A different view

We move around enough that we really wanted to find an accomadation in Melbourne where we didn't have to move within the city over the two or three weeks we would be there. This is much easier said than done as Melbourne is a happening town with lots of weekend crowd pleasers. This coming weekend had a particularly packed and popular concert line-up making lots of Australian very happy and making our task much more difficult. It doesn't help when you are looking two days before you arrive either. Even after we brought ourselves around to living in whatever area had availability - even the intense central business district - we still were having no luck. Luckily, a company that caters to business people was willing to be flexible on their one month minumum stay rule. We were happy to take what we could get and didn't really fuss too much over what it was like. And the apartment really is lovely. It's comfortable, spacious, has everything we would need to live, ans even has a swimming pool in the building. And it is nice for a change to live in an actual condo building rather than in the more hotel like serviced appartments we've been in so far.

Yet, after arriving from Canberra the view was really a shock to me. I won't say I cried, but, my vision did get blurry the first evening in the apartment as I sat there staring at the endless stream of traffic on the highway, the lit up billboards, the gas stations, the grey buildings and tried to think over the rushing noise of Sunday night traffic. While it really is quite depressing it is also great because it made me realize that despite all of its wonderful offerings, hip cafes, loads of potential friends, ethnic restaurants, and nightlife I prefer not to live in a big city. I met a neighbor in the building holiday party this week. Her daughter was visiting from a Melbourne suburb  and her commute to the city proper is one and half hours! Big cities are massive!

Melbourne is really a great city. Honestly. We are happy to spend more time here and we could even live here happily. But if we had a choice I would say less is more. The silver linign is that what our current accommodation lacks for in views it makes up for in number of toileting rooms. And if we had a choice between great views and getting to all pee or bathe simultaneously I think I know which we would choose.

There is a sliver of ocean on the horizon

View from the other side

Bedroom view is the best one as you can see this merciful plot of empty space (ie vacant lot)