Walk around the Federation Square, or Fed Square, as the locals refer to it, taking in the abstract designs of the complex.

Bask in the sun while taking in the view of the historical part; with the St Paul's Cathedral right ahead or the Flinders Street Station, while standing or sitting on one of the steps.

Watch the birds in action as they fly above your heads and swoop down to land on the square itself.

Hear the sounds of the horns coming from the cruise ships on the other side as they launch themselves down the Yarra River.

These are just a few of the things one could do while on Federation Square, for a simple moment of relaxation.

It is an open space and it is only up to one' imagination in conjuring up ideas to keep themselves occupied while enjoying the liberty of oneself while standing (or sitting) on the square.

If you are done with the views of the city and would like to take in a different view, head over to the other side of the Federation Square or just follow the connecting stairways and lanes from the Square to the Federation Wharf.



An extension of the Federation Square which was opened in 2006, the Federation Wharf offered access to the docking of the ships and offers a beautiful view and proximity to the Yarra River.



Staircases and elevators provide direct access from the square or the complex to this tree-lined promenade overlooking the serene riverfront, with the famous Yarra River, running in parallel.





This part of where the city of Melbourne stands, or was established in 1835, forms the lower stretches of the Yarra River, which flows from its source in the Yarra Ranges in the westward direction through the Yarra Valley, for an approximate of 242 kilometers, winding through this part of the Greater Melbourne, before finally reaching its end at Hobsons Bay in the northern point of Port Philip.

There are also the river cruises where one could take to enjoy the ride down the river.



I prefer the stroll, and walking down the avenue just made up a relaxing activity in the morning (or even in the evening) and with the river flowing right beside me as I sauntered down the riverfront, it felt as though I was just strolling along with the great Yarra River.

That was a great feeling.

It was a cloudy day and there was light drizzle but it did not stop me from enjoying my little walk, while taking in the tranquility of the surrounding environment.

The green trees, the ripples in the water, the sounds of the seagulls, the bleeping of the horns from the cruises, the swaying trees and the pitter patter sounds of the light raindrops on my umbrella just added to that whole effect of the enjoyable walk along this wharf.




There's an occasional hint of coffee in the air too, emitted from some of the open cafes lined along the promenade.

Take a seat on one of the benches, pause for photos though be wary of the open edges on the side of the river and be ready to dodge and stay out of the way of oncoming cyclists who enjoy their rides too, down the way.







It is a beautiful picture of serenity.

It can be rather quite though, depending on the time of the day (or perhaps of the year and the weather, as it was quite chilly when I was there) though one could bump into some office folks walking through the wharf, perhaps on their way to their office buildings located on the Federation Square.

While Federation Square offers the view of both the history and modern sides of the city, Federation Wharf offers that cross concept of nature versus urban development through the mixed views of the trees and river surrounded by the city's skyscrapers, with images of the overhead bridges, pedestrians and cars running on them in the background.








So there is the music from nature accompanied by the sounds of civilization as one walks along the boulevard of the Federation Wharf, beside the river.


An interesting mix, if I may say.








Who says nature can't go hand in hand with development?

It is just that right mix and creativity to make the perfect formula, along with a conscious mindset.








Despite being bordered by the urban development, the Federation Wharf was well-maintained in its state and even the trees and river were part of the conservation efforts.
(There were also ongoing issues rising on the pollution of the river which created the awareness among the people)

This is just the perfect picture of nature befriending modernization, in an undisrupted manner.

A stroll down the Federation Wharf is just perfect to take all that images in.









If you ask me, a stroll down the Federation Wharf and along with the great Yarra River is all you need for a moment of relaxation and to complete your tour of both the Federation Square and Federation Wharf, of course.



It just offers that perfect complete picture of Melbourne city; the CBD area, all at a glance.

Caught in the light and intersecting embrace of St Paul's Cathedral, Flinders Street Station, and the Yarra River waterfront is the open space of the Federation Square.



Federation Square is a public and open space found right in the middle and is a whole urban mix development bordered by three streets; Swanston, Flinders, Russell Streets, and a river; the famous Yarra River.

The layout of the square occupies two public spaces; mainly the St Paul's Square and The Square which make up the open squares and also the Atrium, which is the covered space.
The design of this precinct is intended to connect the historical part of the city to the newer urban area of the other side marked by the new Birrarung Marr park, bordered by the Yarra River.

