Melbourne routines

Let it go
Back in Melbourne, I immediately felt at home as the taxi rolled through Fitzroy and on to Abbotsford, my new home in the Milkbar. It’s a great place, in a quiet side street, in walking distance to the Abbotsford vietnamese area, and a 10 minute walk from my Smith Street watering holes. My host Gerome […] Read More

Back to Melbs

Let it go
Zigzagging across Australia, it’s time to head back to Melbourne for two final days. On Saturday I’ll head back east to New Zealand for three weeks in Auckland and two weeks of driving around. It got a slightly bit rocky at one point and I saw we did quite a detour.. but all fine here. […] Read More

Farewell Drinks

Let it go
Last night all together in Melbourne. Rajiv is already in Sydney, I head to Hobart tomorrow, Colin is off to London. It was time for drinks at the Victoria Night Market, again! And I had to say good-bye to St. James, my bike. I’ll see Michael again on my last two days in Melbourne. We […] Read More

I am Fitzroy

Let it go
The choice of the neighborhood you live in very much determines the whole vibe of the stay. It sets the tone, the places you discover, the people you meet… After five weeks in Melbourne I can say: I am Fitzroy. This is my area. I really like this tiny little rectangle, bordered by Nicholson and […] Read More

Skydeck

Let it go
After five weeks in the city, I finally did it: got on top of the Eureka Tower today to enjoy the view from its SkyDeck over Melbourne, Port Philip Bay, the Yarra valley and the Dandenong mountain ranges…. 35 seconds and you’re on the 88th floor. Built between 2001 and 2006, the tower is one […] Read More

Movie Day

Let it go
Monday started out hot and cloudy, but temperatures dropped significantly during the day. I went for a swim in the pool, the water being eerily hot in comparison to the cold wind…. and then on to see a movie. I was set to see the latest Meryl Street Movie, August Osage County, that earned her […] Read More

Midsumma finale

Let it go
Midsumma is over. I have to say it was an impressive program me for a whole month, and I’m glad I was here for all of it. I saw so many shows and met some great people. Funny how pride follows me on this trip…. The last day was the pride march down Fitzroy street […] Read More

Brighton Bathing boxes

Let it go
Yesterday, I met up with Rajiv in Brighton, a suburb south of Melbourne on the bay, and we went to the beach. Brighton beach is famous for its colorful bathing boxes. So famous they even have their own web site! They remain from victorian, more prudish times, when they were built on many beaches. Today, […] Read More

Melbs (Part II)

Let it go
And I found my place for the little two-day return to Melbourne at the end of February, in between Sydney and Auckland. It’s a bit a result of mis-planning, I was so slow to decide – or better: I was too lazy to take any decision at all – that Kate already had another host […] Read More

Night food frenzy

Let it go
Last night, Rajiv and I went to the Victoria Night Market. We had no idea what expected us. Only the part under the metal roof construction was open, but that was more than enough. One part housed a number of little craft stands… printed t-shirts, wood toys, old books, dresses, jewelry… one really cool place […] Read More