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AIRPORT TO CITY
I arrived in Melbourne just before 9 a.m. It’s 17 hours ahead of Los Angeles, 14 hours ahead of New York. From the moment I walked out of the airport and was greeted by these three statues I could tell this was an artsy town. Even parts of the highway are works of art. Reaching downtown from the airport takes about 20 minutes (without traffic). One-way fares for a taxi cost roughly $40 AUD ($30 USD), while a bus will set you back only $15 AUD ($11). Heading back to the airport I took a car service – Hughes Limousines (tel.: 1-300-30-66-44), which cost $75 AUD ($56). Hiring a private driver (Doug Male; tel.: 04244-84785) is just $45 AUD ($34).

CATCHING UP
I was in Melbourne for only two nights. It was basically a resting point for me, because I had just finished an adventurous media trip to New Zealand and was about to begin another in a different region of Australia. Besides being exhausted, I did not feel well. So instead of running around like a madman trying to see all the sites I relaxed, and saw only a few. Believe me, I hope to go back for a longer period, and spend all my time on a food tour (food is not expensive like Sydney).

HOTEL LINDRUM
Because much of my time was spent catching up on sleep and working in my hotel, I’m glad I checked in to a sweet one. Hotel Lindrum, opened in 1999, is a stylish boutique in the heart of the city. There are only 59 rooms; all have high ceilings, plenty of space and a modern design with contemporary facilities (high-speed internet costs $25 AUD ($19 USD) a day. The hotel was formerly a billiard hall for the Lindrum family. They retained some of its history: The lobby still has one of the original billiard tables (guests can play for free). My room -- 101 – was on the first of four guest floors, with a view of the Rod Laver Tennis Center (site of the Australian Open) in the distance. The only thing wrong with my room was that I could hear some of the Flinders Street traffic below. It didn’t keep me up, but next time I would get a room on a higher floor. In two days I had three tasty meals in the hotel (breakfast is included with most bookings). Rates start at $210 AUD ($160 USD). Hotel Lindrum, 26 Flinders Street, Melbourne; tel.: 61-3-9668- 1111.



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