So, what IS the real Melbourne?

Lesley and I were out in the city the other night, having a drink at one of Melbourne's gazillion rooftop bars. As we sipped our Long Island iced tea and Corona, drinking in the music, the vibes, and the views, it got us thinking - how in the world would we deal with the inevitable question from family and friends visiting Australia for the first time:

"So, What IS the Real Melbourne?"

It’s a simple question, but in a city like this, almost impossible to answer.

I often think that it will take a few lifetimes for me to see and experience all that this place has to offer. Melbourne is a megalopolis of culture, art, architecture, and endless tree-lined streets lit with energy and shaken by the vibrations of people from all walks of life. Its streets can literally go on forever and then unexpectedly slip into dark and mysterious alleyways that lead you straight to your next favorite dumpling joint, hidden cafe, or bar.

It is a city where new shows fresh off Broadway and indie theatre can send your head into a spin as their bright lights meet you on every corner. Where secondhand bookstores live comfortably next to neon-lit sneaker drops, and your next fashion find could be from a thrift store, a subway-turned-shopping centre, or a mega mall several stories high.

A city of laneways, layers, and late-night discoveries. Our family has been living here for just over two years, and we’re still trying to keep up, let alone define it. Because here’s the thing:

Melbourne doesn’t stand still. It evolves, devolves, reinvents, proliferates, and surprises.

Daily.

So, how on earth do you begin to show someone the real Melbourne?

Truth is: you don’t.

Because Melbourne is something different to everyone.

To some, it’s sipping a flat white at a café where the barista knows your dog’s name before exploring the beaches. To others, it’s getting lost in an NGV exhibition, hitting the Queen Vic Market before the lunch rush, scoring a different sporting event every day of the week, a live concert, or discovering an underground jazz bar you swear wasn’t there last week.

To know the REAL Melbourne, to discover its quirks and beauty, you must first get lost, and you’ll be amazed by what you find.