Word Pictures??

Today I really wanted to blog in pictures, but I do not have my camera with me.

So instead I will try to paint word pictures.  I am not very good at them as I tend to write without visual descriptors!

My train stopped just before the station I was planning to get off.  For quite a while. I possibly should have got off the station before and changed trains.  It gets me to work quicker, but I have less of a walk.  I was sitting in the train, it was not very crowded and I had 2 vastly different views out each side of the train.  To my right I had train tracks and overhead wires.  The backs of some office buildings.  Some trains in various states of age and condition.  To the left I had a grassy hill, some trees and the roof of a circus tent – complete with colourful flags.  Just behind the tent was a ferris wheel.  The sun was shining and the sky blue.  It was shining to the right as well, but sun on powerlines seemed harsh, on grass and a circus tent it seemed friendly and optimistic.

As I walked to work I passed 3 gorgeous churches.  These are old buildings by Melbourne standards (the city was founded in 1835) and quite beautiful.  Opposite one church is our controversial ‘Federation Square’.  It is ‘love it or hate it’ architecture.  It is modern and unique.  Lots of open spaces and lots of angles, levels, steps, and corners.  Personally I love it.

I also passed the Grand Hyatt Hotel which is recently refurbished and quite grand.  It has a drive through forecourt which is unusual in a city centre hotel.  They do a fabulous apple martini in the bar there J

I was surprised to pass an on duty security guard outside a nondescript building.  I glanced inside as I walked and noticed a scientology web address on a window and many people with security passes around their necks.  I wondered what was occurring, but being already late for work I keep on marching up the hill.

I turned the corner on to Collins St (and 2 of the churches).  This I think is one of our most beautiful city streets.  It is tree lined and wide.  Lots of the buildings are older, and the new ones are shiny.  It seems not much changed in the 60’s and 70’s so there are few concrete blocks!  The trees have mostly dropped their leaves and spread their arms towards the sun.  I passed exclusive shops mixed with the usual 7-11 and temporary bargain shops.  I looked in windows and wondered who has $1000s of dollars for beads that look remarkably similar to the cheap ones next door.

I looked into the 7-11 as I already finished the Sudoku on the train (‘very easy’ really is ‘very easy’) and need another paper.  It has none!  I wondered why so many people wanted the Age this Monday morning.  

Next stop was my office, it’s a pretty building with an atrium several floors high.  We are 1 level up so I look out into open space.  Behind me are windows through which we can watch grand final parades, protest marches, and occasional photo shoots at the tram stop below.

Tomorrow I will try to bring my camera, and you can compare my word pictures to real ones!