Now and Then

This is a challenge hosted by Amy over at The World is a Book.

Now

Looking back over the last year, I can probably say that it’s been the same for many, travel plans cancelled, not being able to see loved ones and being in lockdown for months on end. It’s been a year of doing everything completely different. All new for everyone.

We didn’t have any big travel plans like we normally do, due to my daughter and her partner having a baby girl in September. Our second grandchild, a sister for their two year old son. We’ve very fortunate to be able to spend so much time with them all. They have been a such a joy. On the negative side I haven’t seen my son since March and my husband hasn’t seen him since last Christmas.

The last trip I had this year was to Melbourne to see Laurence and his girlfriend, Maddy. But now we are happily awaiting their visit over Christmas.

So this year has been spent trying out different kinds of activities and exploring Western Australia more.

I had my parents, who are in their late 80’s, staying here for five months. Their flights were cancelled and we thought it best that they stay put with us. At least they could still get out and about a bit more here. My nephew was also visiting from the UK for a few months. There was a partial lockdown in WA, but only for a month. I’ve been trying to be more active in the garden, although that is hit and miss, hubby does so much more.

I am playing more bridge, although I don’t seem to be improving! I absolutely love this game and took lessons for the first time two years ago. I’ve gone from once a week to twice a week now and on Friday I will be playing with a 93 year Italian man as my partner. I’ve seen Mario play and I am woefully under experienced to be his partner, it should be fun!

My friends and I have started a games night once a month. There are 8 ladies in all, and I haven’t laughed so much in ages. I found I have a very competitive streak.

Also I have started dancing again once a week to something called “Dance Lines” not to be confused with line dancing. I love the fact that I can do a dance and not just stand and do the “two foot shuffle”. Once a month there is a dance with a band and disco, it’s mostly over 50’s and such fun and very tiring.

My blog has also kept me very busy with all the challenges I have been trying to do. It has been really inspirational and this year I’ve made so many new online friends.
Here are some of the blogs I’ve enjoyed and participated in
Travel with Intent, Cee’s photo challenges, Becky with her Squares, Xingfu Mama and her seats to name but a few!

Then

Last year was certainly very different travelling wise. I can’t believe we visited so many countries.

In January we travelled from Western Australia to Queensland crossing five states.
March saw me in Melbourne.
April back to the UK to see my family over there, plus a side trip to Fuerteventura.
May, hubby and I went to Da Nang, Vietnam
October, Scotland, the UK, Sweden and Denmark.
December was spent in Hong Kong and Bali. The only thing we were worried about then were the riots in Hong Kong! We did actually see one but kept well away.

Next year I think will be spent travelling around Australia. Our international borders are going to remain closed until well into next year. Hopefully I will get back to the UK by October to celebrate my dad’s 90th.

In the meantime,
Keep calm and carry on blogging

A Sunny afternoon in Fremantle Fishing Harbour, WA

On a sunny day a few weeks ago I took my parents and nephew who are over from the UK for a stroll around the harbour. All restaurants, cafes and pubs were only open for takeaways during this time. Many people were out and about enjoying the last of the Autumn sun, trying to stick to the social distancing! It is an easy 30 minute drive from Perth down the freeway and also just 30 minutes from where I live.

Fremantle is mostly known for its maritime history but is also a very popular tourist spot and is home to the famous Cappuccino Strip.

Weekdays are definitely less busy than the weekends and we found a parking spot in no time right on the harbour front.

On top is the famous Joe’s Fish Shack a great restaurant with harbour views
Bottom pic: The Fremantle Tourist Wheel

We stopped and bought drinks from the e-bike cafe and while we were waiting for our order, I noticed the most beautiful painting on the wall at the back of the cafe. It was painted by a lady called Maria Bowers who has now sadly passed away.

A fantastic backdrop for these e-bikes.

E-bikes are a fun way to get around Fremantle. Not that we took this opportunity with my parents both in their 80’s! I believe you can hire or buy these bikes.

