After five days in the outback, I stay in Melbourne again. Melbourne rocks. If there’s any city in Australia that I’m going to miss, it’s Melbourne. Good food, relaxed people, lots of greenery. The beach in St Kilda, pleasant temperatures, nice pubs. The parks, the museums, the Yarra River. The hustle and bustle in the city centre and the peace and quiet in the neighbouring residential areas.
The most impressive thing about Melbourne is the music scene. The monthly concert programme is the size of the Süddeutsche Zeitung on Saturday. Within two weeks, Chemical Brothers, Jack Johnson, Nouvelle Vague, Mo Horizon, Hot Hot Heat, Juliette and the Licks, Black Crowes, Kiss, Alice Cooper are playing. I would have wanted to see 30 concerts within five days.
The wind favours me once again in Melbourne. I go out on St Kilda Beach in extremely gusty 45 km/h winds, peaking at 65 km/h. My Vegas is completely depowered, the sail is flapping and yet I take off a few times on the beach. Not so much fun, but at least I’ve been kiting properly in Melbourne once.
An Irishman here was like a black hole. Soaked up everything (especially beer in unbelievable quantities). I wonder how the sound escaped from his mouth. He kept talking unimportant stuff, nearly beat up the receptionist and made a girl feel like she was about to be raped. Today he was kicked out for good. I almost feel sorry for him. Absolute emptiness. Not every traveller wastes their time so effectively.
I walk round the Grand Prix circuit at Albert Park. A week ago it was cars, today it’s cyclists doing their laps. I take one last stroll through Melbourne, which is slowly becoming cool in autumn. Lord of Fries, Crown Casino and Yarra Boardwalk. I’m supposed to learn salsa on my last evening. It’s probably a bit too short notice, I’m too rigid. Melbourne was wonderful. I’ll miss it.
Frank Woelky, born in 1973. Kitesurfer since 1998. Since 2006, I have been combining kitesurfing and web design on trips lasting several months off the beaten track.