Down the Lanes
Melbourne. Wow. The San Francisco of the Southern Hemisphere.
Spawned of a mid-1800’s gold rush (yup), Melbourne boomed and drew treasure seekers from the world around so today boasts the same multi-ethnic vibrancy that San Francisco enjoys. Meccas for foodies, both cities offer every cuisine imaginable and bars with the vibe of speakeasies. Parklands. Trolleys. Rectilinear Street grids. Hills. OK . . . Melbourne lacks the Golden Gate Bridge and San Francisco Bay but so does every other great city of the world.
To compensate Melbournians speak like Australians which is to say you immediately like them because they have that delightful accent and they are uniformly cheery and forthcoming.
Plus . . . Australian English employs words that charm the visiting Yank. A trolley is a tram. Sidewalks are footpaths. You don’t check the box, you tick the box. Rednecks are bogans. At the roundabout you don’t yield, you give way. Food is tucker (a favorite of mine). Alleys are lanes. We employ lanes for ambles through the countryside. The good people of Melbourne secrete their coolest and hippest restaurants and bars down their lanes and also spray-paint the walls left and right with stunning images (see above and below).
So here is the only clue you need to find the best food, the best drink, and the best art in Melbourne: follow your nose to the trash bins.
hutch adventure 2 
Love seeing all the street art Bill! Looks like a good tour. MT
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Nooks
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The best life ever. What adventuring. It’s all grand.
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My second favorite place on earth.
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So glad that you are enjoying Melbourne. David and I were there some 20 years ago. Loved every minute of it except for the death march heading to the American consulate. But that is another story in itself. Are you learning the Aussie salute or maybe it isn’t fly time in Australia? Enjoy the rest of your time down under.
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Thanks for sharing your adventure. As an SF native, I am always comparing other places to San Francisco. Love the vibrant art scene. Cheers.
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Thank you Bill for the Melbourne tour. very nice Pictures
Enjoy your Holidays together.
Bises Colette & Andi
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On our bucket list. Enjoy. Must be almost spring there, almost fall here…37 degrees last night in Eden. 😮
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WOW indeed! Just luv your letters from everywhere…sigh. Have some …good …tucker? for me! And don’t forget those South Coast wines!!! 😉 Hello to your sweet lady….xoxo k
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