Some of the quirky sculptures and artwork around Fremantle

Kidogo Arthouse Situated in the charming 1884 heritage-listed Old Kerosene Store on Bathers Beach, Fremantle

Round House

The Fremantle Roundhouse is the oldest public building in the state of Western Australia. Opened in January 1831, it was built to hold any person convicted of a crime in the settlement until 1886. Since then it’s been a Police Lock up, accommodation for the Water Police, and a storage facility for the Fremantle Ports. (Source: helloperth.com.au)

The view from the top of the Round House

The fishing boats that are still in use in the harbour

Little Creatures Brewery popular with both locals and tourists. Apparently a former crocodile farm, but now a brewery. It’s a great place to have a casual drink, lunch or dinner. You can also take a tour of the brewery.

That’s all we had time for during this trip, but there’s so much more to do in Fremantle.
Some links below of other things to see and do in this town. (Please check during Covid opening times to these places)

Fremantle Prison
WA Maritime Museum
Fremantle Markets
E Shed Markets

Just a few things to keep you busy in Fremantle!

Until the next post and thanks as always for reading and commenting 😎

A stay at The Ink Hotel, Melbourne

Another trip to Melbourne! This time I decided to try a hotel (The Ink Hotel) instead of an apartment and as usual was visiting Laurence and Maddy. My nephew Tom was over from the UK and came with me. The main reason I chose a hotel over an apartment was because the price was the same and also for the Air bnb apartments they wanted a hefty deposit up front, to be refunded a week after your departure. I liked the fact that there is a proper reception for any issues that may come up.

After picking up our luggage from the Virgin terminal, in my wisdom I thought we would take the Skybus into the City. The board saying “20 minutes into the City” seemed too good to be true. Well it was. Approximately 90 minutes later we arrived at The Ink.
Tip: Do not take Skybus on a late Friday afternoon over a long weekend!

First Impressions

The check in was quick and easy and the staff are friendly and helpful. The check in desk is located on the ground floor along with the bar/sitting/eating area. I loved all the artwork on the walls and looked forward to having a drink at the bar later. It had a great casual vibe.

The Ink is the building in the middle

Very bohemian!

“A drop of ink may make a million think”

As we had rooms on the 12th floor I thought we might get a bit of a view! Not much in my case and none at all for Tom. Still the room was very cosy and everything you wanted was there. We had “pocket rooms”, but there are other rooms that are bigger.

The Room

Huge comfy bed and pillows. Good lighting and USB ports either side of the bed. There was also a safe next to the bed. In the wardrobe there was an iron and ironing board and hair dryer. Dressing gowns for your comfort. A snug desk with lamp plus more USB ports with a fridge underneath.

Not completely without a view!

The Bathroom

Lovely toiletries placed right at your fingertips. The toilet is to the side of the shower.

The Ink is very conveniently located and close to the South Bank and Casino, both within walking distance.

We had breakfast here most mornings and although the menu is limited, the coffee is free and there will be something to suit everyone. Eggs how you like or a healthy bowl of muesli.

Lastly Tom and I enjoying our free welcome drink in the lounge

I would definitely recommend this hotel to anyone going to Melbourne for a few days. It’s a great “no hassle” hotel with the availability a full time reception and just a short walk to either the tram or bus stop.

What do you prefer an apartment or a hotel?

Colourful Copenhagen

After leaving Gothenburg, we travelled to Copenhagen using a Flix bus. The journey took around five hours and crossed into Copenhagen from Malmo over the Oresund Bridge. This bridge became very famous after the Nordic Noir series “The Bridge”. One of my all time favourite TV series. Travelling on a Flix bus is a great way to see the countryside and I had booked seats directly behind the driver. When we arrived in Copenhagen there was a Mexican standoff between our bus and another bus on a two lane road into the station. In the end we had to get off the bus and walk for around 15 minutes along cobblestones to find a taxi to our hotel.