Like most of the city's landmarks, Federation Square is unmistakably iconic and its strategic location surrounded by the other beautiful historical city icons such as St Paul's Cathedral and Flinders Street Station in its vicinity puts it high on the list of Melbourne city's attractions.

While most of the city landmarks are the pride of the Melbournians, surprisingly, this is not the case though, with the Federation Square, until most recently.


Entangled in a series of controversies for decades, the Federation Square did not start off on a good note with the local city population.


History 
From the bad impression beginning with its predecessor, the City Square (the city's first public square); which many considered to be a product of a bad planning by the City Council back in the year 1968, the call for a new square and the design and development of the new square led to many controversies and disagreements with regards to the design.

When the City Square's redevelopment in the 1990s did not appease the needs and the calls to fix the major flaws in its design as a public space, it was then seen immediately the need to call for drastic action in its resolution and that meant a new public space.

It was then, that the Victorian State Government took serious note of the issue and initiated the early planning of a new square which soon led to an architectural design competition for the square in 1997.

The site selected for the new square was the south of Hoddle Grid; where the Princes Gate Towers of  what was previously the Gas and Fuel Corporation, Jolimont Yard and the Princes Bridge Railway station (which was once a mortuary in the 19th century.
It was a move welcomed by the government and public to remove the obstructive Gas and Fuel Corporation buildings which were then since the 1960s and have been blocking the view access to the Flinders Street and St Paul's Cathedral, and have deemed as the city's eyesores.

The initiative for the design competition, led by Jeff Kennett, was centered on the concept of connecting the Flinders Street to the Yarra River, which was like the waterway backbone that runs across the city, in an efficient manner.
While the primary focus of the design was on the connection within the city, the emphasis was also to  improve the access to, and accentuate the beauty and historic part of the city in the existing heritage landmarks; namely the St Paul's Cathedral and Flinders Street Station.

The competition saw a warm response and the board of judges had to select from a number of 177 entries from all over the world and there were even several designs from high profile and renowned architects which were shortlisted, and further showcased for public viewing.

However, the winning went to a combination of the designs from a trio selection; namely the Lab Architecture Studio (London), Karres en Brands Landscape Architects and Bates Smart, a local architect.

Architectural Design
The initial design totaled up to A$100 to A$128 million and saw a fulfillment of the requirements as intended with the design competition; with a proposal to construct a few five-stored shards; with two free-standing ones on the north western edge of the space to provide a spectacular view of St Paul's Cathedral and is said to be similar in its concept to the Roman's St Peter's Basilica.
Depicted in the design is also a series of interconnected laneways and stairways from the square to the Yarra River and included a huge open space of a square with a large viewing screen perched in the square for major events to be put on public display.

The design of the shards, which were part of Lab Architecture Studio's plan, were heavily protested by the heritage conservationists, who claimed that the positioning of the shards were not beneficial to the sights of the iconic heritage buildings in the city; particularly the view of St Paul's Cathedral which was apparently obstructed by one of the 'offensive' shards.

The design was then ordered for a modification, when the government changed to a new administration and in their attempt to quell the dissatisfaction of the traditionalists.

The change and redesign put a strain on the construction schedule and timeline and burst the overall budget; with the finalized budget estimated to be almost four times the original; at approximately A$467 million.


Federation Square finally opened in the year 2002, but the controversies did not end there.

The square's launch was not officiated by the reigning monarch, Queen Elizabeth II.
Her Majesty was not even invited to the official launch of the square and it was only almost a decade later that her Royal Highness was only there in person at the square, in the year 2011.
That is the first feature, and historical dot in the Federation Square that sets it apart from all the major landmarks in the city.

However, that was not the reason for the following controversy or its unpopularity among the locals.

The high and excessive costs in its constructions displeased the Melbournians, and to add to that, the overall design architecture of the square was probably the ultimate source of aggravation of it all.

The locals disliked the architecture of the Federation Square so much that they even incited hate mails to the designers who were not solicited for any design works for at least six months following the completion of the square.



To make matters worse, the Federation Square was even cited as the 'World's Fifth Ugliest Building' by the Virtual Tourist in the year 2009 with a list of criticisms primarily focused on its chaotic complex design.


