Night Markets
January has become a month that over the years i have grown to dread. Its the wake up call that you know has been in the post and usually arrives just in time to save you from self glutteny, a very unhealty bank balance and a run of days drinking that you now almost need a cheeky shot just to get yourself started in the morning. Its true that if December is the Party then January is the inevitable Hangover.
The first signs are usually the taking down of the xmas lights entering you into a dark black cold world which seems very foreign from the sparkling winter wonderland that only a week ago seduced you to have that extra drink or stuff another mince pie your mouth. Now its just you and bleak old jan to keep you company, no wonder everyone hates it. Its a very abrupt return to reality.
There is however salvation and it comes in the form of Australia. You see although you will have done all of the above here it doesn´t matter as its summer and this means hot days, long evenings and in any half decent city, entertainment. Melbourne is well up there in looking after its inhabitants and has a plethora of activities to see and do. So far i have seen advertisement for things such as an opera in the park, vaious open air cinemas along with the various terraces in chapel street being filled up to capacity. There was however one place that i have been recommended serveral time to go to and that was the old night markets.
These are held every year at over the months of Jan-Feb with the main ones being at Victoria Markets. So on wednesday we took the tram over to se what all the fuss was about. They are set over in the city on Victoria and Elizibeth Street in an impressive zone that usally houses the permenanat markets. Its an old victorian building that you enter in order to get to a covered ares that houses a couple of hundred stalls. These sell a lot of crafts and artisan wares from australia but the main theme of the night stalls is food. The noise of sizzling, fying and bubbling comes from all around you as you are do the circuit of the lively markets full of people and a varierty of smells. We ended up bypassing the magnituid of asian and european efforts going for a more home grown kangeroo burger fresh from the barbie. Not the most tendor meat but you have to try it, but to be fair they say the croc is nicer, perhaps for next time. With all the people the no drinking in the street laws seem to relax a little as everyone walks around with a wine or beer in hand while browsing. In fact its that good that my tip is to take a drink with you to avoid paying the increased prices and with no one checking the bags as you enter there is no need to worry. The best thing though is the entertainment with a variety of live bands to play to the big crowds. We saw around 3 and with it being free there were plenty of backpackers there mixed in with the melbournians to enjoy the long summer evening. Seems to be the perfect remody for them January blues.
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Las primeras manifestaciones suelen ocurrir cuando quitan las luces navideñas, metiéndote en una espiral muy oscura y nada parecida con el maravilloso mundo que te indujo a tirar la casa por la ventana con la excusa de navidad. Seguidamente todo desaparece y es entonces cuando te quedas solo en compañía de un enero deprimido… no me extraña que todo el mundo odie este mes.
Sin embargo, la salvación viene en la forma de Australia. Ya ves que aunque haya sucedido todo lo mencionado arriba, no tiene tanta importancia, porque ya estamos en verano, lo que significa días con mucho sol, tardes muy largas y en una ciudad medio decente con mucho entretenimiento.
Melbourne gana muchos puntos cuidando a sus habitantes y tiene mogóllon de actividades para hacer. Hasta ahora he visto anuncios para, por ejemplo, ópera en el parque, cines al aire libre, abundantes festivales de música, terrazas a tope… Sin embargo, hay un lugar que me habían recomendado varias veces para que echara un vistazo y es el mercado nocturno de Queen Victoria.
Tiene lugar todos los años en los meses de Enero y Febrero y es visitado por muchas personas. Así que el miércoles cogimos el tranvía hacia el mercado para satisfacer nuestra curiosidad. Está situado al este de la ciudad, entre Victoria y Elizabeth Street, en una estructura de ladrillo destinado diariamente a hacer de mercado de la zona. Se trata de un edificio victoriano que, una vez dentro, te encuentras rodeado de multitudes dando vueltas alrededor de los puestos. Aquí venden muchos productos artesanales de Australia pero, el tema pricipal de la noche es la comida. Mientras caminas por sus pasillos percibes el ruido del chisporroteo, de los puestos friendo e hirviendo que llegan por todos los lados y los olores consiguen que se te abra el apetito. Terminamos dejando a un lado una barbaridad de stands asiáticos y europeos para comer una hamburguesa de canguro preparada en una barbacoa australiana. No es la carne más tierna pero hay que probarla. Dicen que el cocodrilo es lo mejor… quizás la próxima vez. Con tanta gente las normas de no beber alcohol en la calle se relajan, por lo que todo el mundo lleva una bebida en la mano mientras da una vuelta con muchas bares cerca. Os aconsejo llevar un poco de vino o lo que sea para evitar pagar los precios abusivos del recinto. Tampoco hay gente revisando las mochilas cuando entras, así que no hay problema. Lo mejor pensado del mercado es la música; hay varios grupos tocando en directo ante un gran público. Hay para todos los estilos; desde funk hasta soul. Vimos unos tres y como era gratuito había mochileros mezclados con los melburianos disfrutando una de las noches largas del verano. Me parece el remedio perfecto para los bajones de Enero.
