This isn’t a Valentine’s Day post, but I want to declare my love for the city of Melbourne. It’s so easy to navigate and full of interesting people and it’s just so COOL. (Even when it’s just so HOT, like yesterday – which stayed in the high 30s through to the night time and made walking around town a bit of a challenge.) In Sydney, a lane way between buildings in the CBD is generally just a lane way, for rubbish or truck deliveries or drunk men to wee in. In Melbourne, a lane way between buildings in the CBD could be a funky bar, a series of restaurants, a gallery for street art, a shopping haven or a market. For the record, it can also be for rubbish or drunk men to wee in – I want to add that to be fair to my Sydney. But for the most part, this city just seems to get it right. Here are some pics from my wanderings.
A shopping centre display of giant beach balls called Amazeballs. Yes, really.Like the ancient ruins in Rome, you’ll just be walking along and oh, HELLO AMAZING STREET ART.Down the lane way – a gallery of street art. And a whole lot of dodgy graffiti too.A funky bar tucked into a tiny lane way.Lane way restaurants and cafes.The Blender Lane Artists’ Market, where I met an amazing lady selling incredible photos mounted on reclaimed wood to raise money for orphanages and schools they’re building in Africa. This lady volunteers a lot of her time in addition to her day job as a domestic violence social worker. Just awesome. Other than that, I was the only non-tattooed dork in that crowded Lane, I tell you. And sometimes, a lane way is just a normal trashy lane way. Even in Melbourne.This Melbourne institution, a franchised fast food operation (errr derrr) has to have one of the best names on the planet. The beginning of the Queen Victoria Markets night time session with market stalls, heaps of bands, lots of food and drinks, and a bzillion people enjoying the summer sun. Such a great atmosphere, though the market stalls weren’t that interesting.And on a really hot night after a really hot day, nothing beats an old school handmade fresh lemonade slushie. In a bio cup, because that’s so Melbourne. Love it.
It’s a pity some of the big beach balls are deflating, how are they going to blow them back up?
ps: there’s a lovely surprise in that nondescript laneway with the rubbish bins. If you look up at the end you can see the Mazda cat on the side of the old Beehive building, here’s a pic I took from a different spot http://www.flickr.com/photos/bonitoclub/8348757598/
everydaysparks 
Oh, Sparks – I’m just the teeniest bit jealous. Totally agree with you on Melbourne’s fab’ lane ways.
And, my friend, celebrate being ink-free. Once it’s there, it’s very difficult to change your mind (even if it does look cool!)
OK now you are rubbing it in….. and a slushy too….. :-)I love those lane ways, I always manage to get lost though…. but perhaps that is the idea!
It’s a pity some of the big beach balls are deflating, how are they going to blow them back up?
ps: there’s a lovely surprise in that nondescript laneway with the rubbish bins. If you look up at the end you can see the Mazda cat on the side of the old Beehive building, here’s a pic I took from a different spot http://www.flickr.com/photos/bonitoclub/8348757598/
Thanks Tony – that’s such a fantastic pic and I love that the cat is still towering over the lane way! 🙂
Melbourne could be my Valentine. I always enjoy visiting.
Me too. But you have a real life human Valentine! Actually, you have four! (That makes you sound kinda dodgy, but you know what I mean.) 🙂