Weeks 504–507 · St. Kilda · Albert Park · Melbourne Cup Day
Moving to
After some quality time in the US, we returned to Melbourne and moved into our AirBnB in St. Kilda. St. Kilda is about 3 miles from the CBD — our AirBnB is between the beach town and Albert Park. I had heard good things about St. Kilda and bad things — both seem to be true. St. Kilda is kinda like Venice Beach light (with less mayhem).
It is now spring — days ranging from windy and rainy in the 50s to "one hot day" that was sunny and 80. But people have transitioned and things are getting out more, days are longer, and they had daylight savings time for part of the country. We are now 15 hours ahead of the USA — until the USA "falls back" out of daylight savings and we will be 16 hours ahead.
Tuesday 7 Nov is the next big holiday — their equivalent of the Kentucky Derby and everyone gets off work. They also got a day off for the AFL Grand Final (their Super Bowl). I understand the day off — but why not the day after? The Melbourne Marathon came through the park and right by our apartment, and Oktoberfest was at the beach park down the street. When investigated, it was $50 USD cover charge plus beer and food, and outfits were highly encouraged. So we passed — but walked by later and most everyone had outfits and was a bit younger. The Formula 1 will be in the park next March — so if we are around we'll be able to watch a portion from our balcony. We were also lucky enough to be here when Sir Paul came through Australia.
The Melbourne Cup, held annually on the first Tuesday of November at Flemington Racecourse, is Australia's most prestigious horse race — a 3,200-metre thoroughbred race worth over AUD $8 million in prize money. Known as "the race that stops a nation," it generates an estimated AUD $380 million in bets on race day alone. The Melbourne Cup public holiday applies only to the Melbourne metropolitan area, making it one of the few sporting events in the world that generates an official public holiday for a single city. The event has been held since 1861, and in 2023 attracted a crowd of over 84,000 to Flemington.
I have about a 30-minute commute, most of which is by tram, and we have explored quite a bit in the area. The village next to us reminds us of Barnes or other suburbs of London from the turn of the century — Melbourne expanded into the suburbs along the train lines. I have made it out to the 1980/90s ring so far — about 20 miles — and rode my bike back on the coast. The bike trail doesn't go as far as I would have preferred, so more riding along the streets.
Sharon adjusting to living here and being retired — it is no longer just an extended trip. She has fully explored Albert Park (like Central Park), joined the athletic club, and explored golf lessons. She hasn't signed up for one of the many cricket or AFL ovals yet. The park is filled with black swans — hundreds. So maybe not the best name for an extraordinary event.
We signed up for a rooftop bar crawl and a buddy I knew from South Korea was in town — so we got a tour of places that aren't easy to find. Some were in office buildings with no signs out front. The Alice in Wonderland themed one was the best.
"The park is filled with black swans — hundreds. So maybe not the best name for an extraordinary event."