Thursday, January 13, 2011

Before and After

The internet is very slow today. Check out Pat's blog (www.patswalkabout.blogspot.com) for some crazy flood pictures. I haven't taken many because I've not been out and about much the last little while. We went to see South Bank & Kangaroo Point yesterday.

This is the pelican statue I took a picture of about a year ago.



This is the pelican statue, taken yesterday.


The maritime museum also it's "dry dock" wet for the first time in also 40 years.

Before:


You can see the huge Diamantina down in the empty lower level.

After:

The Diamantina now looks like she's ready to cast off.

It's been a strange few days. Pat has gone to help our friends gets what few possessions they can out of their place now that the water has receded. I'm trying to do as much laundry as possible just in case anything happens to the water supply. I also bought plenty more non-perishable food items. Supplies are starting to get lower in the supermarkets and importing is going to be tricky/more expensive. Clean-up is going to take months. The city will take ages to recover from this, but the lessons learned from 1974 prevented this from being an even bigger disaster.

If you can afford to help, please do. We are ok but there are plenty who are not: http://www.qld.gov.au/floods/donate.html

Saturday, January 1, 2011

Melbourne, part 2

Melbourne is full of amazing architecture and old buildings, not to mention plenty of art galleries (many of them free). I took a trip to the State Library of Victoria, which house about five smaller galleries within it, as well as plenty of books!


Outside the State Library


Inside the State Library!


Across the street, I still don't know what this building is!


Inside Melbourne Central, a shopping mall of epic proportions. It was probably a good thing I didn't have too much spending money!

Just a few of the amazing buildings around Melbourne's central business district:






Everywhere you turned, there was another little alleyway full of coffeeshops, restaurants and stores.

I also went to the beautiful National Gallery of Victoria.

There were plenty of amazing exhibits on permanent display, but I went primarily for the Gustave Moreau exhibit.


Famous for his paintings of unicorns and pretty ladies.

When I was in the ACMI, I just happened to see a few pieces from my favourite movie ever, Moulin Rouge!, including the prop windmill from the opening as well as the dress Nicole Kidman wore for the Elephant Love Medley. Not the best photo, but I was so excited to see it in real life!
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A panorama shot of Federation Square, from off to one side.


I spent a relaxing hour in the Queen Victoria Gardens. Here is a statue of Queen Victoria, surrounded by roses of every colour. It was a beautiful day and it smelled amazing.


There was a clock made of flowers and greenery that actually told the time accurately. Very cool.


Melbourne's amazing. Now that the weather is nicer, I feel like I should explore Brisbane more. I know there's plenty to be seen!