Melbourne, Australia 2/8/18

Melbourne - Love the architecture

Capital of the Australian state of Victoria  (It was capital of the country for 26 years.) and is the second largest city in Australia.  Melbourne {pronounced Melbun} has been called the world’s most livable city. It is celebrated as Australia’s cultural capital of the arts.  Narrow shopping lanes in the city center and fanciful Victorian buldings along Collins St. give the city a lively British flair.  Fitzroy Gardens offers a slice of England with its 64 acres of beautifully designed topiary and blooms.  This garden is where Captain Cooks' cottage was reconstructed.

Melbourne skyline upon arrival.  Today's excursion was scheduled  for 7:00 AM and that was the time we went through customs.  

Sunrise in Melbourne

Morning in Melbourne

Sunrise in Melbourne, Australia as I ate breakfast on the Aquavit Deck on the back of the Viking Sun.

Great architecture throughout Melbourne but I forgot to put my spare batteries for my camera in my backpack, so I didn't get very many pictures.  

Fitzroy Garden

Fitzroy Garden - This model Tudor village was presented to Melbourne's citizens by the people of  (?)____beth ,England in order to thank them for the food the Melbourne people sent to England during the food shortages after WWII.

The Fairies' Tree was carved by Ola Cohn for the children of Melbourne.  He carved it for the fairies and those who believe in fairies 1931-1934.

Fitzroy Garden

Conservatory in Fitzroy Garden, Melbourne

The Australian Tree is a fast-growing native shade tree.  It has round, purplish figs on it in the summer that attract birds.  

Cook's Cottage in Fitzroy Garden, Melbourne.  

Captain Cooks' Cottage was disassembled brick by brick and moved to be rebuilt in Melbourne.  

View from the Shrine of  Remembrance.  

Shrine of Remembrance We went to the Shrine of Remembrance built during the Depression after WWI.  It is now honoring all those who have served in every war.  It is a classical style based on the Parthenon. WItnessed a simulation using a  light to illuminate the word Love in the Bible quote on a plague mounted on the floor.   (“Greater love hath no man”) This occurs naturally at the 11th hour on the 11th day of the 11th month unless daylight savings time screws that up....   

Shrine of Remembrance  "The inscription is part of a verse from the Bible (John 15:13) "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends."^[4] The Stone is aligned with an aperture in the roof of the Sanctuary so that a ray of sunlight falls on the word LOVE on the Stone of Remembrance at exactly 11 a.m. on 11 November,^[3] marking the hour and day of the Armistice which ended World War I. Since the introduction of daylight saving in Victoria, the ray of sunlight is no longer in the right place at 11 a.m. A mirror has been installed to direct sunlight onto the Stone at 11 a.m.^[4] During the rest of the year, a light is used to simulate the effect."^{[4] Wikipedia}

Shrine of Remembrance In Melbourne, Australia there is a Shrine of Remembrance. It has window at the top of the pyramidal roof and light can shine through. On the floor in the center of the base are these words, "Greater love hath no man". It was designed so that the sun will shine on the word "LOVE" on 11/11 at 11:00. They are able to simulate this event using so I was able to take a picture when I was there. Thank you to all veterans and prayers for those that sacrificed their lives.

Huge poppy at the Shrine of Remembrance

Free Trolley - After the included tour, we tried the free City Tram.  It was very crowded and we couldn’t hear the narration.  I went from standing, to sitting in three different seats before I was comfortable, facing forward.  The windows were small and getting pictures was difficult. The trams were originally pulled by horses are now electric.  Young people on phones is a world-wide practice.  Look out the window.  

Victorian Artists' Society

Treasury Place/Department of Education

Sinclair's Cottage was built in 1866.  It was a residence that was used by caretakers and gardeners until the 1990's.  It is named after James Sinclair, the first head gardener of Fitzroy Gardens.  

Princess Theater

FACEBOOK Melbourne is the capital of the Australian state of Victoria, it was capital of the country for 26 years.  The second largest city in Australia, Melbourne has been called the world’s most livable city. It is celebrated as Australia’s cultural capital of the arts.  Narrow shopping lanes in the city center and Victorian buildings along Collins St. give the city a British flair.  Fitzroy Gardens is like a bit of England with its 64 acres of beautifully designed topiaries and blooms.  This garden is where Captain Cooks' cottage was reconstructed and there is a conservatory.  I visited the lovely JFK Memorial Garden and enjoyed the pools and fountains.   

We also went to the Shrine of Remembrance, a picture I posted on Veteran's Day.  We also rode the free city tram, one of the largest tram networks in the world.  The seats weren't comfortable and the windows were small, but it was a historical experience.  

Today's picture is a miniature Tudor village that was located in Fitzroy Gardens.  It was made by Edgar Wilson, a British man.  The buildings are modeled in cement and included thatched cottages, church, school, hotel, barns and public buildings.  The man wanted to thank Melbourne for sending food to Great Britain during the Second World War.