A fine Antipodean City

I am back in Australia...a five year absence was far too long.  And I returned to Melbourne...for the first time since 1997.  It impressed me then as a progressive city...most people seemed to have cell phones at a time when they were still uncommon in the US.  And it's marched on, and shows a handsome skyline from the seaside suburb of St Kilda.

A forest of masts and skyscrapers.

A dog and rabbit enjoying a cuppa on the shoreline promenade at St Kilda.

Cindy celebrating at Luna Park...a Melbourne institution since 1912.  The park was closed on this day...except for a private party...but on a summer weekend in 1997 the suburb was teeming with locals.  The white Australians were sunbaking on the beach in skimpy cossies.  That wasn't acceptable to the Muslims, of course, but they were all in Luna Park doing the rides and having a grand time...at least as much fun as the sunbakers.

There's an old concert hall called the Palais next to Luna Park, and it draws distinguished acts.

A tram rumbles through St Kilda.  We got MYKI cards and easily moved about the city from our swish apartment in Fitzroy.

St Kilda has some wonderful iron grillwork in the old Victorian homes...similar to those in the Paddington district of Sydney and the French Quarter of New Orleans.

Two trams on the main drag of St Kilda.

Our home district of Fitzroy is a funky mix of artists, hippies, and hipsters.  Creative graffiti abounds.