Melbourne Musings: A Chaotic Day in a Cool City
okay, so i'm back. feeling a little…overwhelmed, honestly. i just checked and it's...there right now, hope you like that kind of thing. the weather in melbourne is something. changeable is an understatement. they call it temperate oceanic, which sounds nice, but it translates to potentially four seasons in one day. seriously, i'm pretty sure i saw sunshine, then a drizzle, then a brief but intense burst of wind. it’s…an experience.
melbourne. it's got that city thing going on, you know? a sprawling urban footprint - bigger than sydney, actually. which is a little mind-blowing. and it’s all situated right on the coast, specifically at the head of port phillip bay. it's kinda beautiful, actually, especially from the Yarra River waterfront. i've been wandering around there a lot, just trying to soak it all in. the Yarra River itself is a pretty cool feature, all winding paths and…well, water. it's definitely a place to chill.
it’s fascinating how it grew. originated at the mouth of the Yarra and spread eastwards. they say it’s linked to the geology - basalt plains, thicker eastern soils. it's all very…geological. i’m not necessarily a geology person, but i get the gist. historically, it’s a real melting pot, and the rivalry with sydney is palpable. i overheard someone say someone told me that…well, it was something about coffee and laneway art - classic rivalry stuff.
It’s actually pretty cool, the laneway art. a whole hidden world of street art crammed into narrow passages. a bit touristy, maybe, but still worth a look.
geographically, it’s got these ranges all around - the Dandenong Ranges and the Macedon Ranges are nearby. it’s all undulating hills and valleys. and then it gets to the you yangs…basically just hills. i’m not sure why they’re so important. i just checked the local weather report and the temp is 19.18, feels like 19.03, temp_min is 18.3, temp_max is 21.42, pressure is 1019, humidity is 72, sea_level is 1019, grnd_level is 1015. i’m not really sure what that means, but i’m guessing it’s…okay? it's the kind of stuff you read in a weather report, not something you experience. the thing about melbourne’s weather - it’s utterly unpredictable. they say you can have sunshine one minute and a downpour the next. it’s what makes it so…melbourne.
It's not terrible, just…unexpected.
if you get bored, geelong is just a short drive away. and melton, sunbury…there are plenty of suburbs to explore. it's a fairly spread-out place, so you’ll need a car to really get around. i’m trying to avoid the car at the moment, though. walking is…a workout. but it’s good for the soul, apparently.
and the food! alright, i haven't delved into the cuisine yet, but the general vibe is…good. lots of cafes, restaurants, and general eating establishments. someone told me that their favourite place for brunch is somewhere in Fitzroy, but i haven't been there yet. it's on the list, though.
yeah. that's essentially melbourne in a nutshell. a bit chaotic, a bit unpredictable, but undeniably…Melbourne. i'll keep you updated. it’s…a journey.
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