"Melbourne" a Australia Travel Page by Kulprit

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Even the elderly have a great outdoor life in Oz

Australia´s cultural capital

While Aussies tend to be a pretty laid-back bunch I can´t help but notice a mild tension between Sydney and Melbourne over which is the real capital of Australia. Now, before I get a string of emails pointing out that neither is (Canberra holding that distinction but without - sorry if you´re from there - being particularly distinct) let me hasten to explain that I mean this in the sense of a flagship city rather than seat of government. Sydney is great. It has some amazing features and the people are wonderful. However, as an Irish guy with all that this implies, I come down heavily in favour of Melbourne. While Sydney rocks at ´The Rocks´ and such places each weekend it tends to die down during the week with only the sleazy red light district remaining busy. Melbourne, on the other hand, has a heart that beats steadily all week through.

Melbourne is a multicultural melting pot in one sense but not everything melts... The inhabitants of the city are fundamentally Aussies. However, the rich traditions of the mixed cultures which make up the population are retained with pride. The Irish influence dates back to the forming years of the nation and the modern presence is very much diluted. On Queen Street, downtown, is the Celtic Club where Irish ex-pats meet and listen to distinguished speakers from the old sod from time to time. Flemington Racecourse - home of the world famous Melbourne Cup - also hosts an Irish Day with lots of leprechaun hats and shamrockery. The city is home to no fewer than 28 Irish pubs and, unlike other parts of the world, you´ll often find actual Irish people working in them. However, the influence of other nations is stronger now in Melbourne than the historic Irish one. Post war Europe saw a flood of Italians and Greeks entering Australia in search of a better life. Melbourne now has the second largest Greek population outside of Athens while Italian food is as authentic there than in any Italian city.
Whatever you are seeking, you´ll find it in Melbourne. Brunswick is the grungy student area of town while St Kilda, near the beach, is a colourful experience with countless cute cafes and interesting streets where druggies and yuppies rub shoulders in seemingly improbable harmony. Beyond St Kilda, heading out Nepean Highway, you find yourself on the Mornington Peninsula where you leave Brighton with its colouful beach boxes for Mordiallic with it´s boats to Frankston - a city in itself on the rise - and Mornington with great bars and restaurants.
Elsewhere in the city Chadstone, on Princes Highway, is a huge shopping mall with everything one can imagine and a constant bustle of happy people shopping or simply soaking up the atmosphere. Those who make their clothing purchases from the more pricey designer stores upstairs can probably be seen later in the evening sipping cocktails outdoors on Chapel Street where pimped up cars cruise up and down the street.
Melbourne is a magnificent city in a magnificent country. Pity it takes so damned long to get there...
If anyone wants info drop me a line.