Melbourne couch surfing

Melbourne couch surfing, originally uploaded by gypsy woman1.

We had another couch surfing stay in Melbourne. Paul and Julia were very interesting people. They were living a self-sufficient life style in the middle of suburban Melbourne. It was only an average size section but every inch was planted with vegies, herbs and fruit trees. He had chooks living around a compost loo.

A new project was growing silver perch in a tank and the water was recycled from the fish tank into a vegie bed planted in clay balls. The water filtered through this bed to remove the nitrates from the fish poo, this purified it and it was then returned to the fish tank. Matilda was parked in the drive and could just fit in. Jack had to hold a very heavily laden branch of an apple tree so we could squeeze in and out. The fish tank was next to us and it was a peaceful burbling sound as the water recycled around.

This is Pauls vehicle rack

Front verge planted in vegies

The fish tank

Paul did not own a car and he was a passionate cyclist, Melbourne is a very bike friendly city with lots of bike ways. We only stayed 4 days but fitted so much in. The art galleries and museums, the secret lane ways, beautiful Brunswick Street, St Kildas Acland Street and the decadent cake shops ( see the photos in flicka), the Casino, and a relaxing cruise along the Yarra. Plus walking for miles just looking….

We loved Melbourne and there is still so much more to see so maybe we will be back…

Melbourne Brunswick Street

Melbourne Brunswick Street , originally uploaded by gypsy woman1.

We found the trams a great way to get around and soon we were hopping on and off to get around, but one day we hopped on to go to South Melbourne but got on the one going in the opposite direction. We decided to stay on for the ride and that is when we found Brunswick Street. What an interesting area. We loved the old weathered look of the buildings that glorified in their aging facades, and the slower life style of the residents, many of them riding bikes. Again the café culture was alive and well with people sitting at tables on the pavement drinking their coffees. The graffiti here was more artistic than we saw in the lanes and more of it. This area was our favourite.

Talking to Paul, our CS host, later that evening, he said he called it the “grunge” area of Melbourne and the heart of the old town. He was brought up in the area and he hoped they never changed it by sprucing it up.We agreed with that sentiment…

Brunswick Street

Brunswick Street graffiti

Brunswick Street cafe culture

Melbourne

Melbourne , originally uploaded by gypsy woman1.

Next stop was into Melbourne. What a beautiful city, so much to see. We spent 4 days staying with Paul another CS host who lived in Pascoe Vale, North Melbourne and not far from the airport. We caught a train and in 25 minutes where in the heart of Melbourne. First area we discovered was the secret back lanes, narrow and crowded they had a European atmosphere with the café culture and people sitting outside with their lattes. The graffiti was a feature of this area and actually looked on as art work, it was very colourful.