Melbourne is a city of surprises. You are surprised that coffee could taste that good, you are surprised that you could find a jayson brunsdon dress for that cheap, or an acne shirt in pistachio green that fit you like a glove, or a chocolate filled with buttery caramel that melts on your tongue... You are surprised that Chapel Street goes that far. You are surprised that by some happy accident you are staying in the penthouse, and you have floor to ceiling views across a sprawling, fairy-light metropolis. You are surprised at the amount of facial hair. You are definitely surprised at the amount of attractive men. You are surprised at the lack of the laid-back that you are accustomed to in Sydney, but are surprised at how easily you slip into grown up sophistication that Melbourne seems to encourage. You are surprised by how sad you are to leave. You are surprised that even in the dead of winter there is the chance to run around without tights. You are surprised by Melbourne's turkish delight sunsets and brisk egg yolk mornings.
I think it's quite funny being a tourist in a city in your own country. I suppose tourist is the wrong word, because you are both tourist and non tourist - you have both the home ground advantage and the element of surprise. You speak the language and you know the systems and you understand the culture, but you're also seeing it through the eyes of your own city. I was unsure how to deal with Melbourne at first. I had to shake off that Sydney mindset - Chai lattes and havianas and straightened hair. People say that Melbourne is the Paris of Australia, and you can really see it. They have a little culture. Theatres, restaurants. It's Grown Up. Melbourne is not a city for kids, it's one for Adults. And, well, that's what I am. I think. Melbourne makes me think I'm an adult - a coffee drinking, high heel wearing, credit card wielding adult. Although make mine a skim mocha with one sugar, a wedge heel with inbuilt platform an a debit card, if you please.
You are not surprised that you are planning another trip back. Soon.
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