Sunday 21st September 2014
Sunday started with a metaphorical black cloud hanging over me. I knew I didn't feel my usual positive self and when I found myself in tears for most of the morning I knew the job I been doing all week wasn't for me and I had to do something proactive. After I'd written my resignation I felt the clouds beginning to disperse. With the weight off my shoulders I needed to make sure I didn't waste any more time lying in bed so I went to a craft market outside the Arts Centre. Crossing the river with views of the city and rowers enjoying the fine weather, along with the horse drawn carriages which could be seen and heard around town, did a lot to brighten my mood.
Slowly heading back to the hostel I found this rather spectacular yarn bombing adorning three of the trees outside the town hall.
Knowing I was about to hand my notice in certainly felt like the right decision. I needed the reminder that I'm here to enjoy life and the positivity of experiencing another country, not to be brought down by continuous targets (sound familiar anyone?!).
Monday 22nd September 2014
After a brief visit to the office to hand my uniform, I was too early to visit any shops or museums although I'd taken the tram from the docklands to the CBD. Stuck for ideas and aware I wanted to see as many Melbourne sights as I could, I headed across the CBD to the information centre. Leaving laiden with various leaflets and maps I spent the rest of the morning on the internet booking my flight back to Sydney and applying for a couple of new jobs.
Back at the hostel I arranged with Rebecca, my roomie, to take a free walking tour from the State Library. The library is flanked by two statues of St George slaying the Dragon and Joan of Arc. Our guide jovially explained that the only explanation for their presence was to keep the English and French happy! Leaving the statues behind us we headed on to the Old Melbourne Gaol. In the courtyard we heard the story of Ned Kelly who was a bushman hanged in this gaol. He in known as the Aussie version of Robin Hood. Next we meandered towards Carlton Gardens, passing the 888 tower on the way, which commemorates the 888 movement, set up to limit the working day to 8 hours allowing for 8 hours of work, 8 hours rest and 8 hours play each day.
In Carlton Gardens we admired the Royal Exhibition Building which was built during the Marvellous Melbourne period. There have been two big booms in Melbourne's history - the gold rush and Marvellous Melbourne, hence the titles of these two blogs!
I belive this statue was in Carlton Gardens and I thought it was of the first governor of Victoria and his wife but now I'm not so sure. Even so, I thought it was a rather sweet statue.
Next stop were the impressive buildings of the Parliament and Princess Theatre before a sneaky peak of some street art. Unbelievably our guide assured us the best was yet to come!!
Heading back into the CBD we wandered through Block Arcade, past statues of Gog and Magog as well as the mouth watering Hopetoun Tea Rooms. Apparently Gog and Magog are part of an English legend but no English person on these tours has ever heard of them! I was planning on returning to Hopetoun Tea Rooms for a treat but unfortunately didn't manage it. From what if heard it was probably a blessing on the wallet as well as the waistline!
Walking round Melbourne was stunning on this bright, clear day and I couldn't resist this spire shot.
My favourite part of the day was our journey down Hosier Lane, home of the most famous street art in Melbourne.
Behind Hosier Lane was a practise street which was literally covered with spray paint EVERYWHERE! While the art on the main Hosier Lane might be left for weeks or months, on the practise lane it's only left for days but fills every surface.
Through Federation Square and over the bridge beyond, we finished our tour with fantastic views of the city back across the river.
Amongst the tour we also learnt that the clocks at Flinders Street Station are a famous meeting place for Melburnians and when they were replaced with digital clocks there was uproar and the originals were reinstated within a day! We also found out that the city was designed as a grid system measuring a mile by half a mile (I think!) with roads alternating in widths between 99 and 33 feet which is why you find Little Bourke Street next to Bourke Street, Little Collins Street next to Collins street and so on.
Tuesday 23rd September 2013
Today began with some drawings of the church I'd passed every day on the way to work. Initially I had lots of patience to get all the detail but then I wanted to document the whole building. As you can tell my patience had run out!
The afternoon was filled enjoying the statues, fountains and Shrine of Remembrence in the parks and gardens south of the river. They know how to do statues beginning with the towering Queen Victoria and finishing with the thought provoking war memorial.
In the evening I nipped to the supermarket in North Melbourne and was reminded how quaint and full of character suburbial parts of cities can be.
Wednesday 24th September 2014
I'd read about an exhibition at the State Library of Victoria entitled Les Miserables: From Page to Stage and always one to try anything associated with film or theatre I went along on Wednesday morning. Just outside the library I had chance to capture the gunge covered university building opposite (still don't know why the green substance is there!) as well as the statue of St George and a rather intense chess match.
Inside, the exhibition was split into two parts and although I wasn't able to take photographs in the first section I did collect a lot of information. Through paintings, drawings and video presentations, the first section created a sense of what France was like in the period that Les Miserables is set. It also displayed the original copy of the text alongside other works by Victor Hugo. This first section focused on the written aspect of the exhibition.
