It's a short walk across to Government House which opens its gates to the public every Australia Day. I was surprised how popular the open day was, as masses of people went through the gates with us. The state residence of the Governor General is typically lavish, both outside and inside. The lawns and gardens elegantly surround the palatial interior which houses beautiful furniture and art. The republican side of me wonders about the opulence and inferred deference to the British Monarchy. But from a purely artistic point of view, Government House is splendid.
The Rotary Club put on a picnic on the lawns of Government House so we availed ourself of the stereotypical Aussie sausage sizzle before heading into Melbourne CBD through King's Domain. The park was full of activity, food stalls, kids activities, exhibitions and community groups providing information. There was a rally of vintage cars that took me back to the days when I lived in Coventry which has its annual Coventry to Stratford vintage car run.
Caroline and I then wandered into Melbourne CBD past a wood chopping event (do they really use chain saws?) and finally succumbed to a coffee in Degraves Street, between Finders Street and Little Flinders Street. We went to The Quarter for a coffee that was rich but not too strong. The long black was very enjoyable in the European feel surroundings, with plenty of wooden decor and photo's of European (mainly Mediterranean) scenes on the walls.
No comments:
Post a Comment