Melbourne & Sydney

More melting pot is not possible! Melbourne is a multicultural city that is second to none. Due to history, especially the gold rush at the end of the 19th century and the loud and clear call to cultivate this large country at the beginning of the 20th century, representatives of over 140 nations have settled here and people are proud that Melbourne is the has the largest community of Italians and Greeks outside of the country (I have a bit of doubt about that, but it's good if it's told like that here!). It should also be mentioned at this point that the topic of immigration and the admission of refugees is currently a big one here as well as in Europe. While not long ago the help of immigrants was needed to build everything, now there is discussion about what society should look like in the future and how restrictively this should be handled. While on the one hand it is said that the country could easily accommodate up to 60 million people - after all, there is still plenty of space in the middle - on the other hand there are voices that the fragile ecosystem can accommodate a maximum of 30 million .can tolerate.

The diversity is at the forefront of everything and anyone who knows me knows that I quickly become convinced of this through food. There are a wide variety of restaurants from all Asian styles to European and African. You can eat your way from corner to corner with a stylish multi-course menu, street food or "just" the (self-proclaimed, but also really very good) world's best coffee and matching pastries and enjoy life to the fullest. In the thriving districts, hip localities are lined up in slightly worn-out streets with chic second-hand/vintage shops and the street art that is often found in the city center (graffiti is only available if there is no prior permission, which is not the case here). Case, so it is considered art! ;o)) a very special flair of creative energy. Maybe a bit like Berlin in some corners. I would love to explore every single establishment with people I know and love. Do you notice a bit of the melancholy of the Christmas season? Yes, perhaps! It's still strange to hear Christmas carols playing while you're sheltering from the sun in a department store, but it's still Christmas and you can't deny that here either. Melbourne is known for being the city of 4 seasons in one day! I know what is meant. In contrast to the rest of Australia, you sometimes need a jacket here and are well advised to prepare for changes in the weather.

I spent Christmas with a former college friend and his wife. I felt very comfortable and the tour on Christmas Day, the actual holiday in Australia, gave me the opportunity to see the 12 Apostles on the Great Ocean Road, which I had actually already mentally crossed out due to lack of time. But the special treat were the koalas that we saw in the tree during our afternoon walk. Actually you would have to say we saw the blowing, because it wasn't really warm that day and a bit windy. One koala nevertheless bravely held on to the trunk and simply continued his nap after a brief inspection of the intrusive onlookers.

December 26th Judging by the advertising and your own congratulations on this day, it is almost more important than December 25th. The so-called Boxing Day is synonymous with summer sales and everyone crowds around the city to take advantage of the exorbitantly high discounts. Those who don't go shopping work and earn three times their hourly wage. A real family celebration.

The only remaining stop this year and in Australia was Sydney. It may sound strange, but so far I haven't felt really far away on the trip. But the first look at the opera house, which is architecturally unique but in fact really just ugly, brought tears to my eyes. Neither Marina Bay Sands nor Ayers Rock did that for me. Not that I felt alone, but somehow I realized that I was already quite far away and really there, something that was previously only known through pictures and stories.

Pretty much everyone knows that Sydney is worth a trip, especially on New Year's Eve, and many of the backpackers I met in the previous weeks said that they would be in the city at that time. And thats how it is! I'm certainly not claustrophobic, but the huge crowds, even days before the big event, literally make you a misanthrope. But I'm not stupid and thought I'd take a day trip to the Blue Mountains to escape the crowds for at least a day. Puppy cake! Tens of thousands of others had my plan too. As I sat on the train very early, it became more and more crowded until eventually some people had to stand for the 2 hour train journey. Of course, 95% of the people got off at the station that I wanted to use. So I got off and got back on the train three doors down, just to get away from the people. I then took a short walk two stops further and then took the bus to the Three Sisters and the viewpoint. There were still a lot of people there! I would have loved to punch anyone left or right who blocked the way, misbehaved in any other way or just looked stupid, I was so loaded. Nevertheless, nature was beautiful. But a lot has to happen for me to stand in what feels like several hundred meters long for a very, very short gondola ride for a lot of money!

