Final Day in Melbourne
Gleadell Farmers Market
We have a relaxing morning with Belinda and Andy. While John and Andy return our rental car, Belinda and I walk five minutes to Gleadell Farmers Market which is open from 7am-1pm every Saturday.
I get a chuckle over some of the vendors signs. I can’t help bu buy the most delicious shortbread cookies.
Melbourne Tram
After the market, Andy, Belinda, John and I head into the city on Melbourne’s iconic tram. Melbourne has the largest operational urban tram network in the world.
ACDC Lane
AC/DC Lane is our first stop. The lane is painted mostly with AC/DC inspired street art. Very cool.
Australian Centre for the Moving Image Museum
It is a bit drizzly so we go to the ACMI (Australian Centre for the Moving Image) museum. In front of the museum are chairs that you can get spinning like a top. John tried it out and is quickly spinning away. The museum is free and really well done. We are there for over two hours.
St Paul’s Cathedral
Upon leaving the ACMI it is raining. We head across the street to the beautiful St Paul’s Cathedral. Built between 1880-1931, this cathedral is not Catholic but Anglican.
Young and Jackson Hotel
Across the street is the historical Young and Jackson Hotel, built in 1875. The pub and bars inside are lovely but the big attraction is the lovely but sad woman in a painting titled Chloe. Painted by French artist, Jules Lefebvre in 1875, his nude painting of Chloe caused an uproar when it was hung in the National Gallery of Victoria and eventually was acquired by the hotel in 1909. Prominently displayed in the hotel bar, it has been gazed upon by politicians, celebrities, soldiers, drunkards and now tourists.
Chloe is a Melbourne icon .The female model used for the painting was 19 years old. A few years later, she committed suicide after a party.
Fine Dining in Richmond
We head back to the house where we relax before heading out to a very popular, well reviewed Vietnamese restaurant in the area. The Richmond area is well known with foodies. We have our final dinner together as we head to Adelaide early tomorrow.
I feel that there is so much more to see in Melbourne. We will have to come back.
