To lay eyes on the glittering Harbour is to fall in love with it. Australia is recognised by the images of the Harbour Bridge and the Opera House, everyone wants to catch ferries across the water, head to the top of Sydney Tower, shop in Pitt Street and eat oysters from The Rocks.
So why was I struggling with being there?
Well, you see, I am a Melbourne girl.
“I’d give you all of Sydney Harbour, all that land and all that water, for that one sweet Promenade.”
The words of well-known and hugely successful Melbourne singer/songwriter, Paul Kelly, in his song about St Kilda, sang over and over in my mind as I wandered around Sydney.
Melburnians have one thing ingrained in them when it comes to Sydney: that our city is better. We like to think we are more cultured; the down-to-earth city with hidden gems. Not as glitzy and glamourous as Sydney, instead its sophisticated cousin. In Melbourne, we often gloat about having better shops, food, drinks (especially coffee), travelling spots, even people.
We live in constant competition: the Sydney Harbour Bridge versus the Westgate Bridge, Sydney Harbour compared with the Yarra River, their sprawled city against our gridded one, the Opera House and the Arts Centre, Sydney Tower and Eureka Tower, Bondi Beach versus St Kilda Beach.
And, of course, the lifestyles and the weather.
It is the eternal question: which city do you prefer? Tell someone you’re from Melbourne, and immediately they will ask your thoughts about Sydney. I imagine the same would work in the reverse situation. While I was there, I was faced with that question quite a few times. It's funny how no one does the same when you mention going to Hobart or Adelaide or Perth.
It wasn't until I began to feel more comfortable in my love for Melbourne that I relaxed. I have lived in Melbourne my whole life; it is a part of me in a way that Sydney never will be. But to enjoy some time in Sydney is okay; it doesn't mean I don't love Melbourne anymore. Melbourne will still welcome me back with open arms after my rendezvous with another city.
In the end, my answer was: the two cities are so completely different, they are almost incomparable. And it's not a competition.
So why was I struggling with being there?
Well, you see, I am a Melbourne girl.
“I’d give you all of Sydney Harbour, all that land and all that water, for that one sweet Promenade.”
The words of well-known and hugely successful Melbourne singer/songwriter, Paul Kelly, in his song about St Kilda, sang over and over in my mind as I wandered around Sydney.
Melburnians have one thing ingrained in them when it comes to Sydney: that our city is better. We like to think we are more cultured; the down-to-earth city with hidden gems. Not as glitzy and glamourous as Sydney, instead its sophisticated cousin. In Melbourne, we often gloat about having better shops, food, drinks (especially coffee), travelling spots, even people.
We live in constant competition: the Sydney Harbour Bridge versus the Westgate Bridge, Sydney Harbour compared with the Yarra River, their sprawled city against our gridded one, the Opera House and the Arts Centre, Sydney Tower and Eureka Tower, Bondi Beach versus St Kilda Beach.
And, of course, the lifestyles and the weather.
It is the eternal question: which city do you prefer? Tell someone you’re from Melbourne, and immediately they will ask your thoughts about Sydney. I imagine the same would work in the reverse situation. While I was there, I was faced with that question quite a few times. It's funny how no one does the same when you mention going to Hobart or Adelaide or Perth.
It wasn't until I began to feel more comfortable in my love for Melbourne that I relaxed. I have lived in Melbourne my whole life; it is a part of me in a way that Sydney never will be. But to enjoy some time in Sydney is okay; it doesn't mean I don't love Melbourne anymore. Melbourne will still welcome me back with open arms after my rendezvous with another city.
In the end, my answer was: the two cities are so completely different, they are almost incomparable. And it's not a competition.
Megan
14 comments:
I've been to Sydney 4 times to visit rellies.
I've never been to Melbourne but I am dying to get there one day.
(Yeah, I know, been to Europe twice and never been to Melbourne. That's terrible!!)
That's such an interesting thought. I have never compared Perth to any other city at all. But now that you've said this I've remembered many competitive conversations from friends from Sydney and Melbourne about which one is better.
I'm going to Sydney in a couple of weeks. I'll try to find an excuse to visit Melbourne later this year as well and I'll tell you what I think!
Great post.
I'm a Melbourne girl too. I don't see the point of the Melb-Syd thing, but i DO get annoyed when people superficially judge Melbourne as boring or bleak, when its best features are discreet and not in your face...
