Melbourne Day Five

 It’s been a while since I spent a morning at a proper museum. Plenty of folks have been steering me to the Ian Potter Center and so downtown I went. The IPC displays the domestic collections of the National Gallery of Victoria and has an interesting mission. It shows contemporary and antique indigenous and European Australian art, an interesting mission. Where many galleries might divvy up the space, the IPC mixes all four together. You might see a traditional handmade Aboriginal fish trap displayed alongside oil paintings of white settlers. The juxtaposition is fascinating and helps to remind you of the depth of the history at play. One of the most incredible rooms was a display of bark art. Aboriginals would traditionally peel bark off of trees and paint them. In one room, there is a collection of antique, classically styled modern, and contemporary examples all displayed together. The eye dances from piece to piece and has a lot to take in, the ideas in each example are radically different.

I think the two most Australian experiences I had there occurred when I walked in and when I left. I walked in to the sound of a man screaming at the top of his lungs. “BUGGER! BUGGER! BUGGER! BUGGER!” Of course, we have people suffering from mental illness in the US but hearing the word bugger was a pleasant change of pace. On the way out, I passed through a contemporary exhibit hall. To suit the art from the 70s, the curator decided to blast AC/DC in the gallery. Good choice.

Bork Bork

I was getting a big hungry by this point and, in need of something American to do, checked to see if Melbourne had an American style diner. They do. I walked down and discovered quite the line. I asked the gal in front of me if this was for a table and she replied that unfortunately it was. Kindly, she offered to share her two top with me when she got one. Tammy is a local and just popped in to grab a bite on the way home from her friend’s house. Our food came and it scratched my itch with some differences.  My simple American breakfast was miniature-sized and came with beans. Frankly that’s a good thing for me, I can only eat so much and I love beans. The downside was no diner mug, an icon of American food culture. After lunch Tammy and I wandered a bit until it was time for her to head home. I did the same.

Back at the ranch we were gearing up for dinner with the whole family. Off to a Thai spot nearby with the Starrs, Clan Gary, and Jacki’s parents. One last round up with a whole bunch folks before hitting the road.