Saluting a vigorous street life: Melbourne

Federation Square is Melbourne's main meeting place.

“What do you like best about Melbourne?” a friend asked me. I think the answer has to be the energetic and energizing activity on the streets.

My second morning here I participated in a tour led by a volunteer with the Melbourne Greeter Service. http://www.thatsmelbourne.com.au/visitors/services/greeter/Pages/GreeterService.aspx

One of the tour stops was in Hosier Lane. This and other lanes are filled with ever changing street art.

Creating street art in Hosier Lane.

The same weekend a two day art event featured a display in Federation Square, the main downtown meeting place where something is always happening.

Bed Square in Federation Square, part of Mel+Art event.

Other days in Fed Square I saw various promotions for fitness and sport including a touring display of the Asian Cup for football (soccer) to be contested in January 2015 in Australia. 

The cup tour was billed as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for fans to see and be photographed with the AFC Asian Cup. Not being sports oriented, I didn’t get a photo of it but another day did get one of a Zumba dance demo that people eagerly joined in.

Zumba demo attracts participants. 

Two days after the visit of the Asian cup, a crowd gathered across the street outside Flinders Street Station to see Australian race driver Daniel Ricciardo promoting the Australian Grand Prix to be held in Melbourne in March.

Driver Daniel Ricciardo promotes the Australian Grand Prix.

This being the Christmas season, there are almost daily outdoor performances by various local choirs.

Carols by a school choir.

What if it rains or the sun is just too hot? At Fed Square there is covered, open space in the Atrium. One day I heard a gospel choir there and another day watched a graceful Chinese exercise class. I also saw a group of women crocheting poppies in preparation for Anzac Day in April.

Volunteers crochet poppies for Anzac Day 2105.

Bourke Street is a pedestrian mall except for the trams that travel it and Melbourne’s large Chinatown is also bustling with activity. Many lanes reveal numerous cafes and shops, some quite tiny.

Even on a rainy day cafes in the lanes are busy.

The streets are packed with people almost all day and numerous buskers ply their trade. So far it’s never dull on the streets of Melbourne’s city centre.

One of the gates to Chinatown.