- Free exhibitions at the State Library of Victoria. You like books? This one's for you. It's an exhibition of illuminated medieval books from the 8th to the 15th centuries. Have you any idea how impressive it is to see these books and the amazing art that went into copying them? Take my word for it. They are spectacular, and in some cases over 500 years old. The mind boggles. Truly. I still have no words for it. You haven't been impressed until you see one of these books- Rosellas. Those brilliantly coloured parrots that sit in the trees and screech. Noisy little buggers, but damn, they're cool. Melbourne (or at least the suburb where we are is so full of these birds, it's almost disconcerting.
- The Victoria Market . It's a huge market, with meat, fish, deli, fruit and veggie sections as well as everything from kitshy souvenirs to clothes to parakeets. Pretty much everything can be found there.
- The Melbourne bay.
- The Victoria Market . It's a huge market, with meat, fish, deli, fruit and veggie sections as well as everything from kitshy souvenirs to clothes to parakeets. Pretty much everything can be found there.
- The Melbourne bay.
- Melbournites. I mean, c'mon, where else do people hear you speaking a foreign language in front of a bus stop and ask if you need help before giving you all the information you need. Before you even ask them. Not in Montreal at any rate.
Tomorrow we're off to another friend's cottage by the sea in Dromana, and thus will probably be out of commisison blogwise for a week or so. But that's all good. At least I sure as hell think so.
14 comments:
those books are beautiful, I've got a serious case of book envy
Book envy, no kidding!
I'm so glad you're having a wonderful time and NO SNOW!!!
Praise be to the FSM. May his noodly appendage bring you great happiness and lovely old books. Oh look, he already has!
I am avidly following your travelogue and delighting in your thoughts and impressions. It all sounds so inviting. Actually,Wendy and I were talking last night about how thoroughly pissed off we're getting about certain matters Canadian and British Columbian that we were speculating about what it would be like to emigrate to Oz.
By the way, if you see my dear friends John and Joy, say hi to them for us.
I love books like that, but mostly I really want to go to the Victoria Market now.
Enjoy the beach, friend!
Fuball - and your case of book envy will remain, cause these aren't travelling to our neck of the woods.
Tai - The FSM has indeed brought me everything I want. Now if only he'd give us a touch more heat, 27-30 degrees would be nice. I get 20 degrees and I want more! Never content.
Ian - I'm sure you'd find plenty to be pissed off about here too. And the cost of living! Whoa. I'll be sure to ask every stranger in the street whether they are J&J and tell them you said hi.
Joce - The Vic Market is great. I will be heading back before I go.
That all sounds so great. I imagine the books are breath-taking, and they probably did not allow pictures. But I hope you are getting pictures of everything else! And I hope the weather is fantastic.
I loved Melbourne. Art everywhere. Did you catch the tiny colorful beach houses there? Very cool.
Geewits - the books were indeed breathtaking, and no, pictures weren't allowed. And um... I've been pretty much forgetting to take pics, though I do have a few.
COTW - Yeah, it's such a beautiful town and full of art everywhere. The rock art painted light posts downtown are amazing...
Jazz, omigosh, you must be having such a wonderful time. I would love to see those books, and to hear those birds!
We have a blogging buddy in Melbourne. Pam lives there. You should click on her blog and say, "G'day, mate".
We visited Melbourne briefly on our tour of Australia. I loved the trams and we visited Old Melbourne Jail where Ned Kelly's armour and head were on show.
oooooh, i wish i could go see.
sounds fun!
well, at least Montreal's unnecessary helfulness is better than USA's grudging help to hapless tourists. its nice to know that help is available should we need it. USA's citizens aren't really that good in that department.
Holy shit! You're in Australia!!!!
I've missed so much, i gotta go catch up.
Enjoy your time there, it sounds awesome!!
No matter how technological and advanced printing is today, it cannot do justice to the style and art of days gone by. I love old books!
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