10 reasons to love Melbourne
1. The people – are without fail beautiful, so welcoming, kind and friendly, Melburnians love their city and quite rightly. It’s safe, it’s clean, it’s beautiful and it has an abundance of arts, culture, sport, food, shopping, sights and nature on its doorstep. They are right to be singing its praises from the rooftop.
The most welcoming and caring housemate ever Allie, Melburnian and proud. This woman loves her city and helped show me around when i first arrived
2. The markets – Oh sweet Jesus the food markets are going to be hard to leave. From my old local Camberwell to the glory of the gigantic Queen Victoria Market in the North of the city i am in my element in these places. Having taken in South Melbourne market, Vic, Prahran and Camberwell so far and the night market at Vic. I am smitten. I’ll go in for one or two things and get seduced by the myriad of other options every time. I am like a kid in a sweet shop, there is so much to see, smell and taste. I could easily spend a whole day just wandering round looking and trying things.
Vic Market, Melbourne – Actual Cake Lady heaven
3. The restaurants – I’m making it my mission to slowly work through as many as i can of a lunchtime or weekend. I will never manage to make all of the ones on my hit list, but there is such an incredible mix of different types of food cooked fabulously well. It has to be one of the few places where i’ve eaten fusion food that actually works. In most places i have been to there’s one dominant culture clinging on to their identity and not letting the beauty of another shine through. Thank you Jardin Tan! 🙂
Bright, fresh treats at Jardin Tan Melbourne
4. The Cafes – It’s impossible to get a bad coffee in Melbourne, on every street corner there is a chilled out cafe/bar serving up delectable coffee, treats, breakfast and lunch. Even the odd glass of wine or cocktail in most too. Beware though, it’s strong i can only cope with one a day here despite being able to manage many on my trips to Italy.
Cold drip at the infamous Chez Dre
5. The weather – Christmas day it was 26 degrees, it was weird but it was actually kind of cool too. No need to hanker down and hibernate! It’s changeable like in the UK, but i’m seasoned at carrying a cardigan or a scarf everywhere so i can cope with that. It’s got chillier into Autumn, but still nothing compared to the UK
It’s sunny all the time in Oz right?! Pah! This was me, caught in the rain on my way home from work in the middle of the summer. The poor electrician that was in the house at the time got quite a fright
6. The beach – Victoria’s beaches are all gorgeous in their own special way. From the people watching at St Kilda to the secluded hideaways down in Mornington Peninsula. The harbour fronts never cease to make me smile, i struggled to move from the spot at Mornington one Sunday afternoon. Watching the boats, sky and people transition through the day was mesmerising in the sunshine.
Victoria’s beautiful beaches are super accessible
7. The architecture – Old Victorian buildings come in all sorts of sizes and shapes with the distinct traditional style. Mixed in with striking sleek modern structures, but they work.
Melbourne’s Royal Exhibition Centre, i felt like i was committing a crime when we had to drive in here to pick things up from an events expo!
8. The trams – There are trams, buses and trains aplenty. I can walk 2 mins to the tram stop and go straight into the city no faffing around.
Only tourists actually get on this one, but it does the same thing as the ones that get me to where i need to be every day!
9. The parks – there are tonnes of them dotted all around the place, with different purposes you are sure to find some lush green open spaces to suit you. My favourite for a sunny afternoon stroll is the Botanical gardens though. A huge mix of different types of scenery and events to lose myself in over the summer.
Beautiful Botanical Gardens, Melbourne
10. The history – the areas in and around Melbourne were the first to be settled in by the early European explorers, so there are historical facts and figures a plenty about this area. There are a raft of exhibitions on at any given time across Melbourne and the surrounding towns (sorry, cities… that’s another conversation!) including the wonderful Melbourne Museum, The Royal Exhibition Centre is a must while you are there it’s stunning.
Cook’s Cottage, Melbourne – James Cook’s family home. Transported all the way from the UK
So come on, what’s stopping you?! book that flight and come say hi! 🙂 There are heaps more that i could have listed, but this is just your starter for 10.
Baci a tutti! x x x