Oresund Bridge

The Øresund Bridge is an approximately 16 km long road and rail link between Sweden and Denmark. It consists of three sections: a bridge, an artificial island and a tunnel. The link opened on July 1 2000. Source: Oresund Bridge

Oresund Bridge

Crossing over to the Danish Side

Arriving at our hotel – Copenhagen Strand – at around 4 pm we checked in and then set about exploring. I loved Copenhagen on sight and had no idea how stunning this city was. We were staying just around the corner from the picturesque Nyhavn Canal. We walked up and down this beautiful 17th century waterfront looking for a place for a snack and drink. It was difficult to choose as there are so many bars and restaurants. Even on a cold afternoon or night you can sit outside as there are heaters and blankets to keep warm.

Day One

Studying the menu

He only needs a moustache!

Enjoying a beer canalside

Great weather

Waiting for dinner

Although we were only here for two nights/three days, really that’s all you need in Copenhagen as it is a very walkable city and probably all most people could afford as it is very expensive.

Day Two

I decided on the Christian IX palace today and a walk along Stroget later. With so many spires, steeples and old buildings that are dotted around Copenhagen I had my phone out constantly snapping away. The palace is situated on Slotsholmen (Castle Island) in the middle of the city.

Borsen – 17th century building – the former Stock Exchange

Nikolaj, Copenhagen Contemporary Art Centre

Christiansborg Palace

Frederik Vll

I really would have like to visit inside this palace but with time ticking on and many more things to see we just had time to visit the ruins underneath the palace. The palace is built on 800 year old ruins. The oldest ruin is the wall from
Bishop Absalon’s 12th century castle. I think you would need at least half a day or more to really explore this palace.

Next we walked to Stroget, the famous shopping street. This was Anthony’s treat for sightseeing in the morning! Strøget is a pedestrian, car free shopping area in Copenhagen, Denmark. It is 1.1 km long and has many designer shops, restaurants and bars. We found one of the large department stores, Illum, a fancy five floor shopping mall with a rooftop restaurant. Here we had a delicious lunch and a glass of wine.

Lunch at Illum

Colourful Smoked Salmon Salad

Stork Fountain

Mathias Hansen House

Caritas Fountain

Halloween display

La Glace, the oldest confectionary shop in Denmark, founded on 8th October 1870

The Round Tower

As there was still some daylight left I wanted to take a look at The Round Tower. This building offers some of the best views in Copenhagen and it has a spiral ramp to walk up to the top, so much better than the stairs I was expecting! Still it was quite an effort to walk up but so worth it. It dates back to the 17th Century and was built by King Christian lV.

So pleased I made it!

View from the top

Stroget from above

Beautiful filigree iron railings

Stroget

Trinity church within The Round Tower

I felt quite accomplished at the end of the day as we had seen so much already.

Day Three

All too soon our stay in Copenhagen was coming to an end. So after checking out at 11 am we decided not to waste time and set out for exploring more of Copenhagen. I managed to persuade Anthony to visit another palace! This time it was Amelienborg Palace, the home of the Danish royal family. This place was just simply stunning and we were lucky enough to be there for the changing of the guards. It was first built in the 1750’s but has been rebuilt a couple of times due to fires. Again I only got to view the outside due to hubby’s need to press on and see other things, namely more shops.

A Platoon of Guards

Just one of the palaces inside the square

Frederik’s Church was just around the corner so we walked over to have look at this magnificent church, also called the Marble church. It is an 18th century Lutheran church with the largest dome in Scandinavia.

Frederik’s Church

Stained glass images of the saints in the dome

St. Paul

Ornate cross at the alter

After this we still managed to find time for a visit to another department store. The famous Magusin du Nord, with its flagship store in Copenhagen. It’s a great one-stop place to shop and has something for everyone here.

Below are some of the other photos I snapped during our three day stay in Copenhagen.

