Armchair BEA: Exploring Melbourne

Armchair BEA is here! And this is the first day's theme for our posts:

You’ll probably be getting a lot of new visitors to your blog this week, so introduce yourself in a post! And if you specialize in a particular genre, share what it is and why you love it. Also, tell us how you’re doing Armchair BEA - where you are, what you’re excited about, what you hope will happen this week.

G'day. Welcome!

Actually, I don't normally say g'day at all, so how about hello! I am coming to you live from Melbourne, Australia!

What  to tell you? I have been blogging for around five and a half years, and I am still trying to get better at it! I am an avid reader, and blogger, as well as being a single mum and holding down a full time job. I read all sorts of genres, from spec fic to historical fiction, from romance to YA, and a few other genres.

During this week I am planning to respond to each of the writing prompts offered each day, will be interviewed over at the main Armchair BEA site later in the week, and I am also intending to do a post each day where I will imagine that I was actually in New York at BEA, and what I would be doing!

Today I thought that I would share something of Melbourne, the city I have lived in for nearly 10 years now. One of the things that Melbourne is famous for is having a vibrant atmosphere that centres around the many laneways and arcades that are around the city.  To be honest, I never really got what the fuss was until a few weeks ago, on a gorgeous autumn day, I went on a tour of the laneways and arcades in one part of the city. There were certain laneways that I did go down on a semi regular basis, but they always seemed quite commercial and busy, so it was fun to go down some that were less so.One of the things that I learned from the tour is to remember to look up and take the time to see what is around us.

I thought I would share a few pictures and thoughts.

This laneway is about 5 minutes from where I work, and I had no idea it was there! Out of shot there is what is supposed to be one of the oldest buildings in Melbourne, and a cute little pub.

 This shop is called Wunderkammer, and is home to Scientific Curiosities, Artefacts and Ephemera

Some European inspired architecture nestled alongside more modern buildings.

There are a lot of parts of the city where you need to look up to see the various artistic additions that someone has made to the walls. There were so many fun examples of this scattered throughout the walk.

I have no idea what this business is. It is down a relatively hidden laneway, but I loved the sign.

One way to recycle an old tape recorder/radio

Hardware Lane is full of restaurants!

The old GPO, now a swanky shopping destination.

One of the most famous arcades in Melbourne, Block Arcade.

One of Melbourne's favourite celebrities is honoured. There is also an AC/DC Lane.

This couch was just sitting out in a laneway with all these small framed pictures on the wall behind it.

There are several laneways where there are coffee shops/cafes/restaurants etc lining each side. These laneways always seem busy and quite vibrant. We even saw a bride and groom having some of their wedding photos taken in one of these laneways - I guess they wanted a flavour of quintessential Melbourne in their photos.

I couldn't possibly resist taking a photo of this shop window. I did resist actually buying anything....this time!