However, it was not all hate and no love for it was only time that could heal and the Federation Square, despite its long line of controversies and unfavorable appearance, has finally made it into the hearts of the Melbournians slowly, as reported by The Australian Financial Review, which has reported the popularity of the building for public events and city visits among the locals and tourists, which has seen an increase in their numbers over the years.




The worst may have ended for Federation Square, when finally they landed their spot on the list of "10 Great Central Plazas and Squares" compiled by The Atlantic Cities in the year 2011.


My take?


Love or hate, Federation Square will always be caught in this indecisiveness but its usefulness and strategic spot makes up for more than that dislike.

It is a great place to enjoy the view of the city, to rest and relax and to take in that panoramic view of the city.


View of the city on one of the steps on Federation Square




Melbourne Visitor Centre is one of the anchor tenants



The unobstructed view of St Paul's Cathedral from Federation Square




Be prepared to be surprised by the eclectic mix of the design of the building and the actual mix of the urban versus the historical and heritage parts of Melbourne, all at one view, as one stands on the steps of the chaotically charming web design of the Federation Square.





Take it from the birds, this is a cool place to hang out~



For all it's worth, Federation Square is not just caught in that intersecting embrace of the major landmarks that lands it in this hot spot, but the major highlight of it all lies far beyond its strategic spot and all in that evident web of controversy in its place.

It definitely puts Federation Square right in the centre of all the attention, and right in the heart of the city of Melbourne~



List of tenants on the Federation Square:
1. Melbourne Visitor Centre
2. SBS (Special Broadcasting Service) television and radio headquarters
3. The Edge theatre
4. National Gallery of Victoria
5. ACMI - Australian Centre for the Moving Image
6. Melbourne Festival Headquarters

Whenever someone offers me a choice of Japanese food, I rarely say no.

Rarely, almost next to never, in my context.

No exception.

I am picky and while I love Japanese food in general, I still do have that few places which I hold close to my heart; well, they made it there because they just suit my humble and picky tastes, in terms of their food quality, ambiance, service and even price range.

It is a multitude of factors, really, rather than just the food alone although the food quality definitely tops the list, especially in the case of Japanese food.

All cuisines too, are based on the prime focus of their ingredients and the freshness is of utmost importance across all these cuisines; regardless of the culture, in determining the quality of the food.
The best ingredients are often used, and sourced to ensure that they play that role in making up a good dish.
Freshness is also the key to everything, in all the cuisines, not just Japanese cuisine.

Japanese cuisine play on that concept of simplicity and lets (most of the time), the raw ingredients to strike up that chord on their own note, and to take centerstage in the whole play.



I like that; Simplicity is key.

That translates to light and not overwhelming tastes, not heavily laden with sauces which could be too sweet, too salty, too sour, or just too anything.

Seasoning is often kept to the minimum, if you noticed, to allow the freshness of the raw ingredients to shine through.

Sashimi, is that clear example of keeping their raw cuts of the selected fish and seafood to their best original state, at the point of its arrival (or delivery).

It is impossible to make a good sashimi plate, when the raw fish, are in the first place, not fresh.

I like my sashimi, and sometimes, I like them in that salad combination too.

Sashimi Salad in Hanazen 






Sushi too, thrives on that whole freshness concept.

I may not be big on sushi, but everyone else is, when it comes to Japanese food.
That's how it (Japanese food/restaurants) became known, or fondly even termed as Sushi bars in some places.

Sushi has taken that leading role in Japanese food, probably due to the popularity of the sushi on conveyor belts in their first wave of commercialization, and the image has just stuck since.

The depiction of Japanese food, is always, about Sushi, first.

Sushi plate in Hanazen




Light marinades and seasoning just make up that success factor and also the true test of the freshness of the natural source.

Sake Teriyaki, or grilled salmon served with teriyaki sauce is that clear example and is one of my personal favorites.
(Well, basically everything teriyaki works for me, as long as they are not too heavily drenched to overload and are just kept at that light drizzle to form a really tiny pool around the food object. 
I don't like anything with high salty content, or even sugary, for that matter)




I am not sure if you are a fan of eel, or Unagi?
It is a delicacy and one of the rather premium favorites for Japanese cuisine.

I am not really a fan, to be honest, but I am surrounded by everyone (almost everyone) who just loves this to bits.
It is that slice of Japanese food that they crave.


