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On to the continent, a new climate. HOT.
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Our last glimpse of Tasmanian fields,
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and last view of Launceton Gorge.
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Leaving the coast ...
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Arriving in Melbourne.
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Our group doubled in size, including 2 Mankato friends.
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Our colorful hotel was easy to spot!
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We set off to explore our first big city in Australia.
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An impressive blend of new and old --
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sometimes on the same structure!
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Sometimes a bit jumbled,
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sometimes spectacular. The Fire Brigade building (1893) has a recent addition with a mural, "The Legend of Fire"...
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complete with Prometheus at the start of it all!
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We stopped by the cathedral, with spectacular gardens,
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beautiful windows,
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and this massive tree standing guard at the gate.
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In contrast, the city's busy "laneways" (alleys) have bars, restaurants, and street art:
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with images from pop culture,
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current events,
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and this masterpiece of an aboriginal face
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(a telephoto lens helps!).
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The Botanical Garden visit was rainy ...
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but unforgettable. A young guide explained the hundreds of languages spoken in Australia
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and then offered us a traditional welcome, as his elders had taught him.
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At the end of the Smoke Ceremony, he explained the colors of the aboriginal flag.
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After our welcome, the rain stopped ...
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and we walked the manicured lawns ...
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home to water birds,
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and water lilies
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(a close-up)
