Back in the olden days, "the nineteens" (i.e. 1980s, 1990s; as Master 7 says), I went to school in the inner city. A bus, train and a tram, then a walk, and we were there. This opened up the city to us as we all travelled some distance to get there, and we spent a good deal of time in the city after and before school.
We knew lots of short-cuts and lane-ways, places to go, hideaway spots, parks, fountains, cafes, and shops. The Sportsgirl Centre was being built, as too was Southbank, McDonald's was underground, and we'd meet the guys from the boys' school Under The Clocks.
courtesy Flickr
I love reminiscing as I walk around the streets. The Hill of Content Bookshop where I bought "Joseph and His Technicolour Coat" illustrated by Quentin Blake in the mid-eighties. Pellegrini's where a glass of Fruit Cup is available at any time to go with magnificent minestrone. Where an old boyfriend got Mark Seymour's autograph for me before an underage "Hunna's" concert at the (gulp, how embarassing...) Metro...
Ancient Times' House where I discovered my love of all things Ancient and Egyptian. A mummified cat sticks in my mind. Little Lonsdale Street where Dad took me to my first Archeological dig in 1983, a dig I went on to study at uni ten years later!
Job Warehouse which has NEVER been open when I have gone past! Now For Lease - tragic end of an era. Those moths have been in the windows for DECADES.
The Manchester Unity Building - a gem of Art Deco (sorry Steve, Moderne) architecture.
The Nicholas Building where I love riding in the old-style, hand-operated lifts. Of course one must visit Button Mania...
At the end of the day though, hopping on a tram is the best reminiscence of them all. Catch a tram to This Park , which has old ones that we used to ride to school as play structures for kids. They've been a drawcard for years. Despite numerous vandal attacks however, they are restored and ready for you any time you fancy a picnic. My two thought they were brilliant!
6 comments:
Nice post, Jess! Brings back lots of memories of Melbourne for me too, only I never lived there! Such a magical city for me.
Oh I do love Melbourne. Thanks for the visit back around the old traps :-)
Oh, how I enjoyed reminiscing with you! The only things you didn't mention were the Yellow Peril, buses in Russell Street and the Myer Foodhall. (Actually I sometimes think back to the days when there was were Buckley & Nunn and Ball & Welch department stores! That IS showing my age!!)
What a great little online tour! i hope to have a girls weekend in Melbourne one day!
I really loved reading this post Jess, thank you!
Melbourne's one of those cities I always seem to go to but never get to see. One day I'd love to just play tourist there!
Beautiful story and photos, thank you! I was born in Melbourne, but left when I was 1 month old, and had no say in the matter! In my far-too-brief visits to the city since then, I fall in love with the place all over again.
I didn't know you studied archaeology! That's my daughter's first love, too :)
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