ANZAC Day & the Laneways

This past Thursday (25 April) was ANZAC day.  A national holiday here similar to our memorial day.  It is always celebrated on April 25th at 6:00 am which is when the ANZAC (Australia, New Zealand, Army Corps) landed at Gallipoli and entered WW I.  It is a very serious event here - 40,000 people gathered at the Shrine of Rememberence in Melbourne at 6:00 AM for the dawn commemorative service.  Schools and businesses are closed and of course there is the big afternoon footy game.  The US has nothing on the Ausies when it comes to connecting sporting events to major hollidays.  A big difference here however is that they do not move their holidays around for convenience (to create a 3 day weekend whenever possible).  The holiday here is celebrated on what ever day it lands. 

We spent a day last week walking the laneways and arcades in Melbourne.  This the soul of Melbourne - it's unique character that sets it apart from other cities in Australia.  In particular it is a contrast to Sidney which is more glittery and so perfect as a tourist destination.  This side of Melbourne is rich and pulsates with energy.  It is textured and alive when you walk through and sit at one of the hundreds of tiny cafe's for a coffee or glass of wine.  The lane ways are narrow alleys and streets between the major streets, some winding between buildings and not wide enough for a car.  Yet they are full of cafe's some so small you can barely get in.  The arcades connect many of the laneways and are full of shops and all mannor of businesses.  The Royal Arcade is the oldest shopping arcade in Australia. 

Many of the outside walls along the way are painted with street art (grafitti to many) - I've included a sampling of some of my favorites below.  You will find all sorts of painting, some quite good.  Yet they get painted over regularly so it is an ever changing canvas.  The next time you go back that work you liked so much may not be there.

A great doorway in Niagra Lane

 

 This old warehouse in Niagra Lane has been converted to some very expensive office space

 

A marvelous old escalator & cafe in the Manchester Uni Arcade

 

Unique seating for a coffee at a different Cafe in Manchester Uni Arcade

 

The entrance to Block Place

 

 

 

A great assortment of cafe's along Block Place - a great spot to have coffee

 

 

The view from my seat along Block Place as I sip a Yara Valley pinot

 

Block Arcade

 

 

What an inviting scene along the outside of the Block Arcade

Beautiful glass in the Royal Arcade

Glog and Magog - with the clock in Royal Arcade which has struck on the hour since 1892