The Little Pharmacy – home of the oldest restaurant in Copenhagen.

I love this cute statue of two old people

You would keep nice and warm at this cosy cafe, not sure about the table decoration though!

CHEERS EVERYONE!

Autumn Break in Gothenburg

On our visit to England this time we decided to visit Gothenburg followed by Copenhagen. I have a cousin who lives in Gothenburg so it was a good excuse to visit. We took my mum and dad with us who are in their late eighties but still very active.

Gothenburg is the second largest city in Sweden and situated on the west coast of the country. It’s a beautiful city to visit and has many Dutch like canals and leafy avenues lined with shops, restaurants and bars. Perfect for a weekend getaway or mid-week break.
Tip: Sweden is largely a cashless country as we found out very quickly! Which means that the krona my dad had changed up went mostly unspent.

We flew with Ryanair from Stanstead to Gothenburg. Now everyone knows Ryanair is a budget airline with everything do-it-yourself- apart from fly the plane. So I knew I had to check in on-line before otherwise you get charged more for doing it at the airport. There was no printer to print out boarding passes so I thought no problem, I’ll get them at the little booths at the airport. They don’t have them anymore! I had downloaded them onto my IPad, but this was where the problems started. The IPad was too big for the scanner! Well to cut a long story short and with plenty of hold ups behind us, we were almost the last on the plane. The young girl in front of me suddenly collapsed with a huge knapsack on her back against me, so I dropped everything and tried to get the backpack off her, she must have been carrying every text book she owned. So while she was being taken care of we hurried onto the plane, the last to take our seats, phew!

We were staying at the Scandic Rubinen for three nights, just enough to see some of glorious Gothenburg. We arrived fairly late in the evening so checked in quickly and had dinner at the hotel restaurant. The Rubinen is in a good location, right on Avenyn. There are shops, restaurants and bars lining the street. Within walking distance of many well known sites. There is also a rooftop bar with amazing views.

From the Roof Top Bar of the Scandic Rubinen

The Avenyn at night

Day One

After an amazing breakfast the next day, my cousin Michael came to meet us to show us some of the sights. The weather was quite dreary and grey but we were all well dressed up and not too worried.
First up was the famous statute of Poseidon. The statue was inaugurated in September 1931, by the famous sculptor Carl Milles. Standing there in all his glory, he was not at first popular with the locals. Apparently he was at first made to scale but had to be scaled down, due to certain anatomical features!

Rugged up and ready for the day

Next up was a walk towards the harbour, a fairly long walk for my mum and dad, but they were doing their best to keep up. We headed for the famous fish church – Feskekorka. The building resembles a neo-gothic church. There is a restaurant inside and many fish counters.

Feskekorka

Trying to blend in. I love these statutes of old fisherman

So many kinds of fish

The restaurant inside the “fish church”

Next we headed to the botanical gardens to have a wander around. As it was Autumn the trees were turning golden and looked glorious.

Autumn colours

Ready for action

Botanical gardens

One of the statues in the botanical gardens

Off to the shops

I’m wearing a raincoat that I bought in Perth just before we left. I have to say it’s been the most amazing purchase. Completely waterproof and lightweight, folds up into a small bag and has kept me dry from the most heavy downpours. It also has a massive hood so no need for an umbrella.

Photos from our walk around Gothenburg

German Church

Statue of a girl covered in fish scales

Historic bunker

Overlooking one of the many canals in Gothenburg

The German church, also called Christinae church, is located in central Gothenburg near the moat. The church was named after Gustav II Adolf’s daughter, Queen Kristina. It was inaugurated in 1748. Source: www.goteborg.com

A fantastic dinner to end our first day

Day Two
Stora Amundon

Today we were off exploring one of the islands south of Gothenburg. It takes about an hour on public transport but is a fairly straightforward journey by tram and bus. My mum and dad had already gone ahead with Minna in the car so were waiting for us when we got there. I was very impressed that they had managed to walk so far. Michael had other plans for Anthony and I! A short walk around the island he said, not too hard. I’m not sure I agreed with him by the end. Up and over rocks and boulders, walking along planks and hugging rocks was not my idea of a quick hike. But it’s a beautiful island, probably better in summer though.

