Following my visit to Tassie I went back to Melbourne where I would spend a few weeks hanging out with old mates, drinking coffee, and enjoying the sun.
Melbourne. Here I spent two years doing my Master’s thesis, working and traveling. Probably the place where I finally caught the travel bug. I was happy to come back to this awesome city. And I was even happier that I would be staying with Lindsay again, my flat mate and good friend of old times. The moment I stepped off the plane and drove through the city in a cab I felt almost like back home.
![Melbourne photo A very familiar view: Melbourne CBD from Hoddle Bridge](http://blog.felixsalomon.net/uploads/2013/02/IMG_7223-Panorama-457x154.jpg)
Not much had changed, nothing I really noticed anyway except for the new soccer stadium not far from Lindsay’s place.
![Melbourne photo CBD and Melbourne Rectangular Stadium (AAMI Park)](http://blog.felixsalomon.net/uploads/2013/02/IMG_7161-457x265.jpg)
I had nothing planned for my time in Melbourne, I simply wanted to catch up with as many people as possible and enjoy the stay. The weather was pretty much great all along and many days I hung out at St. Kilda Beach.
![Melbourne photo St. Kilda Beach](http://blog.felixsalomon.net/uploads/2013/02/IMG_7214-Panorama-457x133.jpg)
If the wind got too chilly, I ventured into the CBD to have a coffee at FED square and watch people doing their business, which can be a lot of fun to do if you take the time – especially given that Melbourne is certainly not short on different characters.
![Melbourne photo Flinder's Street Station](http://blog.felixsalomon.net/uploads/2013/02/IMG_7228-457x304.jpg)
![Melbourne photo Fed Square](http://blog.felixsalomon.net/uploads/2013/02/IMG_7158-452x350.jpg)
In between I even managed to visit a place that I had never really seen during my two years in the city: the Shrine of Remembrance which was built as a memorial to the men and women of Victoria who served in World War I and is now a memorial to all Australians who have served in war.
![Melbourne photo CBD from the Shrine of Remembrance](http://blog.felixsalomon.net/uploads/2013/02/IMG_7165__HDR-457x307.jpg)
It actually offers a few interesting photo opportunities and I spent quite some time wandering about the area.
![Melbourne photo Memorial near the Shrine of Remembrance](http://blog.felixsalomon.net/uploads/2013/02/IMG_7162-233x350.jpg)
![Melbourne photo The Shrine and a modern building on St. Kilda Road](http://blog.felixsalomon.net/uploads/2013/02/IMG_7169-221x350.jpg)
Around Remembrance day on 11th November, people put down red flowers in memory of the fallen which created an interestign atmosphere.
![Melbourne photo Red flowers remind of fallen Australian soldiers](http://blog.felixsalomon.net/uploads/2013/02/IMG_7173-233x350.jpg)
I was glad that most of my friends actually were in town and had time to catch up. Plenty of fun was had at dinner, drinks and other occasions.
![Melbourne photo Cookie's rooftop bar](http://blog.felixsalomon.net/uploads/2013/02/IMG_7205-457x304.jpg)
As usual time was flying and the four weeks seemed like only a few days. But I had a great time and will surely come back again.
![Melbourne photo The old Coop's Shot Tower inside Melbourne Central](http://blog.felixsalomon.net/uploads/2013/02/IMG_7202-457x304.jpg)
![Melbourne photo Rialto towers](http://blog.felixsalomon.net/uploads/2013/02/IMG_7185_6_7_7-2_7-3_tonemapped-261x350.jpg)
Hallo Felix,
beneide dich hier aus dem tristen, kalten Deutschland.
Ich muss mir jetzt einen Job suchen, bin am 21.02. raus bei ct.
Wir bleiben in Kontakt,
Stefan