Jessica Wandering

Photos and thoughts on my travels

Melbourne 3 – Weribee state park and meeting people

We took a hike on a sunny day
Then it rained and we started back
And there was a chopper ambulance circling
But we decided to try, and some nice folks were coming the other way who claimed not to be athletic and they were fine, so we kept going.
We looked for platypuses where a nice guy on the trail said he’d seen them before. But no luck.
We got to the hard bit and the rocks had dried so it was no big deal
They had a very long cable to hold for a part where I can see totally falling in without it.
But they kept it a bit challenging and fun.
So glad we did it.
Next day a walk in the park near “our” house turned up this plant…. So crazy and like an ostrich.
At the park we stumbled on Ken’s table where we learned about the history of the neighborhood (brick factories and bricklayers when he grew up just a few blocks away). He makes recycled wood products that are so pretty. And Zarah had actually considered buying one of his necklaces from a little shop the day before.
And he told us about going way out in the bush with a group of Aboriginal Australians in the 70’s and the one thing he really didn’t want to eat but it was rude to refuse. He was a character.
We found a great gym close to our house and a nice queer person invited us to the gala opening and Pride Month event at the Melbourne Pride Center. This whole large beautiful building is theirs! such a good last night in town.
Great drag performers
I can’t describe how great it was to be part of a GLTBQI+ event and community for a night. Traveling in countries with laws against you and your wife wears in you. I haven’t been that closeted since the very early 90’s
We walked by this guys photo shoot on the stairs and just joined in…
People are so kind here. His friend even took the time to airdrop me the photos even though I was having gen X problems with my phone.
Widget had the zoomies.
Did I mention Black Spark? Literally next door to our place. Arts and community center, volunteer and community funded. They had a 10-part series of lectures called “Understanding Palestine” we went to. A generous man from the University of Melbourne, Yousef Alreemalwi, talked about Palestinian history and culture.
He talked about the migration of people there before Judaism even existed and that they have a common folk song that is still sung that shows their Canaanite roots. He talked about the black sense of humor that has developed from suffering, of the complexities of experiences when Palestinian partly raised in Saudi Arabia and now in Australia for over a decade and taking to his cousin who was raised in Europe. So many layers of now generations being displaced so many times. He was articulate and funny and warm.

Melbourne is a wonderful city. I liked it 20 years ago, but I was only here a couple days. I didn’t see the depth of the city. Now I wish I could spend time here more easily and more often. But tomorrow: The Great Ocean Road!

jessicaeastre

2 responses to “Melbourne 3 – Weribee state park and meeting people”

  1. Henry Schroeder Avatar
    Henry Schroeder

    Hi-  Looks like a challenging hike and a fun night on the town…  M  Melbourne does seem like a very cool place!!!   Love,  Marilee

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    1. jessicaeastre Avatar
      jessicaeastre

      Thanks Marilee!

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