First Impressions of Melbourne

Melbourne, another expensive city, at least it's cooler than Sydney

Not having a whole lot of time in Melbourne we took the recommended walking path in the 2010 Lonely Planet Australia Guidebook.

The famous Flinders Street Station will take you into Melbourne.
This station has been around since the beginnings of the city.

Completed in 1870, the Royal Arcade is Melbourne's oldest. In it you'll find Designer Boutiques. Lots of fun for shopping... That is if you haven't spent all your money on accommodations by this point.

Once again we find ourselves in Melbourne's Chinatown near the corner of LaTrobe Pl. and Little Bourke St. This is where the best priced meals are found.

Also on Lonely Planet's recommended walking tour you also go past several alleys lined with street art.

This was a cool stencil, but now has been defaced by some loser with a black marker pen.

Pretty cool.

After a few other back alleys and arcades you reach the central business district.

On the street are several buskers, just trying to make a living. This guy had the most character of the whole lot. For this guy to wheel a slightly out of tune wooden piano out on street, while sporting the flashy tuxedo shirt/top hat combo, I'd say he earned my money.

The walk takes a couple hours if you stop for food and take photos of every shiny thing you walk past. After the tour you can find your way to the free tourist trolley. It looks like one of the old trolleys from back in the day. You can't miss it.

The free trolley goes in a big circle around the central city area. This is another good way to get your grounding of what is in the area.

Looking for a cool skyline photo of Melbourne? Go to Southbank and get a good perspective from opposite the Yarra River. While there, you can have some overpriced food and drink at the Southgate Complex. Or grab 3 rolls of sushi for $5.50 AUD and bring that over to Southbank while you take some photos of the skyline.
Ahh Melbourne, you are beautiful.