Off we go to Melbourne, the Great Ocean Road, Kangaroo Island, Adelaide, the Barossa Valley, Broken Hill and across the top of NSW via Cobar and Moree to the Sunshine Coast of Queensland. From two weeks in our favourite resort there, we work our way down the coast, staying in places such as Kingscliff, Clunes, Coffs Harbour and Port Macquarie to visit lovely family and friends before landing in Newcastle for a few days to see more loved ones, including my wonderful mother.

This trip is for Jon and me– tailor made for us, by us, starting 4 days after Jon’s 60th birthday. We will no doubt miss ‘Rockview’, our friends in Cooma and especially our darlings, Charlie and Jeni, but we are more than ready to hit the road and get outta town!

More on Melbourne

So, after reading Betty's suggestion, I checked out http://www.onlymelbourne.com.au/whatsonmelbourne.php
and found some very interesting things.
My favourite so far is   http://www.accaonline.org.au/Home
I wish I had more time now to check it all out- maybe we'll need 4 weeks, not 4 days there.
too early for the Napoleon exhibit at the NGV

The Yarra

Across the Yarra to the city- our hotel is 2nd from right of tree

In Hosier Lane

Napoleon retreating

MOVIDA for Tapas in the afternoon - decadent and delicious

Arts Centre - Jon thinks the spire should be pulled down, but I think it's kinda growing on me

Hosier Lane

YUMMO

A little bit of Paris in Melbourne

My good friend Vicki was right about Flinders Lane. Fortunately, it’s just a block from out hotel. We walk along it every morning and find a new place for breakfast. I love the way that I don’t know what a shop is till I’m right on top of it and then Ifind it’s a delicious cafe or a tiny florist that reminds me of the Left Bank.

Running off Flinders Lane is Hosier Lane where Betty suggested we go to Movida for tapas. Fantastic and yummy selection of food in a friendly and authentic atmosphere. We went there for lunch and I could happily have settled in all afternoon, perched on my bar stool sampling each dish and drinking wine after wine.

Mark and Renae had both mentioned Federation Square – I love the concept of the place and the way it’s reflected in the design and architecture. We seem to gravitate there at the start of each day after breakfast.

A Fred Williams Retrospective is currently showing in the Ian Potter Centre there and while Jon sat out in the atrium and happily read the newspaper, I wandered through ‘Infinite Horizons’, rediscovering the talent of one of Australia’s pioneer artists. Such a visionary. I was inspired by his perception of the landscape and his methods of representing it. So much to think about. I can see myself borrowing small aspects of his ideas and (hopefully) translating them into photography and writing. I love afternoons like that.

‘The rarest of artist are the ones who see familiar things as no one has previously seen them and who, in setting down their vision, reshape our world for us.”
James Gleeson on Fred Williams 1966

4 comments:

  1. Jan7 May 2012 at 17:15

    Lots of friends have mentioned the Malthouse Theatre, but while we are there, the Victorian Opera is playing. I just can't see Jon and I spending a night at the opera together.
    Other venues I have been checking out all seem to have a play or concert or performer just finishing before we get there or starting just after we leave. Sigh.

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  2. Unknown7 May 2012 at 17:50

    Just wrote a long entry and lost it in cyber space, so here is the abbrev version:
    * Flinders Lane : some great bars and restaurants
    *Afternoon TEa @ The National Gallery
    * An italian restaurant like Bill and Tonis will check the name for yoy
    * An Asian Fusion Restaurant at Fed Square around the back is also vego

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  3. Jan7 May 2012 at 19:09

    Thanks Vick! Don't you hate that cyber space suck in? It comes from nowhere, usually when you've written something wonderful. But I do like your abbreviated version!

    I think our hotel is near to Flinders Lane, so that will be great. And remember when we used to go to Bill and Toni's all the time? Loved it and going somewhere similar will bring back happy memories. Perhaps this trip WILL be all about the food! x

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  4. Jan17 May 2012 at 19:29

    This comment has been removed by the author.

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