I have had so many people tell me to go to Melbourne. Aussies and Americans. So, on this, my third trip, Melbourne was the final stop. Now I get it! What a great city! Forever in the shadow of Sydney, but in many ways, a better experience. If Sydney is a cross between LA and …
Here are some fun shots that did not fit into a defined theme. Next post will be on Melbourne.
Much of Australian history revolves around mining, and Victoria is no exception. Throughout the north central area of the state, there are literally hundreds of gold rush towns, many in amazing condition to this day, even though most date from the mid 1850’s. The best preserved are of course tourist attractions, particularly since they …
In Australia? Well, yes, that is what they call this area. Maybe more like our Appalachian mountains, but some very rugged, remote areas with miles of highway above tree line. And wild roads getting up and over the passes. This area is not at all like the Blue Mountains outside of Sydney where the …
Hard to imagine, huh? What do you get? You get nice little towns with essentially all of the store fronts occupied. Cafes, nice shops of all kinds, restaurants, brew pubs and the like, all in use by the locals and the visitors alike. Town after town. Nothing on the outskirts except farms, bike trails …
Continue reading “Life without Wal-Mart, Starbucks and the others”
On my third trip, I am finally seeing lots of kangaroo’s. Many from the train, some running across the road in front of me and my car, and then up close and personal at a motel in the Grampian mountain range. OK, looking at that picture it is clear that they have seen a …
Well, actually, I think there are only 7 or 8, not 12. But as we noted previously, there is a math problem over here. Anyway, however many there are and, in fairness, it can change over time, these soft limestone formations and cliffs are striking beautiful. Truly an iconic setting along the Great Ocean Road. …
Seems sort of weird that once gain I have done an Australian prison tour, this time the World Heritage site, Fremantle prison. But, as in Europe one goes to cathedrals and such to see how the culture evolved, one can learn so much about Australian settlement history by its prisons. Remember, that was a …
As I wrote in the previous post, the Australian government just passed a “backpacker tax.” What in the world is that you say? Let’s start with an analysis of basic geography. Looking at a map, it is clear that Australia is not connected to Mexico or anything else for that matter. The good news …
Well, sorry to share this news, but we do not have a corner on all of the problems. (Yes, we may be in the lead, but others are with us…..) Australia’s economic divide is strikingly similar. Economic growth in the cities has been at close to 4%, while most of the rest of the …