Monday, 29th October

After such a fun, exciting and tiring weekend at the MotoGP, a few r&r days in Melbourne City was just what we needed.

We left Inveloch after a very enjoyable Machiatto and headed through the Gippsland region of southern Victoria – what a spectacular landscape!  Rolling green hills dotted with cows, flowering trees, lush pasture.  Such a contrast to the drought stricken areas of NSW we are accustomed to.  We definitely chose the scenic route.

Booked into the Mantra on Russell into our one bedroom apartment for three nights – excellent!

Starving!  The Mantra is right next door to China Town so chinese was high on our list .  Found a restaurant and enjoyed a Bean with Pork and a Chicken with Chilli.  So much food – we now have leftovers for snacks.

A walk in the afternoon over to Brunswick Street to find the HoMie Street Store.  Bought a top and earrings and felt I had contributed in a small way to supporting young homeless people in Melbourne.   Wandered up and down Brunswick Street – full of trendy cafes and boutique shops.  We made our way back to the city via Lygon Street, famous for it’s restaurant strip.

Back to China Town for dinner, but this time Japanese at the Gyoza Gyoza Bar – a selection of small dishes which were all good.  It was a reminder that I really don’t enjoy kimchi 😦

Tuesday, 30 October

The Mantra breakfast bar is pretty good, except for the coffee (self serve), and Melbourne being coffee central we headed out for a brew in Bourke Street.  Had an excellent coffee at Guy Grosse’s Cellar Bar – but you would expect that!

Random sights….

St Kilda – one of Melbourne’s iconic suburbs.  We caught a tram to St Kilda and back for lunch.  It was easy and straight forward, even for us country folk.  A fun day out – loving the trams!

The cafe/restaurant strip at St Kilda Beach is famous for its cakes – ah, gluten, how I miss you.

A light lunch of calamari and a beetroot salad to share.  Perfect.

A highlight of our Melbourne trip was a night out with Ian and Jo at their local pub The Rising Sun Hotel in South Melbourne.  We were treated to a night of the Downbeat Big Brass Band, crammed into the little pub – big noise, great music, good food.

I ordered the Quinoa Pumpkin & Cauliflower salad – it was OK.  Jeff enjoyed his crumbed cutlets – always a winner.

Wednesday, 31 October

We both love nothing better than exploring a city area, especially in one of the shopping capitals of Aus.  We walked and walked, stopping for a sushi lunch, and then on to Carlton Gardens at the Royal Exhibition Building on the Melbourne Museum.  A lovely stroll around the Gardens, eventually sitting under one the huge tress near a pond, only to be disturbed by a squawking duck unlucky enough to be in the jaws of a waywood dog (red faced owners scrambling to the rescue).  Oh dear.   Both the duck and the dog were OK.

What a treat – dinner at Guy Grossi’s Cellar Bar in Bourke Street.  Good food, a great vibe and the staff were oh so posh and attentive 🙂

Highly recommend and a fabulous eating experience on our last night in this most enjoyable city.

 

Jeff & Catherine