"Melbourne Revisited City of Many... " a Melbourne Travel Page by aussiedoug

Melbourne is apparently one of the world's most liveable cities.

Unfortunately there are too many parochial Sydneysiders & Melbournians that promote this silly intercity rivalry. Not too many cities can compare with the stunning natural beauty of Sydney's setting. Not too many cities can compare with the cafe society, culture, shopping, entertainment & sporting aspects of Melbourne. Here we see yet again that most places have their pluses & minuses. Sydney's climate does win over Melbourne's, but Melbourne is better in some other ways.

Seriously now folks. I honestly do think I got the feel of this so liveable city by walking extensively around it, particularly on the first day which included a visit to the National Gallery of Victoria - International to see the Edvard Munch Exhibition, "The Frieze of Life". I'm sooooo glad I did see it because it was nothing short of superb. A real eye-opener. I mean everybody's heard of "The Scream" no doubt, but I wonder how many of us know no more about this fascinating painter & his works. Well I would have put myself well & truly in that category before having my eyes opened by this
stunning show of his paintings & woodcuts.

Well what about this photo. We see a shot of the Yarra River with Flinders St station (a magnificent piece of architecture/building) in the front of the city ckyline & on the far left (as we look at it) of this City Skyline we see the magnificent Rialto Tower. A beautiful piece of highrise & the centrepiece of a battlle for the tallest building (forget if it's just in Melbourne or the whole sthn hemisphere - sure this'll attract some comment so please enlighten me).

Well I can't give a definitive answer to this question, but I do know this city grows on you as you get to know it a little better.

But that alone does not make it liveable. One of the things I really like about Melbourne are the little, big brother streets, the Arcades & Lanes. Just like Paris, lots of little nooks & crannies, so to speak , where you can find all sorts of delights be they food, coffee, fashion or other shopping. The photo I have attached here is a little sample of that. It is near the entry to the Block Arcade in Collins Street & I'll be adding this place as a must see so will give a bit more info then.