"Melbourne, Capital of Victoria... " a Melbourne Travel Page by Ronald_T

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<p align="center"><font face="Times New Roman" size="5" color="#FF00FF">M</font><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">elbourne, It is hard to explain my feeling about this place. When I arrived, I really thought I was back in <a href="http://www.virtualtourist.com/m/.53989/919/">Antwerp</a>. The trams are driving you nuts - maybe that is the reason I saw so many crazy people there. Something you see as well in <a href="http://www.virtualtourist.com/m/.53989/919/">Antwerp</a>. Make a investigation of this phenomena Shrinks, maybe you will find the connection between trams and nutty people ;-)</font></p><center><img src="http://www.ender-design.com/rg/images/lines/inward/001/in00104.jpg"></center><p align="center"><font face="Times New Roman" size="5" color="#FF00FF">A</font><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">bout those trams, some VT members who are very familiar with this city say that the people from Melbourne are the most friendly of Aussie. Well, my first experience with a local was a tram-driver just after our arriving. We ask her how the cost was St. Kilda, the place we had order our hotel. Her answer was: "Ask the machine". Then I asked her friendly, as I am, what machine she was talking about here. "There in the back. Open your eyes man", was the answer I got. I was thinking immediate about the words on <a href="http://www.virtualtourist.com/m/.41281/861/" target=new> Krystynn's</a> and <a href="http://www.virtualtourist.com/m/.78074/861/" target=new> Keeweechic's</a> Melbourne pages. Well, maybe she had just a bad day or some words with her hubby. Who will tell? ;-) Nevertheless, lets go further with that machine. It was going about a ticket-machine and by the time, we figured out how it was working we where in St. Kilda already. I tell you more about this all in the chapter "Transportation - Getting around". </font></p><center><img src="http://www.ender-design.com/rg/images/lines/inward/001/in00104.jpg"></center><p align="center"><font face="Times New Roman" size="5" color="#FF00FF">T</font><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">hen there are the so very nice old buildings where its hard to make a picture of it because of the tram-cables above the streets (phenomena we have in <a href="http://www.virtualtourist.com/m/.53989/919/"> Antwerp</a> and <a href="http://www.virtualtourist.com/m/.53989/922/"> Brussels</a> as well) or you have to look up to the wonderful outer walls. Big modern shops destroy it as in <a href="http://www.virtualtourist.com/m/.53989/919/"> Antwerp</a> and <a href="http://www.virtualtourist.com/m/.53989/922/"> Brussels</a> the buildings do, only need the ground floor to make their money and let languish the upper storey. Yes, also here the monuments loose their character by the capitalism…sigh… Not even to talk about the aggressive way retailers tempts the visitors in their shops.</font></p><center><img src="http://www.ender-design.com/rg/images/lines/inward/001/in00104.jpg"></center><p align="center"><font face="Times New Roman" size="5" color="#FF00FF">H</font><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">owever, it was not all trouble and affliction in Melbourne. Their suburbs and wonderful coastline make Melbourne to what it is nowadays. Take a tour to the <a href="http://www.virtualtourist.com/m/.53989/article/861/43/"> Great Ocean Road</a> and you will see what I am talking about. However, then we are outside the Melbourne centre!</font></p><center><img src="http://www.ender-design.com/rg/images/lines/inward/001/in00104.jpg"></center><p align="center"><font face="Times New Roman" size="5" color="#FF00FF">M</font><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">elbourne is the Capital of the State Victoria, settled on the Yarra estuary in Port Phillip Bay. With more then 3,2 million inhabitants, one of the biggest cities in <a href="http://www.virtualtourist.com/m/.53989/97/">Australia</a>. Settled in 1835, it was named (1837) after <a href="http://royalty.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?site=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk%2FPRmelbourne.htm" target=new>Lord Melbourne</a>, the British prime minister. Enfranchise was given in 1849. From 1901 to 1927, the city was the seat of the <a href="http://www.virtualtourist.com/m/.53989/97/">Australia</a> federal government. Until now, they are still adherent citizens they claim Melbourne to be the Capital of <a href="http://www.virtualtourist.com/m/.53989/97/"> Australia</a> instead of <a href="http://www.virtualtourist.com/m/.53989/857/">Canberra</a>. The same is more or less going on in <a href="http://www.virtualtourist.com/m/.53989/864/">Sydney</a>. It has been because of the discussion between <a href="http://www.virtualtourist.com/m/.53989/864/"> Sydney</a> and Melbourne that the choice fell on <a href="http://www.virtualtourist.com/m/.53989/857/"> Canberra</a> to be Australia's Capital.</font></p>

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<p align='center'><font face='Times New Roman' size='4' color='#0000FF'>Web Cam over the Bolte Bridge, Victoria Harbour, Colonial Stadium and City of Melbourne.</font></p>
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