Melbourne and area

December 12, 2006

Arieh here. Melbourne was fun. We spent 5 days there and managed to get our fill of the city AND the Great Ocean Road. Melbournians consider their city as the "cultural capital" compared to Sydney (or any other Australian city). Partly true and partly because it is no longer the financial capital.

Melbourne does have many museums and art galleries and we checked out a few of them. Federation Square (built and named in honour of 100 years of federation from 1901?) has a major national art gallery with a whole floor of Aboriginal art and 2 or 3 levels of Australian artists dating from the "First Fleet period (1788) on through the ages. Jonathan Amir would really enjoy this art gallery. There was one piece of Aboriginal art that the fish looked like they were jumping off the canvas. The botanical garden was huge and made very interesting by a tour with only the guide and 4 guests. The tram system is extensive and somewhat easy to navigate (the maps are a different story). We went to shul in St. Kilda, which is also an up and coming trendy area and beach. We went back to walk around the beach the next day when it was in the high 30s, although not humid.


The Great Ocean Road is about 250 KM one-way outside of Melbourne and features stunning views of beaches and coastline (obscured by smoke from the forest fires in the north of the state), interesting rock formations (12 Apostles; see picture)
and a "above the forest" walk. When looking at these rock formations I have always pondered when and how a big piece collapses and, for example, a hole is formed or a big break occurs. It would be cool to be there, but most of these events happened millions of years ago. Well, not in this picure. This break (called "London Bridge") collapsed in 199? near the end of the day with people walking around on the piece that was left DISCONECTED from the shore. A few minutes earlier or a few feet in the wrong direction and the couple would have been buried by a huge slab of rock crumbling around them. Rescued by helicoper a few hours later. We also had a lot of fun with the tour guides, Brian and Grace, from "A Tour With A Difference" (www.atwad.com.au ). If you ever get to Melbourne contact them at: tours@atwad.com.au . They are a lot of fun. The picture below shows the first and last time I ate or will eat Marmite!