Autumn colours on Store Amundon

At the start of our walk

Trying to escape

My mum looking very glamorous in her Russian hat

Zara and I on some of the boulders we had to cross

Mini waterfalls

This is where I walked the plank

Ominous looking clouds

Haga

After the strenuous morning activities it was off to the ice hockey for the men and onto Haga for the girls. Haga is one of the oldest neighbourhoods in Gothenburg, known for its cobblestone streets and picturesque houses. There are plenty of cute cafes and restaurants to eat and many quirky little shops. We had a lovely afternoon here and also stopped for lunch.

Cobblestone street of Haga

One of the restaurants in Haga

Beautifully presented smoked salmon salad

Antique shop

Clog shop

Zara on one of the sculptures in Haga

One of the many bakeries found in Gothenburg

Renovated 19th century houses

Residential street in Haga with a view of Skansen Kronen in the background.

We walked passed this memorial and statue on our walk back into Gothenburg. It’s a memorial of Raoul Wallenberg who is remembered for saving tens of thousands of Jewish people during WWll. He disappeared in January 1945. According to Russian news he died in a prison cell from a heart attack in 1947. Although today his death still remains a mystery.

The next day and our short visit had ended already, but not our travels! We were off to Copenhagen on a flix bus. The journey is around five hours and crosses over the famous Oresund Bridge. I’ll be writing about this in my next post!

A Rainy Day in The Dandenongs – Part 2

Sunday

For our last day in Melbourne I was determined to get out and about away from the city, much to the disappointment of hubby, who just wanted another shopping day. So we drove up to The Dandedongs on a grey, cold and rainy day! They’re about an hour out of Melbourne so it’s the perfect day trip.

We stopped first at Puffing Billy in Belgrave to have a look at the old steam train and just as we reached the top a train was pulling in. Luckily I didn’t book us a ride through the hills and forests as it was too rainy and windy.

Puffing Billy was constructed in the early 1900’s to open up remote areas. In 1953, a landslide blocked the track and, because of operating losses, the line was officially closed in 1954. It was re-opened again in 1962 due to the tireless efforts of volunteers. Today it is just a tourist attraction taking visitors through the leafy hillside of The Dandedongs.

A few from the official website

Once we’d had a quick look around and read about the history we jumped back in the car to look for a good place for lunch. There are so many cafes, restaurants and pubs we didn’t have to go far. We stopped at Micawbers Tavern for a traditional Aussie lunch, Parmis and schnitzels all round. It reminded me of a cosy country pub in England.

Parmis and schnitzels all round

Enjoying a pint in Micauber’s Tavern

We then went further up into the hills to Skyhigh Mount Dandenong, but the rain had set in for good so there was absolutely nothing to see! This is what you can see on a clear day. This will definitely be another day trip.

The road ahead

On the drive up to the top

Back home we warmed up and dried off before setting out for our last dinner of this trip. We headed into town for a favourite place of Laurence and Maddy’s, a Korean BBQ place in Chinatown called Bornga. A very busy and lively place where it’s quite difficult to book, but it’s worth just turning up and leaving your phone number, there’s normally only a five to ten minutes wait.

A quick cocktail before dinner in a bar called Storyville

A great feast for our last dinner!

And once again all too quickly our four day weekend was over! Until the next time.

Gastronomic Getaway in Melbourne

Visiting Melbourne this time was more about seeing our son Laurence than actual sightseeing. Although I did managed to persuade everyone to have a day out in The Dandenongs on Sunday! This time we were staying in South Yarra just a stone’s throw away from the train station and only two stops to Flinders Street Station.

