Berlin U Bahn

It has been quite some time since I last wrote. But being back in Europe these last two weeks has given me inspiration to create some posts around my time in Berlin. Here is a series of photos I took whilst riding the U Bahn. I love that each station has its own unique font and colour palate for the tiles. 

(LOVE those tiles!)

water lilies

New Blog!

I was collecting images for my next Melbourne post when it dawned on me that maybe it was time to create a new blog... a blog which focuses solely on Melbourne - the great city in which I live. 

And so i did! 

dear melbourne, is a diary of my suburban travels around Melbourne-town. Over time, I hope to build a user-friendly, comprehensive guide to this city and its surrounds. Visit now, visit later.. comment.. follow.. share.. and tell your friends!

Rain in Rio

COPACABANA BEACH, RIO DE JANEIRO, DECEMBER 2008

Mornington Peninsula

Red Hill Estate

A trip down along the Mornington Peninsula is a wonderful way to escape the Melbourne heat. A string of seaside villages line the coast of one of Victorian’s most picturesque wine regions, famed predominantly for its high quality pinots and chardonnays. Departing Melbourne around midday, we planned to visit a small (but good) selection of wineries, with Main Ridge Estate and Ten Minutes by Tractor being the standouts, both in terms of knowledgeable service and quality wines. The barrel-fermented Sauvignon Blanc at Ten Minutes by Tractor was voted Wine of the Day. We also liked Main Ridge’s delicious Pinots and the Red Hill Estate Cabernet. For lunch we opted for a more casual setting, settling in amongst the fragrant herb and vegetable garden for pizza, salad (and a little more pinot) at Montalto, with the vineyard stretching out below us.

Wine Country

Main Ridge Estate

Ten Minutes by Tractor

Alfresco dining at Montalto

Montalto

Red Hill Estate

Sorrento

St Kilda Sunset

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Driving back from the Mornington Peninsula yesterday we stopped in St Kilda to admire the bright orange sky as the sun dipped beyond the horizon.

The Boathouse.

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Situated in an old (and still functional) boathouse on the Pittwater side of Governor Phillip Park at Palm Beach, The Boathouse is everything you want from a beach café - a great vibe with good service, serious coffee and delicious food. The picture-perfect inside / outside dining areas provide an eclectic and cool mix of communal, private and picnic tables - choose from the shady front area, the lantern-strung deck overlooking the jetty or the rustic interior. But what got me hooked was that we were in Palmy over the busiest few days of the year, and yet the operation didn’t buckle.  The place was heaving and the staff were clearly having fun, and when you (finally) got to the end of the queue to order, you were greeted with a smile. For more details check out Terry Durack’s fab review in this morning’s Sydney Morning Herald. He loved the flathead. I loved the prawns!