Tuesday, November 13, 2018

The trials of traveling: Melbourne in winter


I have, when younger, lived through many a cold winter in Melbourne.

Not that you could call it cold in the same sense that people who live in the northern states of the US and in particular, from personal experience, places like Chicago.

It just depends on personal experience.

But, now that I live in a warmer climate, where days in winter often hover above 20 degrees Celcius, coming back to a city where the maximum is going to be 10 degrees Celcius is something of a shock.

I mean, we do have cold weather where I live, but it doesn't have the wind chill factor.  Melbourne is notorious for having four seasons on one day, but right now, it's just winter and colder than we're used to.  Perhaps it has something to do with Victoria's proximity to Antarctica.

A great day to stay in, light the fire, and read a book.  I'm sure most of us have a large amount of reading we've been putting off till the next rainy day.

Well, that's here, and there's a lot of reading I've been putting off.  And like most modern houses, there's no fireplace, just reverse cycle airconditioning.  Curling up and reading a book in that scenario isn't quite the same as the almost mesmerizing flames of a real fire.

And it is, or was about half an hour ago, raining, with a gusty wind that has the element of penetrating even the thickest layers of clothing and chill you to the bone.

The problem is, we're away, not necessarily on holiday but with a lot of activities in mind so rail travel, wind chill, miserable weather is just another highlight of traveling.

This morning when we wake up it is pouring with rain, and the wind is howling through the nearby trees and you can feel the cold, as much in your imagination as it is in reality.

I shudder, and it's hard to say what drives it.  We have to go out so we'll see what it's like when we're ready to leave.  A lot can happen, weather-wise, in a few hours.

But, that pull of the sport, that level of dedication to support your team does not leave you, because it is ingrained in you from the day you are born, and stays with you till the day you die, no matter where you live, anywhere in the world.  Thank God there is the internet.

Remarkably the sun comes out from behind the clouds which are thinning out.  The sunshine does not raise the temperature because the wind, gusty at times, is still very chilling.

This is definitively Melbourne in winter.  And I can tell you, I don't miss it.

That doesn't mean I dislike the cold, far from it, it's just the sustained variations of cold assisted by sheeting rain and blustery wind gusts I can do without.  It's never just purely cold like it can be in the northern hemisphere.

But the weather is never that bad we don't go out.  This morning we are heading to the South Melbourne market.  Cold weather doesn't stop anyone and it's nigh on impossible to find a parking spot, and in our search, we pass other shoppers being blown about by the wind.

The walk to the market itself is chilling.  In the food aisle street side, it is warmer, with fires burning to keep the customers warm, and the food aromas tempting.  We are here for the spring rolls, the dim sims, and the potato cakes.

20180707_134027

And the wide variety of fresh produce available that would put a supermarket to shame.  I've often wondered what it would be like to live nearby and do my shopping at the market.  We probably would be eating a lot healthier.


No comments:

Post a Comment