The big city at last. And what a change from quiet Perth and tourist
Tasmania. Melbourne is 'old money' by Australian standards and has
many beautiful Victorian buildings to prove it. Striking in their
lack of decay and grime, there is a freshness about them that one
doesn't find in similar buildings in the US.
But as lovely as they may be, they are dwarfed by the modern skyline.
Melbourne is the first city I've been to in Oz that is truly the
driver for its region. Event driven, filled with cultural
attractions, the old money connection gives its museums and neigh-
borhoods a sense of rootedness that one doesn't feel elsewhere.
For the traveller the food prices are better and the lodging prices
slightly higher so it's about even if you can stay out of the high-
end eateries. Prices being what they are in Australia the hostels
tend to have longer term guests who are working to help pay for
their travels. This changes the vibe a bit and puts the short-term
guest in the minority. It is what it is.
Next up, a bit of seashore camping en route to Canberra, the nation's
capital.