I grew up in Melbourne and later in life I got moved to Sydney by my employer. I lived in Sydney for 4 years and then spent the next 12 years living in the US. I have just returned to Australia and deliberately chose to return to Melbourne.

I have to say that I had no idea how much I would enjoy living in Melbourne again!

After 4 years in Sydney and 12 in the US, and having traveled extensively over that period of time all over Europe, Asia, and Latin America, I am unbelievably glad to be back in Melbourne.

The feel of the place is just so cosmopolitan. It feels very European in many ways, but definitely has an Australian character. Brunswick Street Fitzroy, Acland Street St Kilda, Chapel Street South Yarra/Prahran, and dozens of other strip shopping streets would be a major tourist attraction in large US cities.

The food, clothes, cultural aspects (including a great live music scene) really are outstanding.

At the moment, having just returned to Australia, I am living in Germany for 3 or 4 months. But I am looking forward to returning to Melbourne. It has changed so much over the last 20 years or so - and I mean that in a nice way. I was just in Queen Vic market last Saturday thinking how lucky I was to live in Melbourne! And it really doesn't matter where you live in Melbourne, because you can be in inner Melbourne from the outer suburbs in 30 minutes.

You will love it...