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Being overseas I'm reminded once again that cafe culture and laneway art is really not unique to Melbourne and yet it's spruiked here as the best thing since sliced bread.
I always found that really kind of, I don't know, a bit sad I guess? It's all we have to celebrate culture wise in a way. Or I'm misreading the vibe.
I feel like Melbourne is at best middling amongst tourist cities. There’s not any great architecture, natural wonders like mountains or harbour, no history due to being a young city, no particular cultural vibe. It’s nice enough but it’s not a destination city. Way more interesting places to visit.
It feels like clutching at straws for something to celebrate about the city. The truth is the city of Melbourne itself is nothing remarkable.
It's all the things just outside it that are nicer ie Dandenong Kinglake national park Wilson's prom great ocean road etc.
I haven't been overseas as much as I'd like, but I've lived in Melbourne most of my life.
Sometimes it feels like it's basically just a much larger version of a small town. Maybe all of Australia is kind of like that.
Honestly I'm inclined to agree. I liken Australia cities to subway sandwiches. At their core they are basically the same with only toppings to differentiate them slightly.
@Gibsonisafluffybutt @wscholermann
Most every place has its charms. Sometimes it takes a visitor to show you the wonder in something that to you has become normal or mundane.
It’s the little things that make a place special to me. Things that aren’t famous, that you won’t see photos and expos about.
Like walking down a street in Saigon and seeing a tiny little shrine just minding its own business on a street corner. Quirky and not something you hop on a plane for.
The closest thing we have to a shrine is a Woolworths or a coles, where we regularly go to give offerings to our CEO gods.
A minority sect is the Aldi crowd.
Nah there is always something going on in Melbourne. Cricket, Australia Open, Formula One, Moomba (usually), Comedy Festival, AFL, etc etc. Then there are dozens of little festivals throughout the year. Plus there are several theatres and concerts always happening.
You don't really see it all when it's all you've known. But it's a lot.
@Nath @Gibsonisafluffybutt It also depends on where in Melbourne.
There's plenty of arts, culture, live music, bars, sport, festivals, etc., in the CBD and inner suburbs. Between the trams and trains, inner suburban public transport is reasonable (better than most US cities, worse than many in Europe and Asia).
But then you get to the middle and outer ring suburbs — places like Knox or out Casey way — and it's a cultural wasteland.
@Nath @ajsadauskas I live in Perth. I flew to Melbourne once with family to watch the Australian Open tennis. I’ve flown to Brisbane and Sydney a few times to watch concerts from international acts that don’t visit Perth. Lots going on over east in the big cities. Enjoy it.
My theory is that Melbourne's awful weather is the cause. The city has adapted to have a lot of indoor type options to go. There's a lot of exploring involved. I don't know where it started, I think one of the first was The Waiter's restaurant - a place that ignores all the rules of being on the main drag and trying to attract customers. This place is hidden up stairs down an alley up the end of Bourke St. It's been there since the 40's.
People like finding these hidden places and Melbourne has loads of them. It isn't unique around the world, I'm sure, but Perth sure doesn't have hidden places like this.
I worked at Meyers place bar below waiters club for about four years.