Lightly grilled  and marinated Unagi (eel) 




Most of the Japanese food are focused on the homely concept and it is not uncommon to see bento sets (meal boxes with a  combination of starter, appetizer, main course, soup, rice and dessert) on most of the menus of the restaurants.

A course set of both the Unagi and the Sushi




A cup of Ocha (or green tea) is just the perfect complement to any Japanese meal.
It is almost a sin, in my context, to order anything else.

Take some time to smell the flowers.

A common phrase we often hear or perhaps we are also the ones uttering it to our loved ones; friends and families, out of our concern for their well-being and to make sure that they too, lead a fruitful and worthwhile life.

It is often easy to get carried away by the many things that bog us in our daily lives, and this saying often appears as words of wisdom to remind us of the need to just take some time to breathe and be there for ourselves, once in a while.

Have you ever wondered though about the underlying meaning, or perhaps the connotations often used in this term that is so commonly assimilated into our lives?

Why flowers?
Why smell?

It is all about the surrounding and the beauty that we may have missed while we are in the midst of our daily rush.

That action to smell, explains the need for one to just stop in their tracks as mentioned in the saying to just take a whiff of that flower that we may not have seen despite it being there as we walk past it every single day while we are on our ways to work, school or anywhere.
It is just right there, staring at us, silently yearning for our attention but to no avail, for it is always unnoticed.

To take a whiff is probably fast, but to smell is to take in and allow the senses to inhale and wrap in that scent and to do that, one would definitely need to stop for just a moment beside the flower, hold it gently and just take in the scent.

It is that very action of a momentary pause in one's tracks that hits the nail on the head and is following the literally implied meaning of the saying to the exact.

To take it to a deeper level, it sounds easy for one to just halt halfway on their journey, pick a flower and just take in the scent or even the natural beauty and characteristics of the flower, but the literal meaning is of course way beyond that.

A saying is just an abstract depiction of the reality, while holding the values in the undertones with the intended metaphor to actual practice and often subject to the individual perception though the general meaning is still retained.

At a glance, taking that time to smell a flower seems like just a mere reminder of how we often lose sight of the things in our lives in pursuit of something we believe is just much more worth the journey.
It is about taking a breather when one forgets about the rest of the world revolving around us in the midst of our schedules and issues that cloud our mind.

It is just a direct and simple literal translation which could be immediately deciphered from the phrase itself the way the saying is clearly intended.

What else could be the underlying meaning behind this common saying and what else could we have missed out?

I like to take words to a deeper level; to more than literal translation and to see them beyond what they truly are, through my own mind, eyes, heart in my very own perspective (and perception).
I do not claim that my perception is offering the actual or real intended meaning, but rather the way, how I perceive it.
That is why, it is my personal perception.

I see the flower as a symbol; an icon of beauty and also the things and people around us.
It is always there, but how often do we realize its existence?
Do we take them for granted?
The flowers will always be there, the people will always be there, the things I already have, will also, always be there.



I had that exact experience because I walked past this gorgeous blooming flower each day, on my way to work, and it did not catch my attention until one fine day, when I saw its bright color and the beautiful way it was in its full bloom.
Perhaps it was the fact that something fell to the ground near where the flower stood and as I bent down to pick up that belonging, I noticed it.
At last.

It was as though there was a sign, or perhaps it was just serendipity.
I had always loved flowers, especially home grown flowers and my parents are just ardent fans of gardening that I have been blessed to have seen quite a collection in my years of growing up at home.

However, of late, there were just too many things that clouded my mind that these blooming flowers have just gone right through my very noses each and every day without as much a simple glance from me, in their way.

The flowers must have been very disappointed.

It is a stark reminder; their existence have led me back to that crystal ball of realization, of how much I must have missed out in my daily lives; that hectic schedule and the list of to-do things that I simply have just left all these out of my mind and even focus.

That flower, and the many others which must have bloomed along the way in its position, is just a sign of exactly that.

Flower always represents beauty, and to be walk by one unnoticed, is a clear sign for a reflection.


There is just much more than what meets the eye.
The beauty of the flower is not just about that particular flower or what I have in my life; which are beautiful, but about the rest of the world, which we have yet to explore or yet to learn to cherish.

Families, friends, the unknown people who care for us, the little blessings that come our way, the many miracles taking place in big and small forms each and every day and everywhere, and the many more others.
These are all the beauties we may have missed.