Here's some interesting information I picked up along the way:
- the manuscript was written between1845 - 62, it took 17 years to write!
- it was Hugo's 1st work after 2yrs seclusion following daughters death
- it was interrupted by political turmoil, Hugo's election to National Assembly, an attempt to overthrow Emperor Napoleon III, and a 19 year exile on Channel Islands where he finished novel
- when the 1st 2 volumes arrived in Paris in April 1862, all 6000 copies sold in 1 day
- after 3 months 100,000 authorised copies (and countless black market copies) were sold worldwide
- the original drawing of Cosette by Emile-Anyoine Baynard was on display and is now used for the Boublil and Schonberg musical (shown in Paris in 1980 with 100 performances seen 500,000 audience members)
- the 1st English production was performed on 8th Oct 1985 at the Barbican and was a collaboration between Cameron Mackintosh and the RSC using the music and lyrics of Boublil and Schonberg
- in December 1985 Mackintosh transferred it to palace theatre
- it is still playing at the Queens Theatre, and June 2012 saw it's 11000th performance making it the world's longest running musical
- the musical version had been seen by over 60million people in 43 countries in 22 languages.
The second section focussed on the stage production, displaying posters, costumes and props and recreating a dressing room. The part I enjoyed most was the last stage which had been created with a massive screen hanging in the background. There were musicians chairs with small screens embedded in the music stands showing interviews as well as character cutouts on stage that you could pose with your face through. What captured my attention for quite a while though was the anniversary production staged at the O2 showing on the big screen. It featured, amongst others, Matt Lucas and Alfie Boe and I must've sat for around 20 minutes singing along in my head!
While I was at the Library, I also visited an exhibition about picture books. It was lovely to see a handful of children enjoying books amongst original illustrations and plans. I smiled when I found the tiger who came to tea, a Colin McLaughlin illustration and, of course, Miffy!
Thursday 25th September 2014
Gradually working my way through my list of sights to see, I took the tram through the CBD and beyond to visit the National Gallery of Victoria. Walking along St Kilda Road towards the gallery, I was bordering the parks and gardens I'd visited earlier in the week. The statues had impressed me then and Sir Edward Dunlop, with his bright poppy, caught my attention today.
Although it was a reasonably bright day, inside the gallery it looked like it was pouring with rain, the illusion causing lots of amazement amongst the children on their school holidays.
The atrium just inside the entrance was filled with these flambouyant bears created by an Italian artist Paola Pivi and entitled You started it... I finish it.
There were several pieces that caught my eye alongside the bears...
...but what impressed me most at this gallery, which hadn't been present in the other galleries I'd visited, was the internationally renowned work. These pieces included:
Bridget Riley's Twisted curve, olive dominance
Robert Delaunay's Nude woman reading
Pablo Picasso's Weeping Woman
Amedeo Modigliani's Portrait of the artist Manuel Humbert.
and Andy Warhol's Self Portrait No. 9
Mickey Mouse
Campbell's soup can on a canvas bag
Jacqueline Kennedy III
What this gallery did have in common with some of the other galleries was the compact nature of some rooms which I'd never seen in the UK.
Like the V&A, there was also a celebration of design and then some impressive sculptures.
The description aimed at children under this piece read:
Madeln Company put a spear through this camera because they felt we shouldn't always rely on photographs to show what really happened. After all, photographs are taken by people, and people see things differently!
Choose another work of art and look at it with someone else. Talk to each other about what you think about the piece. Do you feel the same about it, or do you see things differently?
Since I'd been to the Les Mis exhibition I'd been eyeing up tickets to the show online but wondered whether to spend the money. In the end I couldn't resist so bought tickets, found myself in the seats furthest from the stage but still found myself sobbing by the end... Again!
Friday 26th September 2014
I'd purposely booked my flight tickets for later in the afternoon, knowing that there was the AFL Grand Final Parade through town at lunchtime. Not only would streets be closed, potentially slowing my transfer to the airport, but I also wanted to experience the atmosphere. After checking out and working my way across town I found a perfect spot, two people back from the railing opposite Federation Square. The crowd were warmed up my conpeting ball-clad bands representing the two teams in the finals - the Hawks and the Swans.
Even the police and their horses were representing the two teams - I can't see that happening in the UK when it comes to football but then I can't see two sets of supporters getting along so amicably either!
Finally the parade began with marching bands, flag bearers, the sought after trophy and mascots passing in quick succession. Of course there were also the players seated comfortably on the back of Utes, many being interviewed by TV, radio and news reporters.
Half an hour later the parade was over, and my time in Melbourne had come to an end. It was peculiar to think that I'd had some of the best but also some of the worst times of my trip so far here. I'd be leaving some new found friends behind but also the memories of being miserable in a job. A sign that travelling can be a real life roller coaster.
If you fell down today, stand up tomorrow. - HG Wells