I'm a Sydney girl, but I lived in Melbourne for three years and absolutely loved it. There is no comparison - they are both wonderful in completely unique ways.
I am Sydney born and bred, I love it, it's amazing ... but I love Melbourne too - thanks to my gorg friend Mikey, who moved from Syd to Melb - I now have a base in Prarahrahahan (I can't spell it or say it!).
I agree, there's no competition, both cities are individual and fantastic !!
Well Perth is the best - although I must admit I prefer Melbourne to Sydney.
Well, I'm a Perth girl who has lived in Sydney for over 14 years. I feel like I'm a Sydney sider.
I've been to Melbourne a couple of times. Hands down, I love the shopping, food and coffee there over Sydney.
But I'll admit it - I think Sydney is one of the most beautiful cities in the world. I used to catch the bus over the harbour bridge every morning to work from 1996 to 2002, and I never tired of the view. (Still haven't.)
I think you just feel at home in some places. I feel very much at home in Sydney. As a Perth girl, I find the Syd vs Melb thing amusing. That's all. I don't buy in to it. (Except when my nephew was living in Melb - we used to tease each other about it. :) )
By the way, in that list at the top of your post, next to the bridge, the Opera House etc, you forgot to put, "Jodie from Mummy Mayhem"...
Just sayin'.
I lived in Sydney for many years and lovely husband hails from Sydney. So I have a soft spot for it. We go for the summer ever year and spend weeks on the beach.
I have visited Melbourne,but never got to know it properly.
But of course both pale in comparison to Adelaide. But that is my secret!
Lived in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney for over tens years. While the beaches are great and the... ummm... oh, that's it really.
The pubs are full of pokies. The shops are all inside a Westfields.
Last November the wife and I spent a wonderful, wonderful week in the heart of Melbourne. The Melbourne CBD is so beyond Sydney CBD is can't be compared. For starters: there are people in Melbourne's CBD at night.
To go on: There are little alleys full of surprising shops and places to eat. Any turn can bring you to the best cheap-eat or the finest five star resturant. Over the whole week we never ate at the same place twice.
Plus Melbourne has a ukulele festival and dozens of serious ukulele shops (OK, at least TWO, which is TWO more than Sydney).
Sigh. Melbourne rules. If I could afford it, I'd live in Melbourne's CDB over Sydney CBD anytime.
As for the rest? Meh, a suburb is a suburb.
For any visitors though, don't fly into Avalon.
A shithole in the middle fucking no-where. The bus ride into Melbourne took LONGER than the flight from Sydney. Seriously? Avalon, WTF?
Just saying.
I have been to both.. I have grown up in Melbourne though. I prefer Melbourne cos it's my city.. And I love the night-life. Being a young person heading out for the night Melbourne has so much on offer. If I had to choose another city to live in besides Melbourne, it'd be Perth or Brisbane. Not Sydney. I guess people who live in Sydney would feel the same way about their city as what I do about mine..
I'm a bit of a gypsy and so as I was growing up spend about as much time living in Sydney as I did in Melbourne. And although I did live in Melbourne for awhile as an adult, I've spent the vast majority of my adult life in Sydney.
And my confession? I have a bone-deep love of Melbourne that Sydney will never, ever touch. I love the buildings. I even love the weather. I love how you can be in the beautiful dandenongs and only be a stones-throw away from the city. I love the mountain creeks that are so cold (even in summer) that they make your bones ache. I love the pancake parlour. I love the people.
I live in Sydney because my family is (or was here - now they have scattered somewhat). But if I could take them all and put them anywhere in the world - I would put them in Melbourne.
*Sigh*
I'm homesick already.
I have never been to Melbourne, and I can't wait to visit.
I am in Sydney, but haven't always been. I hope you had a good time. xx
Well, I was born in Melbourne, then with my family moved to Tasmania, and now live back in Melbourne. I haven't ben to Sydney for a while, but for me, it's Melbourne hands down. I love the CBD, the way you can walk to through beautiful gardens, visit the NGV, sit and watch life in Fed Square, or stroll through little alleys exploring coffee and food places. Anidledad really described it how I want to.
Oh, and there are trams... the sound of an approaching tram is the sound of home for me.
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