Inspired by a beautiful weekend without any work* and impressed by Willow’s photos, I got stuck into dealing with a few sets of photos that had been on the back burner for a while. It’s one of my favourite ways to spend a Sunday afternoon.
*Without work still included a few emails and a wrap party, but close enough.
I came back from Melbourne spoiled. We had eaten so many great things at fancy restaurants and cosy cafes. And I don’t mean we had a treat, I mean I was spoiled. I found that I mostly wanted to do my own cooking. The idea of going somewhere to eat didn’t really appeal, save for the Miramar eateries (La Boca Loca, Polo & The Larder – Miramar is another place I’m spoiled) and Floriditas in town.
Happiness is the Taco Truck.
Miss Jackson we visited twice, it was around the corner from where we stayed and we left feeling there were other menu items we still needed to try. The service here was great! (Pictured: steak sandwich, blueberry crumpets and pear crumble with yogurt)
I felt Milkwood served up the two best food photos of my trip, rhubarb topped porridge and mushrooms on toast.
If you’re visiting Melbourne then I highly recommend a visit to Sonido!. The arepas were delicious, fluffy and light – something I’d never tried before. The Colombian hot chocolate leaves me jealous to this day! And their fresh lemonade was the most refreshing drink ever.
Best in show goes to Cumulus Inc., a place I’d love to eat again. Their take on the Croque Madame using smoked salmon hit the spot, but the black pudding (made in house) was the best I’d ever tasted. Cumulus did us a big favor, we’d planned to visit them on our last day, before leaving Melbourne. Kate was down with a cold and we ran late, we phone ahead and squeaked through the door 2 minutes before the close of breakfast (which does seem strict) and they seated and served us happily. Chef, forgive the friend who ran in and ate with us a few minutes later!
We visited Melbourne at the start of July. Being that it was the middle of Winter the weather was pretty far removed from that of a more regular holiday but it matched Wellington fairly well. A little chillier perhaps, but I consider it a win that I actually got to wear some proper winter clothing, pea coats, scarves and occasionally mittens. We took the more affordable but somewhat painful red eye flight, always forgetting the nauseating experience of having to get up at 4am for a 6.30 flight. I managed to get over my inhibition of taking photos on a plane and snap an early morning image somewhere over the Tasman.
Though Melbourne is on the same latitude as Wellington the nicer days still felt much like a Summer getaway. Maybe it was just the effect of categorically being in Australia, or perhaps the lack of hills – Melbourne has such a large sky.
During our week long visit we caught up with friends new and old; ate a great deal of food, walked from burb to burb and hung out in museums. I’ll keep you posted on the food sitch next time.
This beautiful stretch of Californian coast marked the final day of our US Road Trip. We left San Luis Obispo (fairly) early and the day couldn’t have been nicer. As quickly as the images, sounds and emotions of California were conjured from memories of movies, music and stories they were replaced with the reality of it. It was on this day that I felt like the almost mythical West Coast and the idea’s of California dreaming had some reality to them and were more than an over idealized hyperbole. It wasn’t until we’d reached the Pacific Coast Highway that we realised a few extra days on this road would be well spent. As quick as it passed, the light remains pretty well etched in my mind as something I don’t have access to.
