the australian open

In January last year, I wound my way through Melbourne crowds that crisscrossed from one stadium to another. We headed to court three where a series of doubles were played and later wandered across the complex to watch a singles game. Our passes allowed us into any stadium (as long as there were seats) but this wasn’t the day for the superstars — Federer and Nadal. Their games came later.

Clever signs

I may be a writer, but I can never come up with clever puns. When I see or hear someone else with a slick line, I am gobsmacked — like the CBC radio show, The Debaters, I shake my head at their quick wit, and of course, laugh!

collingwood’s street art

I’d strolled along Smith Street before, past Vietnamese restaurants, European specialist food stores and alternative clothing shops, but this visit, I came from a different direction.

Featured image — a Keith Harding replica street art

victoria’s state library

While I was in Melbourne for six weeks, someone suggested I should visit the state’s library. I headed into the city by tram and found a not so impressive building — but that was only from its exterior. Inside was a different story.

port melbourne’s century old buildings

Once Port Melbourne’s seafront was dominated by factories and warehouses. Many were demolished and replaced with high rise apartments, but some were tastefully recycled.

gasworks arts park

Tucked away in a quiet part of Port Melbourne was a park dedicated to the arts. One building was especially for artists working on sculpture. On a different side of the park was a theatre where plays were often presented.

The world at our fingertips

We headed to Footscray, a western Melbourne suburb and arrived along a street where there must have been a dozen Indian restaurants as well as an Indian supermarket and a couple of glittering clothing shops. But after a quick grocery shop, we headed to the heart of Footscray to experience the rest of what the suburb had to offer.

Acland street

Most tourists strolled along this St Kilda street’s southern end after a Luna Park visit. Crowds dawdled by shop fronts, peered into restaurants or entered the many cake shops that enticed customers with their calorie-laden goods.

beyond port phillip bay

St Kilda’s Pier and Albert Park are well known landmarks in Melbourne, so it was time to explore some of the suburb’s back streets on my daily hike. St Kilda’s terraced houses had gradually disappeared, but there were still majestic homes along the route I took.

Not just in melbourne city centre

Across the street from the downtown NGV, there were hoards of tourists with their cell phones aimed at Hosier Lane’s street art. I boycotted the alleyway and headed to Fitzroy — a Melbourne suburb.