March 3, 2016. Layover in Melbourne

After an early morning flight from Auckland of 4 hours due west, we arrived in Melbourne, Australia.  We had found a hotel online with directions on how to get there.  So, we caught the airport shuttle downtown, then a short 3-stop train ride to our destination.  Easy-peasy.  Nice that we only have backpacks.  Melbourne is supposed to be one of the world's most liveable cities.  The skyline is beautiful.

It seems very prosperous with building cranes everywhere.  

Our hotel is actually a hostel.  It is the only thing we could find <$100.  It was built in the 1860s.

 

It is very tidy with a real Victorian feel.  Nice front desk staff.  We have a private room and share a bathroom down the hall, which we seem to have to ourselves.  

It is in a funky part of town, with tons of cafés and chic shops.

We had drinks at this old church, now an Irish pub.

Melbourne is very cosmopolitan.  I hear all kinds of different languages spoken by good-looking people, carrying shopping bags from the boutiques.

We had sushi in an outdoor cafe for dinner.  After a few old British comedies on TV, we went to bed early.  Another early morning tomorrow.