Melbourne

Chloe is standing naked, gazing to something outside the frame...

She was 14-year old when the french Jules Lefebre portrayed her in natural size, au natural. She suicided a couple of years later after Jules left with her older sister. The painting caused an uproar when it was first exhibited in Melbourne in 1880 because of the nude and the story behind it.

The Porterhouse steak with madeira sauce was perfect. Juicy, thick, medium rare. The cold Guinness stout, perfectly poured with the creamy foam...

The waitress was competent and melancholic. So was the barman. The bar is not full, but there are some people talking at the tables... Some couples talking about the future... Some old pals talking about the old times...

The corner of Swanson St and Filinders. The train station is busy. People rushing in and out after the day at work. People waiting for the bus. People looking at their wrist watches and crossing the street.

I'm at this really old woden table, holding my glass, looking through the window, with an absolutely amazing view of the most interesting corner in Melbourne. It reminds me of Ipiranga and Sao Joao in Sao Paulo city.

This 19th century hotel happens to have bought Chloe's portrait long time ago and exhibits it in its bar. The bar is kind of decadent, but authentic... and inspiring.

That is the most perfect bar table I've ever been to (or would it have been because of the two pints of Guinness?). The food is good, the view and the atmosphere are perfect. It probably feels and looks the same as it did 100 years ago.

I watch people outside...

Chloe comes out of the painting... sits down...

"How are you?"

And we talk all night...

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