Overlooking the city from the balcony of Punthill Apartments

Anthony and Maddy waiting to go to breakfast, a tad chilly!

Eating out is always a must when we visit though! Our first night was spent in Zurouna. A fabulous Lebanese restaurant in South Yarra. Although there are many places to eat it is always better to book as everywhere is always so busy.
We had a dip platter to share with some other starters and a few mains. Plus lots of red wine and cocktails.

From the gallery of Zurouna

Friday

After a pretty hefty breakfast at the little cafe next door to the Punthill Apartments, we caught the train into town. Very handy with South Yarra station right below us and just two stops to Flinders Street.

Looking very relaxed and comfortable heading into town

We met Laurence for lunch at the Crafty Squire where all main courses were $20, bargain!

After lunch we had a wander around and of course some shopping and Anthony bought a new hat!

Captain Von Trapp also wearing Barbour waistcoat and Merino wool zip up cardigan, so fashion!

Back to the apartment for a short rest and then cocktails at The Imperial Hotel. Very lively and noisy bar, great atmosphere.

A pint and passionfruit mojito and a bowl of nachos to share

Then it was off for another delicious dinner just down the road to the Thirty Eight Chairs a small Italian restaurant in Bond Street, South Yarra. Fantastic service!

Saturday

Today was a designated shopping day and we walked the length of Chapel Street in search of new clothes. Not exactly a difficult chore and there are boutiques galore! Also a wonderful sunny day. After I felt I couldn’t walk another step we stopped for a late lunch in Hawkers Hall, an Asian fusion restaurant.

A wonderfully old and fairly decrepit building, would have been grand in its hey day

Chapel Street – Street Art!

After a fairly exhausting day of walking we were in need of a quick rest before heading out again into town for a very lively night.

We went to Vamos which we’ve been to before but it’s always such a good night there! It’s a Spanish tapas bar in Bourke Street and they have a band playing Thursday through Sunday, lots of Latin music. There is a small dance floor that can accommodate two dancers! while people are eating. The space did not deter the large table behind us and four couples all got up and did salsa. After people have eaten the tables are cleared or moved back and so many people get up and dance. There is a great atmosphere here and would definitely go back when I’m in Melbourne next.

A few from inside the bar

And a little clip of dancing!

Part two to follow

A day in The Dandenongs

More magical moments in Melbourne

I’ve just got back from a five day trip to Melbourne to see my son and his girlfriend once again! As they live just outside of St. Kilda I had the opportunity to see different places in Melbourne. It was a gastronomic gourmet getaway, eating and drinking our way around many different cuisines.

I had the first day to myself so thought I would walk to St. Kilda. Sounds simple enough but those who know me well also know I have no sense of direction. But armed with my google maps I managed to get there with a stop on the way to St Kilda Botanical Gardens. Of course with a few little detours!

St Kilda Botanical Gardens

St. Kilda Botanical Gardens

Cute little duck!

St. Kilda Beach

Some shots of the art deco buildings along the beachfront.

Painted van

Apartment block with art deco features

Palace Theatre

The entrance to Luna Park, spewing out visitors!

From the beach

St Kilda Lighthouse

We also tried to catch the penguins on parade at sunset but not much luck. The fairy penguins are a nightly event and come up on the rocks down by the pier just after sunset. There are hundreds of people trying to get photos and all standing on one tiny wooden walkway, it was a bit worrying that the whole thing would collapse.

Dinner @ St. Moritz, Acland Street, St. Kilda

Yarra Valley

We drove to the Yarra Valley one day to celebrate Maddy’s forthcoming 21st birthday, with so many wineries to choose from it was difficult to make the right choice. Soumah Winery won the prize! On the way we stopped at Oakridge Winery for a quick tasting. It was a really nice place and they didn’t charge for the tasting! The day we went was a very smokey day due to bushfires very close by, at first not a single cloud or blue sky could be seen, which is why some of then photos look very overcast.

