Favourite spots on the planet

Here I am, back in the city of cafes and coffee culture!  Melbourne.  I've come to meet my second to youngest grandson, born just over a year ago, and to catch up with his big sister, Mum and Dad.  

Apart from being with the family, I've made a beeline for a couple of my favourite haunts in this fantastic city, taking in a bit of graffiti on the way, of course!

Hosier Lane is a narrow street in the heart of the city centre, which attracts graffiti artists and a steady stream of visitors.  Street art isn't seen as vandalism here.  The city council allows designated areas for this constantly changing art form. There was even a school group receiving a lesson on the concept of street art!  You wouldn't come across that in the back streets of Edinburgh!

"We swallow greedily any lie that flatters us, but we sip only little by little at a truth we find bitter."

Denis Diderot

I walked along the banks of the Yarra River, past some totem poles with Aboriginal art, to the 96 tram stop for South Melbourne Market.  I don't think I have seen these ship's figureheads before, but in the past we have usually walked along the other side of the river.

 Before I wandered through the market I went along to my most favourite bookshop in the world, Coventry Bookstore.  They have wonderful literature, art books, cookery books, a great children's book section, with sophisticated chilled out music playing quietly in the background.  It all adds up to heaven for me!  I usually just let my camera record a few minutes of video footage, just for the soundtrack, and listen to it when I get home!  And I always leave the shop v e r y  s l o w l y and with the greatest reluctance, but there is a limit to how long you can hang around in one place without raising the shopkeeper's eyebrow!  I regret that I never buy a book.  The cost of books in Australia is eye wateringly painful, and I can get them at home for half the price.   

And then to the market, piled high with colourful fruits, vegetables, flowers.  Meat and fish stalls, cakes and pastries, and some fantastic deli counters.  

I bought a ridiculously large chocolate and almond croissant at one stall, and an excellent coffee at another, and sat at a little table in one of the market thoroughfares, and scoffed the lot.  It was delicious, and extremely greedy.  But sitting in the middle of the hubbub of the market, in a place I love to be, watching the comings and goings of the market traders and their customers, was just the best way to spend some of my morning.

Having visited my favourite bookshop, I also had a browse through the market's very good second hand book stall.  Seeing a copy of 'The Natural History of Selborne' amused me.  I know the Hampshire village well and it is a very long way indeed from South Melbourne Market!