JC Travels
December 14, 2024
Melbourne  ·  Victoria
Last weeks in Melbourne — St Kilda Pier and final nights
Week 567  ·  Part 2 of 2  ·  St. Kilda Pier  ·  Aurora  ·  Final Weeks

Leaving Melbourne —
Last Weeks

JC Travels  ·  my-jc.blog

In our last couple of weeks we visited some interesting places in Melbourne: the coolest street in the world (according to TimeOut magazine — it was far from it), Halloween in Port Melbourne, an opera benefit, and the new St. Kilda pier finally opened after being under construction the entire time we lived in Melbourne.

St. Kilda Pier & Opera
Old pier in St. Kilda New Pier in St. Kilda — opened right before I left in mid-December
Old pier in St. Kilda  ·  New Pier in St. Kilda — opened right before I left in mid-December
Penguin Viewing Closed Night at the Opera
Impressive venue — performances as part of a fundraiser Halloween in Port Melbourne — note the Keep America Great Hat on Jason/Freddie doll
Penguin Viewing Closed  ·  Night at the Opera  ·  Impressive venue  ·  Halloween in Port Melbourne — note the "Keep America Great Hat" on the Jason/Freddie doll
Final Weeks

In my last couple of weeks, enjoyed the build-up to the holidays and Christmas and was lucky to combine one of the holiday parties with my "leaving drinks" so I could see everyone before I left.

Weekend Regatta in the Bay Slight aurora — visible with about a 20 minute drive away from city lights
Weekend Regatta in the Bay  ·  Slight aurora — visible with about a 20-minute drive from the city lights
Aurora alert on another night — but too much light pollution Kite boarder losing it
Post pickleball lunch — two ankle braces and nurse shoes Last night in highrise — most of the time the sunset behind the building
Aurora alert — too much light pollution  ·  Kite boarder losing it  ·  Post pickleball lunch (note the footwear)  ·  Last night in highrise on almost the longest day of the year
Statute of Captain Cook replaced — will get cut down again on Australia Day Christmas lights Melbourne
State Library of Victoria The F1 store moved to the arcade — with Danny Ric opening for them
Old Shot Tower — built mall around it, now a shoe store for a famous Australian brand Partial view of CBD from Rialto Tower
Christmas lights Melbourne Final Melbourne night out
Captain Cook replaced — will get cut down again on Australia Day  ·  Christmas lights  ·  State Library  ·  F1 store with Danny Ric opening  ·  Old Shot Tower now a shoe store  ·  Partial CBD from Rialto Tower
The Australian View of the US Election

I'd be remiss if I didn't share the Australian's view of the US election — they were very engaged and looked at it like a scripted reality show — I kept reminding them that this was real. Many people watched news every day and were pretty knowledgeable on the situation. I was asked more than once "Why are there 2 old guys — what can you do about it? Surely you know someone who would be better" and many questions in a similar vein. After Biden dropped out and Trump had some legal challenges, most people assumed it would be a pretty straight-forward Harris win. So at 11am local time in Melbourne on November 6 (which was 8pm US east coast time November 5) about 30 people were gathered around the TV in the lunch room. By about 10am local time it was becoming apparent that Trump was in the lead. All but 2 were shocked and horrified — the 2 were split between a true Trump believer (and life dream to go to a rally) and an anti-US person who said this ends the US domination of the world order and was long overdue.

"They watched it like a scripted reality show. I kept reminding them that this was real."

We are in process of starting our next adventure — returning to Australia but moving across the country to Perth for another assignment. We are looking forward to hot days instead of more shovelling snow in Maryland!

Leaving MelbourneSt. KildaPort MelbourneVictoria
Week 567  ·  December 14, 2024