Having won the title for the fifth year in the row it really is no wonder that Melbourne has been crowned The Most Liveable City in the world. I fell in love with Melbourne when we first arrived and that really hasn't changed. So below I list what it is really like to live in Melbourne (the good with the bad!)
Good Transport Network
Although Melburnians don’t often agree, I actually think it’s pretty good! There is a free ‘City Circle’ tram operating, well you guessed it, in the city centre in a circle (well more like a rectangle) and it’s free. Yes, FREE. You only pay once you start to travel outside the circle. To be honest, I have only ever travelled outside it once and it wasn’t even that far out, so it didn’t cost a whole lot. Super idea I think!
Having been to a few larger cities similar to Melbourne, namely Montreal & London, I think the Australian method of paying for transport is absolute GENIUS! Genius, I tell you! Basically, you purchase this card (similar to the Oyster card in London) called a myki for $6 (€4), and you top up the card as you go. The myki can be used across many modes of transports also, to include buses, trains and trams. Therefore rather than asking the ticket man/woman how much it costs to go, here, there and everywhere just top up, tap on your card as you enter the tram, bus or train and away you go. Hop off at your destination, tap off your card and the amount is deducted for the journey you’ve just taken! I’m telling you, the Ozzies have cracked it!
The Weather Is
...interchangeable – I have heard the phrase when someone mentions about the weather being poor ‘Oh it’s very gloomy today’ only for the other person to respond.. ‘Well, give it a minute…’ and how true and accurate it is. Funnily enough, it is actually worse than home in terms of the diversity of the weather. You can literally head to work wrapped up in a hat, scarf and gloves only to have strip down to your last layers in the afternoon to try cool down from the soaring heat. Yes, it’s THAT bad!
Melbourne has some of THE most beautiful of days....
... the sunniest of days...
...and the dullest of days I've ever seen!
Foodie
Well if you’re a foodie like me you’re in the right place. There are food stalls, shops, cafes and markets everywhere. You see a void somewhere, no sooner will they set up shop selling some sort of food. It is truly amazing and the varirty of food too is sensational!
Just look at that, it's a thing of rare beauty!
Good Coffee
I was a tea drinker before I came here and now all I can think of (and take pictures of) is coffee and it is for sale everywhere! Take a stroll down the city centre street and you’ll even see a guy selling coffee from the tiniest stall possible. It’s so cool!
Do I drink too much I wonder?
Beautiful Architecture
Very bold contrast of new and old buildings visible across all of Melbourne. A lot of Victorian buildings, which actually remind Jamie and I of buildings in England which is nice to see alongside the modern architecture. Melbourne is also home to the Eureka Tower (which houses an observation deck) which standing tall at 975ft is currently the 108th tallest building in the world.
What a view, eh?
Diverse
Melbourne is an incredibly multi-cultural city. A study by www.studymelbourne.vic.gov.au shows that people from more than 200 countries now consider Melbourne their home. This is easily visible also through their diverse dining options.
Unfortunately there appears to be a lot of homelessness too, which is true for a lot of larger cities however I really didn’t expect to see as much as there is.
Beautiful Laneways
...with impressive artwork. Melbourne is actually known for it’s many Laneways and those artistically minded certainly take advantage of this. Well worth a look at one or all of these little side streets!
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Thanks
Jean!