A Room with a View
My hotel is well located within easy walking distance of buses, trains and trams not to mention all manner of food.   It is in the block immediately behind the late 19th century Windsor Hotel which itself is opposite Victoria’s Parliament Building.   I have an opening window which is directly opposite a multi-story car park.   My room is small but comfortable.  However, my window not only allows in fresh air but the also the sound of 3am revellers closely followed by the disposal of reveller’s bottles by municipal garbos.   Given a lane and a pretty substantial carpark is between me and the  first of a couple of drinking holes sound travels very easily.

Windsor Hotel

Windsor Hotel tower

This was taken through the window of a tram.

Parliamnet House Melbourne

View from my window

I started the day at Federation Square where I filled in time viewing the exhibition Man Style http://www.ngv.vic.gov.au/whats-on/exhibitions/exhibitions/manstyle2 containing a gorgeously embroidered 18th Century French silk suit and other exhibits demonstrating the subsequent development of men’s suiting.
I was then expecting to meet a guide to lead a free 2 hour tour of art in alleys.  The guide never arrived so I went to the Eureka Tower, a 92 level building which has a section which slides out into space which visitors can enter for an additional price.  I didn’t. The glass on the top 10 floors is covered with 24 carat gold.  The viewing room certainly was a room with a view.

Eureka Tower Melbourne

Port Phillip Bay & Melbourne

Albert Park & beachside suburbs

Circus Oz is in town

Federation Square, Flinder St Station, Princess Bridge & St Pauls Cathedral

Yarra River and western Melbourne

CBD

More CBD

After leaving the tower I headed for Flinders St Station via Ponyfish Island, a tiny island attached to the leg of a pedestrian bridge over the Yarra River.  One of my nieces recommended it and it seemed an appropriate time to stop for a coffee.   According to the blurb on the web it’s a hip place not destined for longevity due to rising river water.   Most seats were occupied, the coffee was good and I enjoyed sitting in the sun even if I didn’t appreciate my trendiness.

Ponyfish Island from tower

Ponyfish Island from Southbank

Flinders Street Station soon had me on a train and off again 3 stations later at Prahran, the home of my father and his parents a very long time ago.  My grandfather, a dentist, dead long before I was born, lives on in Prahran with his profession inscribed into stone on his old doorstep.  His building is a 2 storey duplex.  The adjoining property has had the downstairs façade radically modernized into a beauty salon.  A hairstylist/graphic designer/architect have their names on the old dental surgery and home. It was well located opposite the original Town Hall, court house, fire station, down the road from the train station and close to trendy Chapel Street which still contains remnants of mercantile wellbeing.

Previously my grandfather's dental surgery & home

Dentist on step of 175 Greville St

The neighbours, old courthouse & old fire station

Other neighbours, tower of original Town Hall, now library & sign for a clothing shop

Old buildings nearby in Chapel St

Another old building in Chapel St

Another

A row of old cottages in a street on the other side of Chapel St

These have gates reminiscent of my childhood and the cat was very friendly.
After returning to the city I sought out a couple of famous alleyways.   One was practically covered in graffiti but light was limited and photos are patchy.  I have included a couple of photos of street life in Melbourne.
Knitted squares on the triangular structure in Federation
This was part of a festival of illumination in Federation Square

Playing hack sac in Federation Square although with a smaller bag than that used in China

Comic jugglers
Street artist

 

 

 

in Hosier Lane

Grafetti Greville St

in Hosier Lane CBD