Melbourne!

We just spent the last week in Melbourne. Our first experience in a big city in Australia. We had a great time visiting museums, exploring side alley cafes, and viewing the diverse architecture. Melbourne is truely the city of lights and color. There was a theme to it, " light up the winter". Many of the downtown buildings had an abstract swirl or splash of a color capping it off or incorporated into the design. Jess and I were both amazed at the creativity many people (particularly youth) used in there daily wardrobe. Everyone was so "stylish". It was fun for us to walk around being the obvious backpackers. We stayed right around the corner from an ally way know to be the crowded cafe scene of Melbourne. We had a slice of cake and coffee there a couple of nights and (to me) it felt like being in a scene of a movie, having such a nice ambiance. Also, about two blocks away was the Melbourne Art Museum! We spent three different days exploring each level and admiring the vast array of works. We enjoyed each time period and seeing many paintings and etchings from well known artists ( Cezanne, Degas, Monet, Manet, Picasso, Pissarro, Renoir, Modigliani, Rembrandt etc.) It was such a different experience going from small New Zealand to such a densely populated city! We walked down the streets shoulder to shoulder with so many different people with such different ethnicity. We also ate some fabulous Indian, Chinese and Indonesian food! Jess and I visited the Royal Gardens, the Immigration Museum, and the Queen Victoria Marketplace with over 1000 stalls. Including an indoor area with permanent stalls selling meats, cheeses, wines, dips, olives, and candies. This was such an old world experience for me! We had was a very interesting time visiting the city. We may go back in a week or so for a day visit. Right now we are in a small town called Torquey. This is home to world famous Bells Beach (Point Break). In fact I am on the surf spot at the moment. Currently the waves are better than they have been in weeks, and Jess is thouroughly enjoying them. What a gift! Though, it is about 48 degrees and slowly dropping.... my fingers are cramping up a little and I have a steady nose run....BUT the sky and water are beautiful shades of blue and peach and gray. So this is what makes the trip! The times when your senses are in full effect and awarness rises. You take in the memories a little bit deeper.