The Arty, Food Tour of Melbourne

Another great day in Melbourne today, Linda and I tried to venture away from our usual haunts (which is the area around Elizabeth St) and

headed through the Uni area around RMIT up towards Parliament. I don't tend to wander this area because the stores and restaurants are a bit more upmarket and I don't feel the same vibe here as I do on 'my side' of town, but it was good to explore a side of the city that I don't normally. I guess we all have our favourite haunts and although I do love the theatre and would love to go more often I don't find the area that the theatres in as appealing as 'my' side of town, but I suppose each to their own and I am sure there are many people who wonder what I love about the area around the Queen Vic market and Elizabeth Street.

We had a late breakfast in a cafe down the road from the Parliament buildings and we had a bird's eye view of a huge protest which numbered over 100,000 people wanting change in pay rates/benefits and conditions. It was pretty impressive as it was very peaceful and I think there were branches of every conceivable union in Australia supporting each other.

I also think that is amazing that I live in a country that allows free thought and speech even if I don't always agree with what people have to say at least we live in a nation that doesn't suppress it's protestors .

After we listened to a couple of speeches we wandered towards the National Gallery which was showing an exhibition of dresses/ clothing ranging from the 1800s until now and it was amazing, and there was more than one dress that I wish I had been able to wear.

After walking through other exhibitions in the gallery

it was time for more food and although a high-tea at the gallery would have been nice the price tag attached to it wasn't ($85/ $58 for members), so we made do with a Devonshire tea instead ($19).

The great thing about Melbourne is that it is a really great city for walking in as there is so much to see, with lots of laneways, alleys, parks and gardens to wander through (it is the capital of the state nicknamed the Garden State for obvious reasons.)

We started walking with the intention of going to the Shrine of Remembrance but didn't get that far, making do with Kings Domain and the Weary Dunlop Memorial before heading back around the back streets of Southbank.

I never seem to venture beyond the main area along the riverbank with the many restaurants and the Casino-(although I have only been in the Casino itself once to play). I've seen fabulous buskers and enjoyed people watching along the riverbank, I've been to the Eureka Tower (which at the moment in 2019 is Melbourne's tallest building) and I've seen the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra practice at the ABC building but that is about all I have seen in this area so decided it was time to explore it a little more.

Explorations over we made our way to the hotel to put our feet up for an hour before the opening night of the Europa Night Market at the Queen Victoria Market which is held on Wednesday nights for five weeks.

It is very lively with a band playing and some great food carts and we enjoyed wandering around, enjoying the atmosphere and thinking about what to eat. However we already had a place in mind and nothing on the food carts could tempt us away from that.

Stomachs rumbling we headed to Dragon Hot Pot on Elizabeth St and had the most delicious meal on this 'staycation'.

I've never been to a hot pot restaurant before so it was a new experience and one I would try again any day. The only problem was choices, there was so much to choose from and we didn't really know what to put in or how much it was going to cost so we were just winging it. We were pleasantly surprised that it only cost us $31 and the meal was huge and very satisfying, and just a little bit spicy....thank goodness we went for the mild version because Linda would definitely not have coped with anything hotter.

We wandered around for a little bit enjoying a bustling Wednesday night in the city before heading back to the hotel, stopping to pick up some ice-cream on the way to soothe our still burning mouths.

Overall it was a great second day in the city and I don't really want to head back out to the sticks because I am having too much fun.

#mElbOurNe #vIctOriA #aUstRaLia #mYowNbaCkyArd #fOod