We may be transfixed with what we think could be doing good to us; chasing after the imaginary and idealistic images seen (and magnified) through our looking glass.
They are often depicted as that idea of perfection in our minds and take their place as the ultimate goal in our relentless pursuit.
Is it truly as perfect as we see it?
We do not know but we just want it, at all costs.

Is it truly the reason it will truly fulfill us (as we thought), or it is just the chase and the fact we do not have it that makes us want it?

They are all very, very different things.

It is not wrong, of course, to set an objective and work towards achieving that goal.
It is in fact encouraged and often seen as a great source of motivation.
It is all about the theory of working towards one's goal and that sense of rewarding fulfillment when one finally reaches the end.
It is positive, and beneficial for one's developmental growth.

But, not at the cost of losing sight of everything else that already exists or are in possession and even one's own mind, conscience and reasoning.
In one's pursuit of their dreams, it is normal to come across compromising situations but what happens when one compromises love, ethics, compassion, and logic, in general?
Is it still truly positive?

We are the ones to make that judgment call.
Education, upbringing, social environment, experience, exposure, all aid and make up that reasoning part in us.
If all fail, there is still that natural and basic human instinct in us, to differentiate between the wrong and the right.

The point is, are we often caught up in running after our idealistic world too much that we neglect the realistic world?
Does beauty and greatness only exist in the idealistic world and not in the realistic world?

The flower tells it all.
We forget to stop, take a look around us and just take that whiff of our very own lives which are already in place.
We did not take notice of the many more wonderful and little things that are happening around us on a daily basis.

There is just so much going on around us that we may have simply overlooked, because they are always there, or so we thought.

One of my favorite; the Morning Glory, always brings so much meaning as its name suggests to brighten up the day right at the break of dawn.


The flower is just a symbol of the many things and even people around us that we may have often forgotten.

Take that time now, to just pause and think of all that we have in our lives.
No time?
We may be busy, but not That busy to even just take a quick pause to just have these images of our own lives run through our minds.

You may even discover that some of the desires you have and lust after in your conception of that unfulfilled life are actually already there in your life and perhaps much more than what you always led yourself to believe.

Take that time.
Look around you, take in the sights that greet you when you turn your head around and look at even just the floor or your table.
Look at the smiling faces in that family photograph or that of your special someone on your table, there must be a reason you have that photo there.
Look at the goofy antics and the great grins and laughter in that group photo on the notice board or in your colleague's cubicle which you walk past every day.
Look at that water dispenser and that cabinet which is often filled with the beverages and biscuits for your snacks throughout the day from 9 to 5.

Look around you, remember your aging parents waiting for you at home.
Remember that sibling who have gone abroad to work.
Remember the last time you went to a temple or a church.
Remember the last time you spoke to an old friend.

Take that time now.
Make that one stop.

Just halt that one step, pause for a quick while and just look at that flower.
It is just right there, staring at you, waiting patiently for you to appreciate it.
It will not always be there, as you thought.
Flowers do wither and fall too.
Sure, when it does, another bud will probably pop up in its place and bloom at its best, or even better than the one before.

Can we say the same for everything else in the world?

Nothing is forever, so just cherish the moment.

Cherish that person and all the people in your life; the one who never fails to be there for you at all times, be it bad or good.
The people who always smile and greet you good morning as you walk past them that you never greeted in return.
The people who always make sure you have enough to eat, wear and be in your best condition.

Cherish them; the people, the things and the life that you already have.
You can continue to chase after your dreams and aspire to fly freely and high as the kite, but just don't lose sight of who you are, the ones around you.
Never ever lose yourself in the midst of your pursuit.

There is just so much more around the world you may have missed, just like that flower.

Just take that moment to pause, give it that look and smell it.

You may find yourself smiling, and then you will even spot, the other flowers around it.




Don't forget, to Take some time to just smell the flowers, everyday.

Well, at least, smell One Flower a day, unless you have a sensitive nose and is allergic to flowers, but again, it's all about the literal meaning.

Enjoy your life, your very beautiful life, everyone :-)





**Flowers featured in this post are from my proud avid gardening parents' garden.
They are lovely because of the efforts put in by them every single day, to ensure they bloom and grow to their best potential.
No, they are not for sale =)

Melbourne city's landmarks will not be complete without the iconic and recognizable bright yellow building of the Flinders Street Station.



