Melbourne....first stop in Oz!

G'day from Melbourne! I have to say the Australians are the nicest, friendliest people and exceptionally helpful! In order to better cope with their slightly different English accent I watched Offspring and Sisters on Netflix, both filmed in Melbourne, which it looked great with a mix of Victorian buildings and modern architecture. Hasn't helped too much with the accent, which, in terms of full disclosure, I actually really like!
My flight Sydney to Melbourne flew over an extremely dangerous bushfire near Canberra and the smoke from it was very obvious......

Despite the unexpected rain on arrival in Melbourne I was not about to waste any of my time in the city...... so off I went in search of a tram! Their trams are great and in the central part of the city completely free!!

First stop would be the Queen Victoria Market,opened in 1878......I had heard it is closed on Sundays!  No longer! It is huge! With an amazing range of stuff! I did not notice the No Photos!!

And of course food.....

Evening meal was in a super local restaurant Higher Ground. Can throughly recommend!

No rain the following day so on to exploring!
First off down Flinders Lane in search of small graffiti lanes.... updated regularly!
Amazing!

Then on to check out St Paul's Anglican cathedral.......

Emphasis seemed to be on the Coronovirus......no touching hands in the usual sign of peace!

Its sign outside was a little more welcoming than that received on the US/Mexican border!

Across the street from the cathedral is Flinders Street Station....

Then on to explore more remnants of the  British......
There are two covered arcades from the 19th century.....
The Block Arcade from 1892......

And then next door there is the Royal arcade.... a little more austere...

Nice architecture........

Coops Shot tower which was preserved ......

And then on to Chinatown..... it was th Lunar New Year...Year of the Rat!

Then on to the National Gallery of Victoria.......

which had a Keith Haring exhibition.........

And then to end the day watched a little tennis! The Australian Open was in its last day in Melbourne and everyone could watch in Federation Square.......that is Thiem..... but not the end game with Djokovic!