Gotta begin today with a big shout out to Moms and Pops! Today is their 50th wedding anniversary. 50TH. That’s more than 16 years than I’ve been alive. They’ve been married for more than 16 years that I’ve been alive. Unbelievable. Had it not been for them, my sister and I wouldn’t be here (ha!), nor would I be the person I am. So today, we begin by recognizing the wonderfulness that are my parents. Love y’all!

OK, so back to the travels. Had a little snafu in trying to get from the airport to the hostel. I had pre-booked a taxi just because my flight was getting in relatively late and I didn’t want to deal with making/figuring out travel arrangements once arriving. So this company, Rideshares, sent me a text that if I needed to get in contact with my driver I should call them.

I collected my bag and I didn’t see anyone, so I called. They told me to walk to Terminal 1. So I walked from Terminal 4 to 1. I get there, and call again, saying I don’t see anyone. They say that someone had called looking for me. I don’t know why they didn’t just give the driver my number, or let me call the driver directly. So, I wait for a bit longer and then a fellow comes up. I say my name, he says yes, and we start going.

It’s Cristal clear that dude is upset. I’m thinking to myself, alright my man, yes we were misinformed and you are upset at these people, but you are in the customer service business! At least offer to carry one of the bags and/or be polite, especially because you trying to get that tip!

In either case we make our way back to T4 and get to the car park, load up in the vehicle, and make our way over. Turns out that he was sick with a fever, so him being visibly upset make all the more sense and was easily forgiven. I would be in a terrible mood as well. The car ride allowed us to lighten the mood, and we discussed the usual: politics, economics, housing markets, and where to go and for which activities. The ride ended quite pleasantly, and we parted ways as he dropped me to my hostel. He didn’t want a tip either, so that was pretty cool.

All I wanted to do was shower and sleep! Got to the room, and the existing two people were really nice and turned on their individual lights so I could see and quickly get organized. Did so, and quickly showered and got right into bed.

Slept so, so well. I was worried that it was a little too hot in the room, and being on the top bunk, I may have been a little too uncomfortable. I think I was just tired from the day. Knocked out and woke up a little later than I wanted, around 8:00AM I think.

Went downstairs and Y&M’d in the ‘chill lounge’. Nice space. The hostel is really nice, they can hold about 276 people and they were at around 200. There is a bar downstairs as well, where I’m hoping they’ll show the WC final.

Got cleaned up and made my way out. A person in the previous hostel said that the National Gallery Victoria was a great museum to check out. I made my way over to The Hardware Societe for breakfast. It was down this little alley on Hardware Street, and there were lines to get into both Mojo White and The Hardware Societe. 

Fortunately because I’m only a table for 1 I was seated within 15 minutes. I’ve found that both here and in NZ when you are a table for one they sit you at this tiny tiny table i.e. a ledge where your food is supposed to be placed. Got a latte, a croissant, and a lobster benedict with a citrus hollandaise sauce. The croissant was good, but this lobster benny was SO GOOD.

Got wrapped up with breaking fasts and made my way over to the National Gallery Victoria, about a 12 minute walk. Really quick and easy, and the sun was shining so it wasn’t too cold.

Got in and checked my coat and backpack. Then started waiting in line, because, you know, thats what everyone else was doing. When I got to the front, it turns out that the ticket purchasing line as for the MOMA and NGV partnership, so I was able to see works that would be at MOMA in AUS.

I was slightly discouraged at first like, why did I wait 30 minutes when I could just walk around the museum and see the rest of the exhibits for free?

Totally worth it. Got to see Dali, Picasso, Van Gogh, and Frida! The museum, much like in Wellington, did a great job of juxtaposing both modern/contemporary with old school. One exhitbit was strictly about feminism and taking a critical lens to the representation of women in the field of art. Here are some of my faves (also where I knocked out on Saturday night, and am continuing today [Monday]):

Museum was a wonderful wonderful experience. They had some nice pan-Asian pieces, as well as your traditional Greek pieces. Then they had the all-too-classic hall of white people flexing their wealth in absurd portraits. More or less skipped those because we’ve seen them countless times.

Ok so left the museum, and although fairly crisp outside (that scarf was handy), it was really beautiful. 

I then meandered trying to find a coffee shop for some tea and a place to be able to charge my phone because all the photo taking was drainingggg the batts. All these places were crazy busy and/or sans power capabilities. I found this café adjacent to the public library and the manager, Clement, was nice enough to let me sip on some tea and charge for a little as they were closing. He’s been to the US frequently and has a working knowledge of NJ, so that was a nice touch.

Then, it was time to cocktail. I had been looking online, and hearing recommendations, and decided to check out this ‘secret’ bar Eau de Vie. I tried finding it, and they were pretty on point about keeping it a secret.

After passing the door (below) 3 times, finally found my way in and sat at the bar. Really awesome staff, and probably one of the widest selections I’ve seen in AUS, rivaling that one bar in AKL. They had a THICK whiskey and cocktail selection. Moderately priced given that they are ‘special’. Got a rendition of a Manhattan that had sesame oil in it! It was super savory with a bite. Then had one other cocktail that was also delicious. Met two people at the bar who had ordered eggplant fries, so I had some of them. Wow they were so delicious. Really nice time at this spot.

So this was a wonderful beginning to the evening, perhaps too wonderful. Went to dinner feeling fantastic. Conveniently, dinner was a 30 second walk, The French Brasserie.

Ok, so I probably should have known that going to a French spot was going to be a little…Frenchy. And it was. The space was really nice, open and expansive. I had pre-ordered a three course tasting menu. The food was good, but not as delicious as the tasting menus at The Gantry or ParisButter. Began with some charcutes, had the salmon, and then the creme brûlée to wrap it up.

My intention was to leave and head to The Everleigh or Black Pearl, two cocktail bars that people in SYD and bartenders at Eau de Vie had recommended. I was so full. It was also chilly outside. The internal monologue went something like “we should go…back to the hostel”. Got back, showered, spoke to Mohammad, another bunkmate, and began writing this post. Promptly fell asleep while puting, had to put everything down and knock out. Went to bed at around 9:30PM. I guess I was tired from the day? Also full, very full. I also wanted to get to bed early because the following day was touring The Great Ocean Road and I had to be up early, especially if I wanted to Y&M. So it worked out well, and I was fast asleep.