Melbourne & Sydney (Australia)
10 March - 20 March 2020
By the time the start of March had greeted us we all had a fairly good idea that the pandemic was upon us. We were still living in much the same way but there was an unease on the streets when it came to errant sneezes, proximity to those that weren't family members and movements in public generally.
This post is more about the two weeks that preceded the 20th of March, especially those last couple of days when the gravity of what was upon us started to hit home with flight cancellations, empty streets and untamed toilet paper envy.
Rather than having photos support the story, for the next few entries I'll write directly to the photos that are being posted.
The Gin Palace - 10 Russel Street - Melbourne - Australia
In the foreground a Japanese Negroni and in the background a Floral Negroni.
I had waited so long for David & Annija to get to Melbourne and I'd wanted to take them out on my very own 'hidden bar tour'. The Gin Palace had been a long time favourite of mine, back from my days of living in Sydney.
The Croft Institute - Croft Alley - Melbourne - Australia
I love the lane-ways of Melbourne. Turn down a shabby, none too inviting lane and inevitably you'll come upon something great. The beauty of it, as this photo shows, it that just by turning up here and not knowing of its existence you wouldn't think to do any more investigating.
The Croft Institute - Croft Alley - Melbourne - Australia
Davis taking his medicine like a pro!
The Croft Institute - Croft Alley - Melbourne - Australia
The Croft Institute - Croft Alley - Melbourne - Australia
There's a lot of 'Melbourne' in this simple photo
2110/7 Katherine Place - Melbourne - Australia
The view down the Yarra, to Flinders Street station and beyond was the real selling point of this apartment. I think its going to be a long while before we ever consider selling this place. What catches me in this photo is even very early on in the piece, this must have been around the 2nd week of March, evenings on the streets were eerily quiet. Flinders Street, typically, is buzzing until the early hours of the morning, in this photo there's only the odd car making its way.
Mary's Melbourne - 167 Franklin Street - Melbourne - Australia
There was a palpable feel about those early days of COVID. Another place that should have a healthy patronage is almost empty on a Saturday night. There's was something spectacularly weighty about being out and about to experience normal every day things before they came to a grinding halt.
Mary's Melbourne - 167 Franklin Street - Melbourne - Australia
Arbory Afloat - Yarra River - Melbourne - Australia
Now a summertime institution in Melbourne, Arbory afloat is open from late October until late March each year. Inga and her mother probably caught one of the last open days before closing down for the season
The Great Ocean Road - Victoria - Australia
One of the great day trips out of Melbourne and certainly one of great drives in Australia. It's a long day but a worthwhile one. Here's Aiden and his uncle Davis at the start of what was a 16 hour day
The Great Ocean Road - Victoria - Australia
Cruising out in your own Mustang is certainly a great experience
The Great Ocean Road - Victoria - Australia
Aiden, Aunty Annija and Uncle Davis, with their driver for the day.
Cruising the Great Ocean Road
The Twelve Apostles - Victoria - Australia
Always a highlight of any day on the Great Ocean Road. I try to get here during sunset as you can get some magnificent colours if your lucky
The Hereford Beefstouw - 22 Duckboard Place - Melbourne - Victoria - Australia
I'd like to say this was my discovery but it wasn't. I came to it by way of a conversation I had with a colleague and friend of mine, Gary Dowthwaite, when discussing the best steaks we've had in Melbourne. My vote was for San Telmo, 14 Meyers Place, and his went for the Hereford. After trying both I'm happy to say that they're both damn fine. In this photo Aiden is being held by his grandfather Jurijs - both waiting on their meals I assume.
This is either the #86 or #96 back down Collins Street
Being from Sydney, and being born in the year that I was, it was only until very recently that (we) have decided to rekindle our love of all things tram related. Melbourne has it in spades when it comes to ease of mobility and transport across the CBD. How cool is it that within the CBD all tram travel is free! That's a smart city for you right there!
The Hereford Beefstouw - 22 Duckboard Place - Melbourne - Victoria - Australia
The photo says all that needs to be said
Smith Street - Collingwood - Melbourne - Victoria - Australia
From memory this was in Collingwood. I say from memory because I wasn't actually with them.
The Twelve Apostles - Great Ocean Road - Victoria - Australia
I love this photo of us :)
Outside of Port Campbell - Great Ocean Road - Victoria - Australia
Melbourne sign - Melbourne Tullamarine airport - Victoria - Australia
Reunited after 6 months, looks like Jurijs is going to be giving his daughter a lift instead of the other way around
Duckboard Place - Melbourne - Victoria - Australia
One of my favourite laneways in Melbourne, down here you'll find the Hereford Beefstouw, Pastutso & Tonka amongst others
The Hereford Beefstouw - 22 Duckboard Place - Melbourne - Victoria - Australia
This is the Tomahawk steak offered up by the Hereford. A whole 1kg off the bone and more than a helping for the three men that tried to take it down
Sydney - Australia
After all those years, this view had always been the epitome of coming home. It's certainly an odd feeling to look down on this harbour and snap photos like a typical tourist
Darling Harbour - Sydney - New South Wales - Australia
Darling Harbour - Sydney - New South Wales - Australia
Chinatown- Sydney - New South Wales - Australia
Sydney Opera House- Sydney - New South Wales - Australia
Aiden, Inga and Zaiga at the Sydney Opera House
Sydney - New South Wales - Australia
Circular Quay - Sydney - New South Wales - Australia
Waiting for the crew to disembark from their afternoon jaunt to Manly. During these days I had been working from the apartment that we'd rented out on Sussex Street. Once again, these days, whilst enjoyable were also filled with anxiety for most of us. Wondering how these cancelled flights would impact their return home, what the quarantine restrictions would mean, what connecting flights now needed to be taken and through which city. Things were changing so quickly and there was so little information available that it made decision making more intuitive than anything else.
Circular Quay - Sydney - New South Wales - Australia
Opera Bar - Circular Quay - Sydney - New South Wales - Australia
Circular Quay - Sydney - New South Wales - Australia
Circular Quay - Sydney - New South Wales - Australia
Trams in the heart of Sydney! It took a bit of time for Sydney to realise what it had lost but finally they've done something about it. Of course, they'll never get to Melbourne levels where trams are part of their DNA. Small steps I gues.
Sydney Harbour - Sydney - New South Wales - Australia
Sydney airport - Sydney - New South Wales - Australia
On our way back to Melbourne
Sydney airport - Sydney - New South Wales - Australia
Sydney airport - Sydney - New South Wales - Australia
Wow, this said it all. A Friday afternoon flight down to Melbourne would commonly be full to the brim. This shot was an insight into what the next 6 months was going to be like.
Skybus - on the way to Southern Cross Station - Melbourne - Victoria - Australia
