A Melbourne trip - Day 2

 There is an old saying about Melbourne " If you don't like our weather, wait 5 minutes and it will change."  There is an underlying optimistic view that the change will improve things.  I am not sure that that the weather did change much on June 17, but if it did, it didn't improve greatly.

We began the morning with a visit to the Queen Vic Markets.  The area is being rebuilt, presumably to give more money to developers, and keep members of the CFMEU off the streets.  No sign of any improvement for shoppers!  Being a weekend all the purveyors of tatty t-shirts etc were in situ but we ignored them and got some groceries.  

On the way back to our accommodation we passed these houses on the street to the North of Flagstaff Gardens. I will not say they are houses of ill repute, since they may have a very good reputation as purveyors of negotiable affection.

We then went to Albert Park, where a Black-tailed Nativehen had been seen recently.  While I found 2/3rds of a squillion Coots no Nativehen was sighted. Possibly this was due to the activities of a Turkey driving a Parks ute picking up garbage and scaring half the coots off? Or perhaps a flock of Turkeys allegedly training dogs - including letting an off-lead German Shepherd run at the other half of the coots? I did see a couple of Long-billed Corellas (in a flock of about 100 Little Corellas - they are the ones with red faces.. So that came forward a day for BAD.
We then visited an apartment with good views to the South.  This image includes the breakwater at St Kilda so later in the day there would be Fairy Penguins visible there!
This radio mast has been used as a viewpoint by the Collins St Peregrines!
A general view to the SE!
The Yarra, Botanic Gardens and Government House.
Rod Laver Arena: I have no idea why they designed to look like golf balls rather than tennis balls.
A wide angle view!
This is something to do with the Sri Lankan community, but why they were active on the lawns in front of the State Library is a mystery (to me at least). This possibly gives a link.
On our way home we saw art being created in one of the many graffiti'd laneways.
Having been to the Queen Vic markets it was necessary to sample the purchases.  This one was well well spiced, to celebrate the Footscray markets  (near the brewery).
This beer comes from Collingwood.  There has to be something good in that 'burb and this beer just got elected!


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