Odds and Ends

The countdown to heading back home (and CHRISTMAS!!) has started! I'm still having such a fantastic time here - better than even an optimist like I would have predicted - but I'm ready to go home, cold weather and all. With just two weeks to go I figured it was time to post about all the little odds and ends I've been saving up for you. Sorry if I've already mentioned one or two of these - but I think they should all be new for you!!

A Family Visit
This is a really old one - I actually have family in Australia and they have been incredibly welcoming and helpful in getting me on my feet here. I joined them for a birthday celebration awhile ago and really enjoyed reconnecting with relatives I haven't seen in years. Bit of an issue that people and heads are cut out, but it's the best I have - we had to set a timer!

My Home in Melbourne
Unlike my home in Geelong, my home in Melbourne is fantastic - the Park Hyatt. Most weekends I'm lucky enough to get a room with a view of this beautiful cathedral (picture actually taken from my room!):

The only bad part about it is that there are about 15 weddings here each weekend. I've seen so many hotel weddings that I'm swearing right here and now that I will never get married in a hotel. It's hard to argue with the lobby though - it's beautiful:

And finally a view from the entrance. This may seem excessive to you, but this is where I live and it must be documented!!!

Vic Market
There's a fantastic market here that I occasionally frequent on weekends for a snack or just a destination. It's a huge farmers' market meets the crap that is sold in the Asian markets....except the crap is really pretty bad. Here are some pictures from my last trip there! (Note the knockoff Ugg boots!)

Entrance to Vic Market 

Amazing deli section

More deli!

So many vegetables. If only I had a kitchen!

This is apparently a tradition of the market. When KM took me the first time we had to reward ourselves for all the good shopping we did with doughnuts

The start of the crap

Who wants fake "Made in Australia" Uggs?

Fantastic Art Galleries

A couple of weeks ago I ventured into the National Gallery of Victoria, just a 10 minute walk from my hotel. There are actually two art galleries - the closest one houses Australian artists, both Native and Colonial and is located in Federation Square, a very interesting building:

 I also really enjoyed the Aboriginal art. At first it just looks like a bunch of dots, but I joined a free guided tour (actually, the entire experience was free - the whole gallery is free - so nice to be able to drop in and drop out over the course of a few weekends!!) and learned that they actually represent at a minimum maps, often focused on water holes, and often have things like snakes painted into them and tell their stories. Here are a couple examples I found online - I quite like it.

Just down the road from this gallery is the other part of the National Gallery, housing (arguably) the best collection of International art in the Southern Hemisphere. There was an exhibit featuring German Modernism when I was there....overall not as interesting as the Australian art.

Lawn Bowling
Even older than anything else on here - one of my first Fridays in Melbourne the office had a lawn bowling social event. Despite the bad weather it was pretty fun (note the beer in the second picture) - and I surprised myself with my bowling skills. Nothing like regular bowling at all (luckily for me, because I'm terrible at that!) Apparently this is actually a relatively trendy past time for young people in Australia....I find it hard to believe.....not the most exciting of sports!

Phew!! I have been busy!! I have a couple more tidbits for you but I'll save them for next time!!