Standing right in the middle of the city; at the corner of the Flinders and Swanston Street, the sight of this large complex, with its characteristic green dome perched atop the building, decorated with a gigantic clock, tower; further lined with a row of clocks displaying the scheduled departure times of the train on each respective line, is definitely not to be missed as one takes a walk or even a ride in the city.

This historic and cultural building is further swanked by the unique arched or diagonally positioned entrance, symbolically taking its place proudly on most of the city's postcards.




It is a charming sight indeed, as though it is just a snapshot taken out of a photo album.



Trams run across the front of the stations, among the busy flow of cars in both directions on the main street and flanked by the crowds of people traversing up and down the streets lined with bridges, skyscrapers and even trees on the side of the river flowing through the city.

This is the common sight surrounding Melbourne's busiest railway station with an average of recorded 92,600 daily entries based on a weekday tracking basis.

Flinders Street railway Station has more than meets the eye; with its long trail of history dating back to its early beginnings as the new station back in the 1900s, in succession to the first ever railway station, the preceding Melbourne Terminus on that same site on Flinders Street.

Beginning its operations in the year 1854, Melbourne Terminus was then the first railway station in Australia, with a single platform of only 30 meters long, which saw the launch of the first steam train in the country on its opening day.
Located beside the Fish Market building on the south west corner end of both prominent Swanston and Flinders Street, the single platform station quickly expanded within two decades with the upcoming demand and additional platform in 1877, followed by overhead bridges, telegraph station(1879) and signal boxes in 1883 made up the improved layout of the railway station.

The station continues to grow in its operations and in the 1890s, the third platform was then added to accommodate the growth in the transportation demands.

There were two other ad hoc railway stations in the city centre; Spencer Street and Princes Bridge, which both commenced operations in the year 1859, serving the routes to the different parts of the city.
Spencer Street functioned to serve the west part of the city, and was isolated from the eastern region, until the year 1879 where it saw the establishment of a ground level railway connecting it to the Flinders Street; which was also quickly replaced by the Flinders Street Viaduct in the year 1889.

Princes Bridge was even more short-lived in its service; with the station being closed in the year 1865 when there was a railway line built to connect both Flinders Street and Swanston Street - where Princes Bridge was originally disconnected from and with the existence of this line, there was no longer purpose for the station, although it was reopened much later on in 1879 again and then integrated into the Flinders Street track from the 1909 which is currently the site of the Federation Square; right across the present Flinders Street Station.

The need for a centralized railway station came through in 1882, despite having many designs which were fulfilling the requirements since the 1880s.
The design of the new railway station called for a design competition in the year 1899, in which there were 17 entries received.

Today's Flinders Street Station was based on the first prize winning design; by both railway employees, James Fawcett and HPC Ashworth of Fawcett and Ashworth, which included a large dome and a clock tower in their titled piece of the Green Light, styled after a French Renaissance theme.

A year after the selection of the design, construction works on the new railway station finally begun in the year 1900. The dome was erected in the year 1906 and the entire station saw its completion and official and historic launch in the year 1910.

The establishment of the Flinders Street railway Station marks the first railway station in an Australian city and the first electric train took off from this station to Essendon in 1919.

Flinders Street railway Station became the world's busiest passenger station in the late 1920s.








One of the walls in Flinders Street Station



Standing on its site, today still sees the hectic operations and running schedules of the railway station which never ceases in serving the transportation needs of the Melbourne city population.

The beauty and history of the building has even earned her a place as one of the heritage buildings in the Victorian Heritage Register, making this one of the most prestigious landmarks and the pride of the Melbournians.


There is really no way one could miss or even mistake the sight of this memorable building and even I kept running into it, every time I walk around the city.
(Well, maybe I do delibrately want to run into this station to catch a glimpse of most of the daily actions. Its charms have truly captivated me and had me enthralled with its history and architecture).






**Special Note: 
Both are notable idioms commonly used among the local Melbournians in reference to this city icon.

"I'll meet you under the clocks" refer to the row of clocks neatly lined above the main entrance and shows the time-table scheduled departure times of each individual train line.

"I'll meet you on the steps" refer to the main staircase; in its wide and grand welcoming manner fronting the entrance to the station.