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Author: Sophie Di Mauro

Dumplings, diversity and day trips: Why Melbourne is the culture capital of Australia

14 March 2018
Sophie Di Mauro
2 Comments

In the southern corner of the globe lies a city bursting with culture, creativity and huge potential, but what is it that makes Melbourne stand out from other Australian cities?

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Exploring the unreal Topkapi palace in Istanbul. B Exploring the unreal Topkapi palace in Istanbul. Back in the 15th century this place was the headquarters of the Ottoman Sultans, and as a result it’s a spellbinding example of Ottoman architecture 💛💛💛 #accidentallywesanderson @accidentallywesanderson #travel #travelling #traveller #travelblog #travelbug #travelbloggers #travelgram #instatravel #wanderlust #bucketlist #instagood #instago #architecture #istanbul #turkey #history #europe #asia #travelpics #travelphotography #travelholic #addictedtotravel
Istanbul’s Blue Mosque 💙💙💙 #istanbul #t Istanbul’s Blue Mosque 💙💙💙 #istanbul #turkey #europe #asia #travel #travelbloggers #travelling #backpacking #citiesofeurope #wanderlust #bucketlist #traveldiaries #travelpics #travelphotography #traveljourno #travelbug #travellers #instago #travelgram #instatravel
Obviously one of the first things we did in Istanb Obviously one of the first things we did in Istanbul was visit the Hagia Sofia 🇹🇷 Originally built by the Byzantines in the 6th century as a church, it was later used as a mosque by the Ottomans. Now it’s a museum. The combination of Christian and Islamic symbolism and decor is absolutely sublime, and you can feel the weight of the history within the walls from the second you enter. Wandering around this incredibly special and symbolic building was a true highlight of the trip, and one I’ll never forget. 💛🖤💛🖤💛🖤 #Hagiasofia #istanbul #turkey #travel #travellers #travelblog #travelbloggers #travelgram #instatravel #travelbug #travelpics #travelphotography #traveladdict #lovetotravel #history #wanderlust #bucketlist #instagood #instago #travelturkey #girlswhotravel #travelholic #traveldiaries #travellersnotebook #europe #asia
After Greece, we flew to Istanbul: the only major After Greece, we flew to Istanbul: the only major city in the world that straddles two continents: Asia and Europe. This was a little bit out of our Eastern European remit, but we’ve both watched so many docos on the Turkish capital there was no way we could pass it by. It was just incredible; breathtaking in a way we’d not yet experienced on this trip, deeply cultural and so historical. This is the view over the Bosporus from the #galatatower 🇹🇷 #Istanbul #cityscape #travel #travellers #travelblog #travelbloggers #travelgram #instatravel #lovetotravel #traveladdict #travelpics #travelphotography #bosphorus #wanderlust #bucketlist #asia #europe #traveldiaries #travellersnotebook
Some of Ikaria’s natural hot springs: we had to Some of Ikaria’s natural hot springs: we had to clamber over endless boulders to reach this. At some points the water is so hot it’s totally unbearable, but once you find the sweet spot between the geothermal waters and the cool sea it’s heaven. Recommend for an ouzo hangover, although the rocks are super slippy so getting in and out can prove somewhat comedic 🌊 #Ikaria #Greece #Cyclades #hotsprings #spa #sea #ocean #beach #travel #travellers #travelling #travelgreece #travelblogger #bloggers #travelwriter #travelgram #instatravel #instagood #instago #traveldiaries #lovetotravel #traveladdict #travelholic #wanderlust #bucketlist #travelpics
Sailing to Ikaria was a last minute decision becau Sailing to Ikaria was a last minute decision because we wanted to get a bit more ‘authentic’ and I liked the sound of this mythical island. It’s said it was formed when Icarus flew to close to the sun, and it’s also one of the world’s five blue zones - where people live a really long time! It was still off season when we landed, which made the simplest of transactions difficult, but one sunny day we took this beautiful road trip and suddenly it was worth it 🚙 ☀️ #Ikaria #Greece #visitgreece #cyclades #travel #europe #travelling #travellers #travelgram #instatravel #travelwriter #travelbloggers #blogging #travelblog #wanderlust #bucketlist #roadtrip #lovetotravel #travelpics #instagood #instago #traveldiaries
