Today I’m feeling lucky for such a happy January and excited for beautiful February.
We moved to Melbourne on Wednesday, which was exciting and a little teary all at once. Since then we’ve been slowly exploring our new neighbourhood and I’ve been delighting in Melbourne’s flatness, easy public transport and simple grid system which makes it very walkable for even the most navigationally-challenged, like me.
Melbourne
“Wow, the trees are so green and leafy for winter!”
Oh wait, it’s summer.
All week I’ve been constantly confused about the seasons because it feels like a Brisbane winter, but in fact is an unusually cold Melbourne summer. February is predicted to be warmer, fingers crossed!
Even the trees have the right idea and have rugged up.
To be honest, I don’t mind the cool change at the moment – Brisbane was pretty steamy when I left!
My favourite thing about Melbourne so far is the beautiful architecture, old and new. Everywhere you look, there is something beautiful or strange to gawk at.
Eating in Melboourne
Easily the best meal I had this week was a Middle Eastern feast at my uncles’ dinner party on Sunday night. I’ve been hearing about their dinner parties for years and it was great to finally be in town for one!
Kettle Black
It may be too soon to be calling my new favourite café, but I’m doing it. I’ve been totally won over by Kettle Black’s creative, delicious and well-priced brunch. I had the blueberry & ricotta hotcakes, which are covered in double cream, edible flower petals, fresh fruit, nuts & seeds and a dash of purple sugar. I’m normally a savoury brunch-er, but I’m going to struggle to order anything else from now on!
The Perfect Baguette
I can’t remember the exact name of this waffles & baguette joint in Degreaves Pl, but around lunch time on a week day you can follow the huge queue to this tasty slice of France.
The French man behind the counter serves up the perfect baguettes, the best I’ve had outside of France. It makes me dangerously nostalgic for lunchtime in Paris, but the risk of spontaneously buying expensive plane tickets is worth it for such yummy sandwiches.
Pressed Juices
Delicious, fresh cold-pressed smoothies and juices on Collins St. They’re a little pricey at $9 a pop, but are a nice fresh pick me up and they have some really interesting flavours that I definitely couldn’t be bothered making myself. I make green smoothies and carrot/beetroot juice, but I think juicing greens is too expensive, so I don’t mind buying a proper green juice every now and then.
South Melbourne Market
Finding the nearest farmers markets was one of my top priorities this week and we are lucky enough to live close to the South Melbourne Markets. We were in a bit of a rush this time, but next weekend I want to go a bit slower and stock up on more fruit & veg. It’s so much cheaper (and tastier) than at supermarkets, which is handy for juicing on a budget – I saw a big bag of beetroots for just $2.50!
Paris Photography Exhibition
We popped into a free photography exhibition at the Sofitel celebrating Australian artist John Rendell’s photos of Paris in the 1980s. It was a short & sweet exhibition, which made me desperately nostalgic for Paris for the second time that day and kept D happy because we could enjoy the whole collection in 15-20 minutes.
Cooking
My uncles’ came over for drinks to see our new place, so I made some really easy open sandwiches. They’re foolproof, they look pretty & they are delicious – even if I do say so myself.
Rockmelon & Prosciutto
– prosciutto
– rockmelon
– goats cheese
– honey
– sourdough
– mint
Guac & Tomato
– guacamole (1.5 avocados, 1/3 tub sour cream, lime & lemon, salt & pepper, 1 garlic clove, 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar)
– diced tomato
– salt
– basil
Notes
I’m trying to watch what I consume, in my newsfeed. I’ve been giving my “Hide User” and “ I don’t want to see this story” button a workout this month on Facebook as I clear some of the negative noise that clutters up my newsfeed, and therefore my mind.
Words
“Whatever you think you can do or believe you can do, begin it. Action has magic, grace and power in it”
Goethe
What did you get up to this week?
Hello! I’m an Australian travel blogger, living in Melbourne, Australia. I grew up in Brisbane, studied in Paris, lived & worked in New York City and now live in Melbourne, Australia.
I love sharing specific and useful recommendations, itineraries and guides for the most beautiful things to see, do, experience & eat wherever I go.
My favourite travel destinations are Australia, New York City & surrounds, France, Greece & Japan, but I’m always excited to explore somewhere new!
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These beautiful photos of Melbourne are making me homesick (I’m in Edinburgh at the moment). Summer is my favourite time in the city. 🙂
It’s a beautiful city to call home – how is Edinburgh? I’ve heard it’s a lot like London!
I think it’s nicer than London personally but that may be becasue I’ve only seen London through a tourist’s eye where as I’m living in Edinburgh for a dew months. Edinburgh feels a lot safer and slower paced, less metropolitan than London. And the people here are all very friendly. 🙂
Cool! Sometimes I prefer mid sized cities to huge ones because they are much more liveable, sounds like that’s the case with Edinburgh:)
I have lived in Melbourne most of my life, it’s a great city and I just wanted to share with you a few of my favourite places to eat!
Stables of Como- it’s located on a property in Toorak and it feels like you are nowhere near the city, it’s really cute and has the cutest little desserts.
Rowena Milk Bar- located in richmond, great place to hang out and drink a milk shake.
Jerrys Milk Bar- located in Elwood, I have only had a milkshake from here but this place is so cute and has a nice garden out the back.
Top Paddock in Richmond is a sister resturaunt if black kettle which is really good. It does get super busy though!
Also if you find yourself on chapel street in a Sunday around 2-3, Prahan market is the best! They put everything in $1 bags to get rid of it! Saved me so much money!!!
Anyway enjoy Melbourne!
Sorry Kettle Black *
Hey Brooke, thanks so much for taking the time to share those spots! I really appreciate it 🙂 My boyfriend & I were looking for something fun / different to do this weekend as he’s just been away all week, the stables of como sound perfect! 😊