Winetasting at Oakridge

Very generous measures for a tasting

Our Lunch

Fig Rocket and Pancetta Salad

Seafood Pasta

Sweet potato Feta and Basil Bruschetta

No matter which vineyard you visit anywhere in Australia there is always the rusty old farm machinery, the rustier the better!

Brighton Beach Bathing Huts

The last day we drove to Brighton Beach to have a look at all the amazingly colourful bathing beach boxes. There are 82 in all and they date back to the late nineteenth century. They are all painted different colours and sit on the beach. I took so many photos and here are some of my favourites.

Brighton Beach

My favourites below:

Some of the beach

Black swans with a view of the skyline

Paddling in the rock pools

Beautiful clear water

Dazzling colours of the seashells

Some of the places we had dinner

Tulum Turkish in Carlisle Road, Balaclava. Excellent Turkish tapas and would highly recommend if you are in the area.
Vamos Spanish in the city. Great for tapas and live music. We had a fantastic night here eating, drinking and dancing the night away.
Soumah in the Yarra Valley. An hour’s drive from Melbourne.
St. Moritz, St. Kilda. Delicious steaks and burgers with live music.

Until next time!

Perth to Brisbane Road Trip – Part Three – Melbourne

Five nights in Melbourne

As I mentioned in my previous post we had an apartment on the 59th floor! I’ve never stayed in an apartment so high before. We had floor to ceiling windows in every room with fantastic views over Melbourne.

The next four days were going to be relaxing and taking it easy, with good food and plenty to drink! Lots of walking and definitely not much driving.

Although Melbourne is so busy and teeming with people, it still has a laid back feel to it. So many tourists going through all stopping to enjoy the beautiful sights Melbourne has to offer.

On the South Bank overlooking the Yarra River

**********************

While we were in Melbourne The National Gallery of Victoria was exhibiting the works of M.C. Escher (a renowned Dutch artist) with the works of Nendo Design Studio from Japan, Escher X nendo. I took some photos of M.C. Escher‘s works while walking around with Maddy. I hadn’t heard of Escher before and it was something Maddy wanted to see. She was very knowledgeable so didn’t need the audio guide!

I would like to have posted some of the fabulous prints we saw but when I checked on the website you needed to fill out a copyright request form in great detail. If you do go to Melbourne before 7 April it’s really worth a visit to see his works.

Nendo

Great Mural just outside Flinders Station

Some other photos of around Melbourne

One of many art deco buildings – Manchester Unity Building

St Kilda’s

St. Kilda’s is a coastal suburb not too far from central Melbourne. It has a completely different vibe to it than the city. Over a hundred years ago it was a very ritzy resort for the rich. Many palatial mansions are still standing, now converted into hotels. It’s great for a day or night out with so many restaurants, from cafes to fine dining.

Enjoying a glass of sangria

Dinner at Rococo’s

We ate and drank at fabulous places over the last five days and enjoyed every one. Food and service are always exceptional in Melbourne.

Tsindos Greek Restaurant, Lonsdale Street

The amazing Lucy Lius’s, Oliver Lane

And that my friends was that! This was where we left them and carried on with our epic journey onwards and upwards towards Brisbane. Next stop Canberra then Sydney in Part Four.

In the meantime, Keep calm and carry on blogging

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Round House

Until the next post and thanks as always for reading and commenting 😎

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First Impressions

The Room

The Bathroom

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Oresund Bridge

Day One

Day Two

The Round Tower

Day Three

CHEERS EVERYONE!

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Day One

Photos from our walk around Gothenburg

Day Two Stora Amundon

Haga

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Sunday

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St Kilda Botanical Gardens

St. Kilda Beach

Yarra Valley

Brighton Beach Bathing Huts

Some of the places we had dinner

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Five nights in Melbourne

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In the meantime,
Keep calm and carry on blogging

Day Two
Stora Amundon