The old train station handles the city trains as well as has shops and is place to hang out.

Melbourne offers a free vintage cable car ride around a good part of the city.  It is interesting that in Christchurch the same ride was $20 a person.

On the outskirts of Melbourne is a flea and fruit market called Victoria Market with clothes, souvenirs and crafts.

The Australians love to eat anything, and treat food is very in.  Including our own American donuts.  There was a line 30 deep of people waiting in line for donuts.

In the middle of the city is China Town and I happened to be there during Chinese New Years.  There are lots of Asians in both Australia and New Zealand.  In fact you will see a lot of Cleveland, Indians caps.  The Koreans follow cleveland outfielder Sin Soo Choo.

Kendell New Zealand Model

In one of the shopping malls near the trains station, I see a familiar face.  The girl in the window is Kendell, the model I shot in New Zealand.  Melbourne has a number of amazing shopping malls.

View From My Train Window Sydney To Melbourn

 I was in Melbourne twice.  Both times I arrived by train.  The first trip from Sydney I booked a first class ticket and had a cabin all to myself.  It was a bit "daggy," (Australian slang for dingy).

 I was able to lie down and sleep as it was a 12 hour train ride.  My second trip in to Melbourne was from Adelaide.  I went normal fare and had a bunch of seats to myself.  On that train they had tea time and I was treated to one of the most delicious things I have ever eaten. I bought from the food car a hot scone and tea.  I put cream and a package of jam on the schone and it was absolutely delightful.

I was in heaven on my train ride to Melbourne.  The little unexpected treats and happenings is what have really made this trip special.