March 25 2018
We arrived late last night into Melbourne airport. Customs is now totally automated with computers and no passport stamps.
$100 cab ride, and we left a backpack at Melbourne airport.
Up early to go to a nearby Greek Orthodox Church because it’s March 25, a dual holiday. Annunciation of Virgin Mary feast day and Greek Independence Day. The church here in Fitzroy is called the Annunciation and today was their first Sunday service since a fire in 2016.
The entire service was in Greek and there were no chairs. Young and old stood for 2 hours or longer. It was completely full by the time communion rolled around with overflow outside.
There is Bill with the chanters.
This was the first Greek Orthodox Church in Melbourne and Victoria (state) back in 1900. There are 30 now in Melbourne area. Wow!
It was a sunny, cool and blustery day. We did some serious walking to get a feel for the city. It seems very vibrant with lots of modern architecture mixed with old. Lots of restaurants, museums, good public transport, interesting alleys called “lanes” with street art (graffiti), restaurants with seating in the street and shops.
Streets in Fitzroy area near our Airbnb.
View near river at tram stop
Federation Square flying Greek flags for Greek Independence Day. Melbourne has the third most Greeks in the world behind Athens and Thessaloniki.
Train Station
Graffiti on Hosier Lane
Artist at work
We popped into a hotel with a roof bar for an afternoon drink. I splurged on the Rooftop GT with cucumber soda and expensive gin for $22 AUD. Worth it.
We struck up a conversation with these three local women who gave us a list of restaurants to try in all of the places we are visiting over the next two weeks.
Dinner at one of their recommendations was at Chin Chin a popular Pan-Asian spot where people wait an hour for a table. I didn’t love the food but Bill did. He ate my food and I drank his beer.
Wandered home through Chinatown.
18000 steps. Yikes.