Wait, this isn’t Outback.

This week, my work took me to Melbourne, and no, not the one in Australia. You can only imagine my disappointment when I found out that Florida also has a city of the same name and I’d instead be going there, but I was still very much excited to get to discover a new place and meet new people. Although checking into my hotel was nothing short of HELL, my stay was one of the most relaxing I’ve had in quite some time. My last day, I got the opportunity to walk the historical Downtown Melbourne and to be completely honest with you, it was nothing like how I imagined it. After seeing nothing but Del Taco and 7-Elevens the entire week, I was surprised to find what was ESSENTIALLY an outdoor shopping mall and strip. Art exhibits, murals, pubs, boutiques, and whatever else your heart desires.

The look was almost reminiscent of a 1960s surf town but did you really expect anything less than that in Florida?

What is this, Grease???

The locals were welcoming aside from one lady who wouldn’t let me step into her boutique, but it’s cool. I wasn’t buying anyway. Artists and art alike riddled the shop walls. The streets reeked of fresh vegetation, hotdogs, cheap perfume, and yet I found myself falling in love with the city the more I walked. If I had it my way, I’d never leave. But so is life and so is work. There’s a certain charm here that I can’t quite put into words. It feels both old and new, city and not-so suburban. Welcoming, but almost hidden to the naked eye due to the sheer size of it. If you walk long enough and look down too long, you’ll walk right out of it but the smell of the city alone is enough to make you wanna turn right back around and walk back thru, and best believe I’ll be back soon. But until we meet again Melbourne, I thank you for having me, I thank Melbourne PD for showing such graciousness and courtesy to a stranger far, FAR away from home, and I look forward to my eventual return. Be seeing you soon.

And by the way, I ain’t see no damn wizards at Waverly Place either. I want the press to know this.