Melbourne is a truly multicultural city, as it is Australia's most populous city. Since World War…read moreII, large-scale immigration from Vietnam, Lebanon, Turkey, Sudan, Italy, and Greece has added to the cultural richness. There is a rivalry between Melbourne and Sydney that extends beyond this city's 5.2 million population, from sporting events to fashion trends and economic influence. We could see just by driving around the city that Melbourne's distinct European charm and feel come through in interactions with both strangers on the street and working people, and that Melburnians emphasize their high quality of life. Below the city's towering skyscrapers (the tallest building is 108 stories high) is a grand mixture of well-preserved Victorian architecture, tree-lined boulevards, expansive gardens, and parks that adds a historical elegance.
After visiting one of the city's historic and expansive gardens (Fitzroy Gardens) and passing by numerous green parks within the city's center, our group was taken to the Eureka Skydeck, AKA Melbourne Skydeck, to get a bird's eye view (well, 91 stories is higher than most non-migratory birds' flight) of this bustling city. The Melbourne Skydeck, on Level 88, is the highest observation deck in the Southern Hemisphere and offers a 360° panoramic view of the city and beyond. There is a glass-bottomed "cube" called "The Edge" that extends from the Sky Deck, but we didn't dare walk out onto it. Instead, we braved the OUTDOOR OBSERVATION DECK. We felt the wind and chill blowing through the observation deck as we snapped photos and braced ourselves against the guardrails and chain-link fence.
After getting our fill of photos, we stopped to grab a snack at the Skydeck's concession stand. We tried the Australian Steak and Gravy Meat Pie ($10 AUD) and the Sausage Roll with Red Sauce ($10 AUD). Both food items were tasty, and their pastry was flaky and tender, though not the very best. However, I knew that we'd be trying more meat pies or sausage rolls as we continue our way through Australia to New Zealand.