Moving on, for now...

Now that I have spent 2 full weeks in Melbourne (the first week I got here and this past week), I am convinced I will be able to live here for at least a year.  There is so much to see and do, great shopping, lots of surprising alleys and lanes with restaurants that offer al fresco dining, and friendly people!  There is even a casino on Southbank (with $5 blackjack! and pokies=Australian slot machines that no one really understands the rules of) and the walk along Southbank at night is beautiful - walking along the water with the cityscape and colorful lights while fire shoots out every half hour.  Also, there is always live music to be found somewhere and people day-drinking on Sunday afternoon on rooftop bars in the middle of the city. 

Even though most of my time is spent in St. Kilda near the beach, it is nice to ride the trams into the city every once in a while too.  But while in St. Kilda, I enjoy $10 steak nights on Tuesday nights at the Republika on the beach, watching the kite surfers and sailboats, riding the roller coaster at Luna Park (for free! - thanks creepy Melbourne local guy I met at the bar at Base), eating at the restaurants and getting ice cream on Acland Street, going to the bars on Fitzroy Street (even if it is to see an occasional drag show at the Prince of Wales with an amazing Lady Gaga impersonation!), and just hanging out at the Vineyard.

When I have ventured outside of St. Kilda, I enjoyed walking up Chapel St. (they have a Lululemon there=dangerous!) where there are many shops and restaurants and the Prahran Market (for great,cheap fruits and vegetables), going outlet shopping on Bridge Road, and browsing the Queen Victoria Market (tons of souvenir shopping along with fresh fish and other food).

Unfortunately, my camera never did turn back on so I have been on the lookout all week for a replacement.  I learned the best way to buy a camera in Melbourne from a very friendly salesperson at a store on Acland St though which made buying a new camera better than I thought.  There are 4 camera stores in a row on Elizabeth St. in the middle of Melbourne, and if you walk along and play the owners against each other, you can end up getting a pretty good bargain.  After my job interview today (it went well I think!), I decided to try my luck and ended up getting an Olympus (waterproof and shockproof of course) camera at half the suggested retail price.  Seeing as the Australian dollar is also $1.10 for every American dollar too, I felt like I got a pretty good deal, so hopefully I was not secretly ripped off...

Tomorrow I leave Melbourne for awhile and continue travelling around Australia.  First, I am going to the Great Ocean Road to see the 12 Apostles on my way to Adelaide in South Australia.  I will miss Melbourne and all the people I have met so far, but I came here to travel and meet people, so I must move on.  However, I am sure I will be back soon.  Don't miss me too much, Melbourne!