Leaving Ermoupoli for Ikaria on the night ferry ⛴ #ermoupoli #syros #greece #europe #travelgreece #travel #travellers #travelling #travelbug #travelblog #travelbloggers #travelgram #instatravel #wanderlust #boat #bucketlist #greekislands #travelgreece #lovetotravel #girlswhotravel #travelpics #moonlight
Syros’ Neoclassic Greek Orthadox church, St Nich Syros’ Neoclassic Greek Orthadox church, St Nicholas - one of the island’s most famous icons 🇬🇷 #syros #greece #stnicholas #cyclades #greekislands #europe #travelgreece #travelgram #instatravel #wanderlust #bucketlist #instagood #instago #passportready #churches #architecture #lovetotravel #girlswhotravel #travelholic #traveladdict #lovetravelling #travelblog #travelblogger #travelpics
During our time in the Cyclades, we visited Mykono During our time in the Cyclades, we visited Mykonos, Naxos, Ikaria, and Syros. Syros was hands down our favourite thanks to a magical blend of fewer tourists, natural beauty, and a fabulous restaurant and bar scene. Here’s a pic of Syros’ capital Ermoupoli at night 🌑 🇬🇷 #Syros #ermoupoli #greece #greekislands #travel #travellers #travelling #travelgram #instatravel #backpackers #europe #visitgreece #instagood #instago #wanderlust #bucketlist #passportready #lovetotravel #travelholic #traveladdict
A tiny enclave of whitewashed houses amidst dramat A tiny enclave of whitewashed houses amidst dramatic Naxos scenery, on a grey April day 🇬🇷 #Naxos #Greece #Europe #travelgreece #travel #travellers #travelling #backpacking #travelgram #instatravel #travelblog #travelbloggers #travelwriter #instagood #instago #wanderlust #bucketlist #travelpics #travelphotography #lovetotravel #traveladdict #tickettoride #passportready #scenery #landscape
This is what happens when you order food in little This is what happens when you order food in little Greek fishing villages. This was taken in Apollonas, Naxos. As per, they were all gutted to find no meat on our table - although one did try to swipe my Saganaki 🐱 🧀 #Naxos #Greece #apollonas #catsofinstagram #cat #cats #europe #travelgreece #travel #travelblogger #travelbloggers #travelgram #instatravel #instagood #instago #travelblog #travelwriter #travelpics #travelphotography #wanderlust #bucketlist #traveladdict #girlswhotravel #wanderfolk #travelholic #lovetotravel #kittens
Sunset on Naxos: this was our second island on our Sunset on Naxos: this was our second island on our off-season tour of the Cyclades. One day we took a road trip to explore some of the little town and ancient ruins around the island 🇬🇷 #Greece #Naxos #cyclades #history #sunset #travel #travellers #travelling #travelblog #travelbloggers #travelgram #instatravel #traveldiaries #travelpics #travelphotography #travelphotographer #travelwriter #travelbug #instagood #instago #wanderlust #bucketlist #traveladdict #travelholic #girlswhotravel #adventure #europe #travelgreece
There are ruins everywhere you look on Delos, incl There are ruins everywhere you look on Delos, including an amphitheater, ancient burned out wine market, and the island’s iconic lions. The most precious pieces are housed in an absolutely banging architectural museum. So, if you find yourself bored in Mykonos - as we did - make the trip to this ancient island. #delos #greece #travelgreece #europe #mykonos #travel #travellers #travelling #travelgram #instatravel #instagood #instago #greekruins #history #landscape #wanderlust #bucketlist #backpackers #traveldiaries #travellersnotebook #scenery #traveladdict #travelholic
Now just a small, windswept island full (and I mea Now just a small, windswept island full (and I mean full) of ruins (and cats), in the 1st millennia BCE, Delos was actually a a major trading port and religious centre. #travel #delos #delosisland #greece #travelgreece #mykonos #europe #travellers #travelblog #travelbug #travelgram #instatravel #travelbloggers #greekruins #travelpics #travelphotography #instagood #instago #wanderlust #bucketlist #history #travellersnotebook #traveldiary
