Hoʻopuka ʻia: 08.11.2018
To be able to visit some sights in such a short time, the Hop on Hop off Bus is a good option. We are staying next to the Queen Victoria Market, that's where we start. First, we drive to Federation Square, underneath the public plaza is a large glass atrium. Many restaurants, bars, and cinemas are located here. Over the years, Melbourne has developed into an art and culture metropolis. There are many theaters, museums, and galleries. From there, we take the Yarra River by ship up to the Docklands, the old harbor, and have a look at a part of the city from the water. We only see the somewhat newer Ferris wheel (it goes around once in an hour) from the ship. In the harbor, a modern (expensive) district of apartment buildings and office buildings has been created on an area of 200 hectares. Together with the large casino and convention center, Melbourne has become the city of major events. Besides Perth and Sydney, it is one of the most expensive cities in Australia and ranks among the top ten most expensive cities in the world, like them. We don't know how much real estate costs, but the food in the average restaurant (3000 dining options) has slightly higher prices than ours, but nowhere can you get a beer (400 ml) for less than 7-8 euros, and a glass of wine (130 ml) usually costs 6 euros. There are many snack stands, cafes, or bars with small snacks everywhere.
The best view of the city is enjoyed from the Eureka Tower on the 88th floor, you can enjoy the magnificent 360-degree panorama for as long as you want. Oh yes, no rain today, the sun is shining, alternating with clouds, it's about 14 degrees Celsius cold. We walk through the few streets of Chinatown. The construction of many green areas and parks in the English style has given Melbourne the name Garden City. The most popular means of transport is the tram, and Melbourne has a reputation for being a very bicycle-friendly city. In fact, we haven't seen so many cyclists anywhere else in Australia. Since the bus also does not get through the rush hour, we take the downtown tram again for the ride back to the hotel. Unfortunately, we don't have enough time to get to know this great city better.