BENCH BESTIES

In Flagstaff Gardens in Melbourne.

This post is part of the Wordless Wednesday meme,
and also part of the ABC Wednesday meme.

MORNINGTON, AUSTRALIA

Mornington is a seaside town on the Mornington Peninsula, Victoria, located 57 km south-east of Melbourne's central business district. It is in the Local Government Area of the Shire of Mornington Peninsula. Mornington is known for its "village" atmosphere and its beautiful beaches. Mornington is a popular tourist destination with Melburnians who often make day trips to visit the area's bay beaches and wineries.

The Post Office opened on 21 May 1856 as Schnapper Point and was renamed Mornington in 1864. The town centre runs into the foreshore area and local beach, which features a yacht club, restaurant and park with playground facilities. Mornington is an attractive destination for shopping and features some excellent restaurants and cafes. The north of Mornington is also home to several horse breeders and stables.

This post is part of the Our World Tuesday meme,

and also part of the Ruby Tuesday meme,

and also part of the Travel Tuesday meme,

and also part of the Wordless Wednesday meme.

FLOWERS

This post is part of the Mosaic Monday meme,
and also part of the Through my Lens meme,
and also part of the Seasons meme,
and also part of the Macro Monday meme.

MY SUNDAY BEST MEME #101 - CHALLENGE: PUBLIC TRANSPORT

Welcome to the meme, "My Sunday Best", which is a photographic and creative meme that allows you to showcase your talents in imaging. Every Sunday, you can post here showing an image you have created using your camera, (and/or) image processing software, and/or painting and drawing in the conventional way and have scanned in.

The rules are simple:
1) Create your image according to the "CHALLENGE" theme, and post it up on your blog;
2) Put the "My Sunday Best" logo image link somewhere on your post so people can click and come by here;
3) Leave a comment here once you have posted;
4) Visit other posters' blogs and be amazed with their creativity!

Please do not use this meme to advertise your goods or services. This is a creative meme and any inappropriate links or comments shall be removed immediately!

Southern Cross Station is the most important rail terminal in Victoria and has been redeveloped into a world-class public transport interchange, with fast rail connections to regional Victorian centres and new facilities for rail, taxi and bus passengers. Now more than just a railway station, Southern Cross Station is a combination railway, shopping centre and bus terminal. The shopping centre includes supermarkets, DFO - Direct Factory Outlet and over 100 other shops, bars and restaurants.

On Spencer Street between Collins and La Trobe Streets at the western boundary of the central business district, it is the hub of the state's regional railway network, serving as a terminus for long-distance V/Line trains. It also serves the twice-daily Countrylink XPT service to Sydney, and The Overland to Adelaide three times per week. It has a bus station with 24-hour Skybus service to Melbourne airport.

Southern Cross is one of five stations forming the City Loop, a mostly underground railway that encircles the CBD. Southern Cross and Flinders Street are the only stations in the Loop that are above ground.

Last week the theme was "PEOPLE" and Klara in Poland posted a wonderful set of photos on the celebration of the Epiphany in her homeland. The photo below was my favourite! Please visit her blog to see the other great photos!

BLACK

While visiting Denver many years ago, I snapped this shot of a wistful child on a Free Mall Bus.

This post is part of the My Sunday Best meme,
and also part of the Photo Sunday meme.

TAWNY FROGMOUTH

The tawny frogmouth (Podargus strigoides) is a species of frogmouth native to and found throughout the Australian mainland and Tasmania. Tawny frogmouths are big-headed, stocky birds often mistaken for owls due to their nocturnal habits and similar colouring. The tawny frogmouth is sometimes incorrectly referred to as "mopoke", a common name for the southern boobook, whose call is often confused with the tawny frogmouth's.

Tawny frogmouths are large, big-headed birds that can measure from 34 to 53 cm long. Weights have been recorded up to 680 g in the wild (and perhaps even more in captivity), but these are exceptionally high. Tawny frogmouths are stocky and compact with rounded wings and short legs. They have wide, heavy, olive-grey to blackish bills that are hooked at the tip and topped with distinctive tufts of bristles. Their eyes are large, yellow, and frontally placed, a trait shared by owls.

One of the best examples of cryptic plumage and mimicry in Australian birds is seen in the tawny frogmouth which perch low on tree branches during the day camouflaged as part of the tree. Their silvery-grey plumage patterned with white, black, and brown streaks and mottles allows them to freeze into the form of a broken tree branch and become practically invisible in broad daylight. The tawny frogmouth often chooses a broken part of a tree branch and perches upon it with its head thrust upwards at an acute angle using its very large, broad beak to emphasise the resemblance.

This post is part of the Saturday Critters meme.

DAY & NIGHT

The Arts Centre precinct in Southbank, Melbourne, by day and by night. The round building is the concert hall and under the spire is the state theatre.

This post is part of the Skywatch Friday meme,

and also part of the Friday Photo Journal meme.

CELOSIA

Celosia is a small genus of edible and ornamental plants in the amaranth family, Amaranthaceae. The generic name is derived from the Greek word κηλος (kelos), meaning "burned," and refers to the flame-like flower heads. Species are commonly known as woolflowers, or, if the flower heads are crested by fasciation, cockscombs. The plants are well known in East Africa’s highlands and are used under their Swahili name, mfungu. 

Celosia 'Intenz' (Celosia caracus) seen here, has a vibrant magenta colour on spiky blooms and sought-after texture to add to mixed containers. Intenz is also versatile, able to be planted in patio pots, landscapes or used as a pot plant indoors. It performs well in full-sun with a long flowering time for home gardeners. It is a low-maintenance plant with high appeal.

This post is part of the Floral Friday Fotos meme.

ART

The National Gallery of Victoria (NGV) is an art gallery and museum in Melbourne, Australia. Founded in 1861, it is the oldest and the largest public art gallery in Australia. Since December 2003, NGV has operated across two sites. The main gallery, known as NGV International, is located on St Kilda Road, in the heart of the Melbourne Arts Precinct of Southbank, with a branch gallery at Federation Square.

To see more of the works summarised below in the mosaic, see the relevant post in my other blog, or better still, why not go and visit the Gallery yourself?

This post is part of the Wordless Wednesday meme,

and also part of the ABC Wednesday meme,

EATING OUT IN ATHENS

Greeks love their food and furthermore, they love eating out. Whether it's a hasty "koulouri" (bagel with sesame seeds) grabbed from a street vendor in the morning, "souvlaki" (grilled meat pieces with salad wrapped in pita bread) for lunch, or a sit down meal in a taverna with "mezedhes" (hors d'oeuvres), salads, grilled meats, fish and shellfish, the meals are varied, delicious and generally good for you.

As far as the sweets are concerned, Greeks have a sweet tooth and a huge selection of traditional "glyka" (sweets) can be found everywhere, as well as an enormous variety of international favourites: Gateaux, tarts, biscuits, waffles, ice cream cakes, muffins, etc. A variety of fast food outlets, street vendors, cafés, restaurants, tavernas, bars, high class haunts and popular, cheap outlets can be found all over the Greek capital.

Dining outside for most of the year is not only possible but desirable given the equable climate. You can choose traditional or modern, regional or Athenian cuisine, seafood, meat fare or vegetarian, as well as a variety of international restaurants, if so inclined.

This post is part of the Our World Tuesday meme,

and also part of the Ruby Tuesday meme,

and also part of the Travel Tuesday meme,

and also part of the Wordless Wednesday meme.