We arrived in Melbourne in the middle of what should have been summer.  It was, however reasonably cold (about 20 degrees) and wet half of the time.

   When I arrived at the airport and was met by Josie I was very tired but I was struck by how amazing the sky looked.  Everything seemed so open and bright and the sky was so big.  I'm sure that some of this was down to having been in ShangHai for the previous month but it was still very impressive.

    I lived with Josies parents in a very nice suburb but we spent quite a lot of time in the actual city.  On my first day we went to Melbourne and I was again very impressed.  I liked the space, even in the middle of the city.  The centre of the city is quite compact (a bit like Glasgow) and this makes it feel very comfortable and homely.  You can feel like you know your way around very quickly (although I still got lost a few times) and everything is within easy walking distance.   Travelling around is very easy.  Public transport (buses, trains and trams) are widely available and not too expensive

   .     In all of the time which we spent there, the thing which left the biggest impression on me was the amount of freedom which people had.  Not just in work but in space and culture.   The choice of bars, cafes and restaraunts is amazing and this too fits in with the idea of a very relaxed culture.  The quality of life is very high and you can feel it everywhere you go.  I am sure that these perceptions are those of a tourist and if I was to live there it would be different.