Well, I think the Sydney siders might be right...

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So everyone from Sydney will be quick to let you know how much better it is than Melbourne. More to see, more to do, better weather, etc. I thought this was probably a lot of bs until I my flight touched down in Melbourne on Sunday. Gone was the 85 degree weather (that at the time seemed almost too hot) and in its place was 55 degrees, windy, and rain. In short order I put on my next to nothing cardigan, the only "cold weather" clothing I had with me.

The one positive was that getting into the city was a breeze, thanks to Melbourne's skylink bus. Arrived at the hostel to discover that in its hayday it must have been a seedy hotel. Not any better these days; I walk into the room to discover that I am walking on everyone's crap, literally. It appeared as if a tornado had hit the room. Brochures, clothes, water bottles, and basically everything you can imagine strewn everywhere along with a few random people passed out at 1:30 in the afternoon. Needless to say, I figured it was best that I exit immediately and not come back until it was very late and I was tired enough to pass out in my clothes, as even getting to my bag would be a chore.

So then I called my friend Rob, who, like Alf, I met on my Spain/Portugal trip. He drove in and picked me up in short order and then we spent the day walking and generally catching up. Anyway, since he had been living in London and traveling for the better part of three years, he was not exactly in the best position to play tour guide. We walked along the Yarra River, went to St. Kilda's Beach, and didn't do much else other than eat and chat in the pub. Oh right, we also visited Melbourne's one and only casino; my first time in a casino and first time gambling! (No Mom and Dad, the slot machines in England when I was four do not count). Despite the lack of seeing much and Rob vehemently assuring me there is not much to see there, I had a blast because I was in good company.

The next day he had to work so I was on my own and explored a bit more; some of Melbourne's supposedly famous shopping streets, Federation Square (recently revamped in 2002), and the visitor's center (to see just what I was maybe supposed to be seeing/doing in Melbourne and Victoria). It's too bad I couldn't make it to a cricket game as it is huge there.
In the afternoon, I took the train out to Rob's house in the burbs' and saw all his pictures from traveling then we basically had dinner and he brought me back to the city once it got late. Hopefully he's coming to Sydney in two weeks during my last few days there so we'll get to catch up again! Thanks for everything Rob!

So my review of Melbourne: mixed. Maybe if I had had longer there and could've gotten to a game. Maybe if the weather had been better....I don't know. I won't write it off but based on my limited experience: I think Sydney definitely tops it!

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Comments

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melbourne
You definately need to stay in the cities for longer to know. Sydney is nicer for a couple opf weeks and is beautiful on the harbour but is the biggest rat race city in Australia. Melbourne has more to offer for long-term.