Sunday, June 09, 2013

A Walk in the City

It's a long weekend here in Melbourne. Why? Well you might well ask, the answer confuses me!
We celebrate the second weekend in June for the Queen's Birthday. Most of you would realise that it's not really Lizzie's birthday, that's passed. I really don't have an explanation as to why we celebrate on this particular weekend. It is the opening of the ski season so maybe we just need a long weekend to get to the Alps. Not much snow at this time of the year really but it does give those Skiing folk a chance to play merry I guess.



As we parked and alighted from the car, I took this photo of architecture in Elizabeth Street.
I must admit that Melbourne has some great architecture - although we have destroyed a great deal as well.

As for Sue and I, well the bathroom renovation saga slowly grinds along but we thought we might just pop in to the Melbourne CBD. As you know, we call the blog - "Melbourne - Our Home by the Bay", but really, we are around 20 kms out of the city proper. We hardly go to town and although it has much to offer, we realised today that we are not big city people. Our retirement dream of Launceston on the apple isle of Tasmania is looking a little more promising after today.


I said to Sue that I would like to wander down the historic arcades of Melbourne. Royal and Block arcades take you from Bourke Street to Collins Street and you can continue down the laneways to Flinders Street and the Yarra River.

We parked the car at the top end near Bourke Street and then entered the Royal arcade from Elizabeth Street. The Royal Arcade was built in 1869. It has a high glass roof and the most magical shops. Towards one end of the arcade it has the mythical figures of Gog and Magog and between the two is a huge clock the charms on the hour.


As you walk through Royal Arcade you pass by the mythical figures above and into Collins Street. Across the road is the Block Arcade. To the right just happen to be a red Ferrari parked outside (where else but) Tiffany and Co. Obviously on on our budget it was but at least worth a peruse. Block Arcade has this black and white mosaic floor and above a glass and wrought iron canopy. It reminds us of the covered arcades of Paris. In fact further up Collins Street is known as the Paris end of Melbourne.

Shabby and need a need paint job, this building is in the laneway of Little Collins Street.
And next door to the one above is this building - if you enlarge you will see it reads - "The City of Melbourne Building", why I do not know!




Block Arcade I believe gained its name by the fact that early Melburnians would promenade around the block in the late 1800s, early 1900s. A little further on as you walk towards the Yarra and Flinders Street it becomes a much more bohemian with little coffee shops and some very creative graffiti.

Don't get us wrong, we love Melbourne, but today told us that a change is in the wings. Melbourne is a great city for the young but for us - we need a tree/sea change. After escaping the big smoke, we drove down to Middle Park, a suburb of Melbourne not far from the bay. There's a special little wine bar there that I've taken Sue to on various occasions. A very nice New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc awaited us and I purchased a Tassie Pinot Noir to go with the chicken dish she had in mind for Sunday night's meal.

 A Sunday night movie and off to bed - YES, tomorrow is a holiday day....

BLOCK ARCADE

14 comments:

  1. The royal arcade is a gorgeous building. I know exactly how you feel about going into big cities (been there done that). Does this mean that as soon as you turn 62 and the bathroom is done, "you outta there"?

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    1. Hi Nadege,
      Yes, bothe the Royal and the Block arcades are really interesting but we were bouncing off people all thw way through which made us realise we like our own space now.
      I'm actually closer to retirement by one year (63 and 65 in April 2015). I've working in the bathroom over this long weekend and I think we are finally over the hard stuff. Painting the walls and ceiling, adding accessories will see us finished.
      The list of other jobs however is growing.
      Do you live near the beach - its one of those reasons that we love where we are on the bay.

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  2. The Arcade is fabulous!

    Happy out in the sticks. If we want a day out in Paris it is do-able. Since we know it is there there's not much of an urge to go.

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    1. N & A or should it be A & N,
      We love your part of France and been very fortunate through Blogging to have made many friends. In fact good friends across the river from W & K have asked us to house sit September 2014. Really looking forward to a bit of country life.

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    2. How excellent! :-) I bet you can't wait. Perhaps we can meet up while you're here.

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    3. I'm sure we can - house sitting in the Loire for a month will give us plenty of time to meet new and old friends.

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  3. I would have enjoyed the arcade up to five years ago, but after five years of living in the French countryside I have become addicted to the slower pace of life in regards to consumer life-style. Nice to have a walk through the Arcade with you, and be reminded of how nice it is to be living where we are. I do hope that you realise your dream of moving out to Tasmania, or somewhere equally as quiet.

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    1. Sue scans the houses for sale almost everyday, sometimes even in France.
      But it is almost impossible for non EU people to live there I believe.

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  4. Melbourne looks beautiful, we have not been there, or to Perth as no family in either town. Now the flight is too long for N's feet so little chance of seeing it now unless we win the lottery and can afford to fly first class!! I have to say I also hate big towns though we seem to have seen a few in the past few weeks, all of which have been interesting. So many photos to sort out but I will get back to blogging soon. Hope all well with the two of you. Take care Diane

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    1. Will look forward to your "come back" to blogging. I'm sur you both had a great time together. You are like Sue and I, enjoy travelling together.
      Keep buying lottery tickets, never know your luck. And if you don't win enought to visit Australia, we'll be back soon.

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  5. Those arcades are lovely. But I know what you mean. I like the idea of the big city but not the reality. A half day with the crowds and I want to be home in countryside again.

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    1. Hi Craig,
      It this a symptom of old age that we get grumpy with crowds?

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  6. This is one of my all-time favourite parts of Melbourne (and Sydney). If I was going to do a PhD in architectural and social history, it would certainly be on our arcades.

    However to be honest, they were simply an attempt to civilise Australian society and faithfully copy the stunning arcades in places like London, Paris and Milan. Even Cardiff has maintained some of its gorgeous arcades and not destroyed them in favour of soulless malls in the distant suburbs.

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    1. Hels - what took you so long to comment. I thought this would be in your field when I posted.
      Sue and I have had the good fortune to have walked the Paris covered hallways several times. I think we compare favorably.

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