I treated myself to something very special for New Year's Eve! The opera gala in the world-famous opera house killed several birds with one stone: my visit to the opera at home, which I had repeatedly postponed in 2014, the tour of the Opera House in Sydney and the search for a good place to watch the fireworks without having to go to the early hours To sit somewhere in the morning. I was confirmed. Around half past nine in the morning, the first public places began to fill with people ready for the show, which began at 6 p.m. I think I would have gone crazy if I had to wait so long! So with my ticket in hand, I skipped through the streets and, above all, through the barriers, lightly on my feet and this time with the intention of not letting people bother me. The blaring arias of the most famous operas (yes, as a self-confessed and regular opera singer, I know what I'm talking about! Mhhh, which arias exactly... aehmmm... I'll just have to look at the program booklet again...) were really moving and have strengthened my resolution for 2015 to pursue and realize the local theater program more actively this time (who is coming with me?). And the fireworks, what can I say? What happens when a city invests several million euros (last year it was the equivalent of 45 million euros) in fireworks on a single night in order to attract tourists for the next year? Simply fantastic! Breathtaking! The 15 minutes were a long time for fireworks, but again I was glad that I didn't actively wait for 14 hours but only an hour. After a very extraordinary evening, I leave in the first hours of the new year (hard to believe that it's already 2015! where has the time gone? But of course, if things from the 90s are also on display here in the museum, that wasn't just the case the day before yesterday?), strange but true, returned to my hostel almost sober.

And then the time in Australia is coming to an end again. A truly beautiful continent that has a lot to offer! Even two months aren't nearly enough to see everything, but I think I got a very good overview.

What is the typical Australian like now? Well, we actually wanted to stay away from prejudices, but from my very subjective experiences, without taking into account regions or individual character traits, the Australians are characterized by the following:

- definitely tattooed on one part of the body, if not entire limbs are colorfully covered with motifs that, in my opinion, last for a short time but are also rather ugly

- you are and stay young, no matter how old you are. This is expressed in the clothing, the sport (yes, even when you're well over 60, you can coolly carry your surfboard under your arm to the beach in a half-dressed wetsuit) or even in your tattoos (but then they really don't look great anymore!)

- the obligatory headgear (kangaroo leather hat, cap, etc.) is definitely part of the outfit in very hot areas

- always a friendly greeting and very helpful (so I must be starting to look like an Aussie, or why am I constantly being asked for directions? And the worst thing, I can even answer! It's good when you get along with the good one old paper city map! ;o))

- a lot of apologies are made and "no worries" in response is probably the most used expression next to "Gday!" Rather a bit lazy when it comes to walking routes and everything that is possible is linguistically abbreviated

- always ready for a chat and generally quite curious. Or is it just a more attentive togetherness in contrast to the stubborn coexistence at home?

- still overall very non-binding. "See ya later!" just means "bye" without any promise/threat/effort that we will actually meet again at a later date. It took some time to get it

- you usually thank the bus driver for picking you up and letting you off at the appropriate station (!)

- Hectic seems to be alien here, even a major event like New Year's Eve in Sydney takes place without much hectic and stress

- on the other hand, the Australian is very guarded. The hostage-taking in Sydney caused quite a stir and there is discussion about how dangerous Islam is or whether general arming like in the USA would have prevented such a situation, even though it was really just a single crazy person

- There's nothing like BBQ. I think the Australian is born with a can of spray oil in one hand and a spatula or grill tongs in the other. There are public and free barbecue areas and open-air kitchens everywhere, where there is plenty of seating, gas and water and all the basic equipment you need. You just have to bring your own food. Ideal with the mostly nice weather.

Otherwise, life seems to be just as good/bad here down under as at home!!

Well then, Aussie, thanx for everything! See ya!