After Athens we took a ferry to Mykonos, marking t After Athens we took a ferry to Mykonos, marking the beginning of a month in the Cyclades. However, we were super underwhelmed by Mykonos - high season hadn’t quite hit yet, and everything was either closed or super expensive. One silver lining: the island of Delos - the mythological birthplace of Apollo - is a short boat ride from Mykonos. Here’s the view from the peak ⛰ #Greece #mykonos #cyclades #delos #europe #travelgreece #travellers #travelling #travelblog #travelbloggers #travelgram #instatravel #wanderlust #bucketlist #tickettoride #passportready #landscape #island #view #ruins #travelpics #travelphotography #travelphotos #travelholic #lovetotravel
Athens from the Acropolis 🇬🇷 #athens #Greece Athens from the Acropolis 🇬🇷 #athens #Greece #cityscape #travel #travellers #travelling #travelblog #travelbloggers #travelgram #instatravel #instagood #instago #wanderlust #bucketlist #travelpics #travelphotography #travelphotos #explore #exploreeverything #seetheworld #roamtheplanet #lovetotravel #traveladdict #europe #travelgreece
After six months in Southeast Asia, Greece was our After six months in Southeast Asia, Greece was our first stop on the Eastern European leg of our trip. We chose Greece because we thought hanging around the nation’s beautiful islands in the sun would be a good transition from paradisiacal Asia, before we journeyed north to some of Eastern Europe’s grittiest cities. And also because the flights from Singapore were crazy cheap. But - despite this being the return to our home continent 🇪🇺- we were in for a huge culture shock. Arriving in early April, the weather was freezing, and all our clothes were suited to the balmy climes of Thailand. Everything seemed more difficult: much of Asia has infrastructure designed for backpackers, but Europe doesn’t. But, after a hurried shopping trip, we made it to the Acropolis, which - despite ongoing construction work and epic crowds - took my breath away. Seeing this incredible piece of mythology up close was a dream, and made us remember to feel super lucky to be doing this in the first place 🇬🇷 🇬🇷 🇬🇷 🇬🇷 🇬🇷 🇬🇷 #Greece #athens #acropolis #europe #parthenon #travel #travellers #travelblog #travelbloggers #travelgram #instatravel #lovetotravel #backpackers #travelwriter #travellersnotebook #instagood #instago #traveldiaries #travelphotography #travelpics #wanderlust #bucketlist #explore #exploreeverything #traveladdict #travelholic #history #architecture
We spent quite a few days working in the luminous We spent quite a few days working in the luminous streets near Haji Lane, drinking extortionately-priced Singapore Slings 🍹 #hajilane #singapore #asia #travel #travellers #travelling #remotework #digitalnomads #travelandwork #travelbug #travelblog #travelbloggers #travelgram #instatravel #travelphotography #travelpics #travelwriters #instagood #instago #wanderlust #bucketlist #explore #exploreeverything #seetheworld #roamtheplanet #travelholic #traveladdict
Singapore’s vibrant Haji Lane provides a colourf Singapore’s vibrant Haji Lane provides a colourful oasis amidst the city’s sleek high rise buildings 🇸🇬 🌈 #Singapore #hajilane #asia #travel #travellers #travelling #travelgram #instatravel #wanderlust #bucketlist #travelbug #travelblog #travelbloggers #travelwriter #travelpics #travelphotography #explore #citybreak #exploreeverything #seetheworld #roamtheplanet #lovetotravel #travelholic #traveladdict #girlswhotravel #backpackers
Some of the more residential jetties have become m Some of the more residential jetties have become modernised over time - hence the satellite dishes here. On this jetty we also saw a plant with many eggshells impaled on its spikes. It has mystified me ever since, so any explanations welcome! 🥚 #Georgetown #clanjetties #malaysia #penang #seasia #travel #travelling #backpackers #travellers #travelgram #instatravel #wanderlust #bucketlist #explore #exploreeverything #seetheworld #roamtheplanet #instagood #instago #accidentallywesanderson #wanderfolk #travelpics #travelphotography #travelwriters #travelholic #lovetotravel
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