A Tale of Two Cities...

It's official. Melbourne, my home town, is the world's most livable city.

The Economist Intelligence Unit's 2011 Livability Ranking has placed Australia's Melbourne city as the most livable city in the world, with a score of 97.5. Austria's Vienna and Canada's Vancouver were ranked on the second and third places respectively among 140 cities. Source: www.economist.com

For those of you who haven't been to Melbourne and are wondering why it won, here are a few snaps from my trip last Christmas.


Melbourne City View from South Bank (January 2011)

Eureka Tower at South Bank - a new addition since my last visit

The Palais at St Kilda - and that's Luna Park in the background

Mentone Beach - lying on a beach towel (it was 26C and deserted, far too cold for the locals!)

There were also a few fond memories that the locals are likely to appreciate a little more than your average tourist:

Hamer Hall? The Greatest Show On Earth?  What a tribute!

Love is in the Air - The Myer Melbourne Christmas Windows featured The Nutcracker Suite last year

The best chips on the planet (yes chips, not crisps..bloody Poms!) - Burger Rings and Twisties!

But those of you who read my meanderings regularly, or know me well, know how much I love London:

Harrods from the top deck of the number 14 bus, a regular drive-by after a night out on the town

Tower of London - it was just there for the taking

View of the Thames from Putney Bridge (from another bus)

Richmond Park - splendor in the grass and right next door

Another delicate sunset - from the front window of my flat

The ice and snow last December - from my (then) office building

Footprints in the snow - where I've been

So in the livability stakes, it's a tale of two cities for me.

The first is the one left behind laced with nostalgic and happy rememberings. 

And the second is the one where I am quietly proud of the new life I have built for myself. The one where, despite it's lower ranking, I feel like I've come home.