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Published: March 29th 2012
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Our take-off from the Whitsundays was definitely the most ‘cloudy’ one I have ever experienced; we didn’t see the sunshine until well into the second hour of the flight. However, we were very glad to hear that Melbourne is sunny and 27C.
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2010, the greater geographical area had an approximate population of four million. Melbourne was founded in 1835 (47 years after the European settlement of Australia) by settlers from Launceston in Van Diemen's Land. Melbourne was officially declared a city by Queen Victoria in 1847. In 1851, it became the capital city of the newly created colony of Victoria. During the Victorian gold rush of the 1850s, it was transformed into one of the world's largest and wealthiest cities
Melbourne was ranked as the world's most liveable city in the World's Most Livable Cities ratings by the Economist Group's Intelligence Unit in August, 2011. We can
see how this makes sense, given for example it’s great tram system. The city center is also laid out in a grid, and has beautiful architecture and green spaces. Melbourne also takes pride in enjoying good food. There are tons of charming little cafes and every meal we had there was really good.
We landed in the afternoon but it took us a while to get to Theresa and Jamie Melia’s apartment, there was quite a bit of traffic. Once we arrived we were warmly received by Jamie and Theresa. It was great seeing them again, they both looked fantastic. We were so excited that Theresa was 8 months pregnant, and can’t wait to hear the good news when she delivers.
The first night was nice and relaxing, catching up and learning about Melbourne. We went for a walk after a nice home cooked meal, and they told us about the magpie bird. A very territorial black and white bird that is about the size of a large pigeon, the magpie is known to swoop down and attack people from the back of the head when it is nesting season. People often wear sunglasses on the backs of
their heads to protect against unanticipated magpies. Lucky for us it was not nesting season, but I still kept my distance. Jamie also pointed out the evening bat show, where bats fly near the house each evening. We were also impressed by the clear night sky and how bright the stars were. After the walk, Kostek enjoyed learning about Aussie football and watched the 2007 Cats – Saints final, a very exciting game.
The next morning we got an early start and enjoyed a traditional Australian brekky at one of Theresa’s recommended hot spots, the European. It was a charming small café with great food and coffee. We then walked around town and down to St. Paul’s Cathedral, where we met Wild Wombat Winery Tours, who took us around the Yarra valley to sample some of the local wines and cheeses. Joining us on the tour were three women who had gone to school together, but now live in Hong Kong, Sydney, and Perth, respectively. They plan the girls-only getaways once every few years. We thought it was a nice tradition and a great way to explore a new area. It was a gorgeous day with the sun shining
brightly. The views of the countryside and vines were really beautiful.
We started our tour at Jamie and Theresa’s favorite winery, Sticks. We were excited to try wine from the place where they found our wedding gift, beautiful Pinot Noir glasses. Founded by an Australian football player, this winery had fantastic wines with the scenery to match. Sticks’ special blends are named 29, his footie #. After Sticks, we went to Coombe Farm winery, where they had scenic views of the fresh pond and high winds. These two conditions gave the vines an advantage in that they grew in cooler temperatures. Following Coombe Farm we had a nice lunch al fresco at another winery, which had a Tuscan theme. A young guy led our tasting after lunch, and I was impressed with his knowledge of viticulture. Our final winery was the large Oakridge Winery. They too had really nice Pinot Noirs. To finish off the day, our guide took us to Yarra Valley Dairy, where we tasted homemade farm house cheeses. What a beautiful and relaxing day!
After the tour we dropped into St. Paul’s Cathedral where there was a small choir concert. The stained glass windows and
architecture were impressive. Following, we joined Jamie and Theresa at the top of the Rialto tower, Melbourne’s highest building to enjoy the sunset overlooking the Melbourne skyline. Afterwards, we all went to a delicious Middle Eastern restaurant where we sampled the chef’s selection menu. All dishes were fantastic and artfully presented. What a holiday!
The next day we were met with the rain, but that didn’t stop our tour of the city. We took an old fashioned cable car into the city, and visited the
Immigration Museum. It was interesting to walk through the hull of a ship and see the conditions in which different eras of immigrants made their journey to Australia. After the museum, we took advantage of the last day of Melbourne’s food and wine festival and had the chef’s express lunch at Hare and Grace Restaurant. After we soaked in the city by meandering through its beautiful arcades (covered walkways lined with small boutiques).
After a day of touring the city, Jamie and Theresa picked us up and we headed back to their apartment for pizza and hanging out. We called it an early night as we had a 6:15 am pickup to
head to the airport. Our trip to Melbourne was great, and way too short. Thank you to Jamie and Theresa for showing us this beautiful city.
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