Sunday, November 20, 2011

Being a tour Guide

This week friends from New Zealand were in Melbourne for the Presidents Cup golf tournament.  Fortunately for me Sue was happy to catch up for a day of talking and looking at some of the sites in our beautiful city.

We don't see each other often but always have plenty to talk about.  After having a chat and planning our day we set out on a very hot (35degrees) windy day.  Our first stop was St.Pauls Cathedral which is a very beautiful building with lots of things to see.  Beautiful architecture, tiled floors, timber roofing, huge columns - I could go on.    It really is worth a visit if you are in Melbourne.
http://www.stpaulscathedral.org.au/ 
After that we crossed Flinders Street, taking in the view of Flinders Street Station which is our central suburban railway station.
http://www.onlymelbourne.com.au/melbourne_details.php?id=774
We were headed for Federation Square and in particular the Ian Potter Centre which is part of the National Gallery of Victoria.  They had several really interesting things happening in the various spaces there but we were particularly interested in the "Man Style" exhibition.

http://www.ngv.vic.gov.au/whats-on/exhibitions/exhibitions/manstyle2 

It was really fascinating to see the evolution of fashion in menswear.  I was especially interested in embroidery and buttons on some of the garments.

We also managed to see lots of other works of art - ancient and modern.  A day spent with Sue is great fun as well as a fantastic opportunity to learn more - Sue has been an art teacher and is an artist in her own right and is part of a group promoting sculpture in her home city in New Zealand.
I feel like a sponge soaking up so much information.  It really is a treat.



http://www.publicsculpture.org.nz/index.php?page=gallery

Melbourne boasts some interesting public sculpture so it was a perfect day.  The menfolk were at the golf and although we had planned an evening meal together it was not to be.  My darling husband has a horrid chest infection and couldn't go out so we came home just as another storm approached.

 

4 comments:

Karyn said...

What a wonderful day you must have had wondering around the city; there are so many things to look at in melbourne.
I hope your DH feels better soon and manages to throw off his chest infection without too many problems.

Doreen G said...

I love Melbourne Dian--we always stay in Collins Street when we come down for a holiday and we go into St Paul's every time we are there--a beautiful Cathedral indeed.

Radka said...

It sounds like you had a very good day out, although I don't think I could do that in 35C!

Linda said...

Sounds like a fascinating outing Dian, and great links, will have to bookmark them. So sorry to hear about the patient, hope that eases soon. I heard it rained there, hope it makes it this far north some time soon. Take care, and will catch up soon.