I’m back from Rosebud shore! Apologies for the long hiatus; I was in Melbourne for three days and then at the Mornington Peninsula from the 29th of December until today.
Recap of the past 10 days:
Day 1: Cricket in Melbourne. From 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. we watched Australia play England in what was one of the most boring games I have ever sat through. I knew little about cricket before, and still can’t tell you much about the (cough) “sport”, but England was at bat the entire day scoring some-250 points, and there was a lunch break and a break for tea time. It was really bizarre. We did dress up in green and gold and wear face paint, which anyone from my color war days knows how much I love a good face paint.
We went out in the city to this awesome bar called Section 8. Drinks are served from a trailer in the back of an alleyway covered in grafitti. I quote a cocktail description on the menu: “sweet dreams of gold and plunder await the scallywag who drinks this brew”.
Day 2: Brunch at Orange and then shopping down Chapel Street, though not for long enough as the stores were endless! Vintage, second-hand, design shops, boutiques, and tons of restaurants. I can’t wait to go back!
Then dinner and drinks with Rose, Annie, and her friend Sarah in St. Kilda. Sushi and a gorgeous view of the sun setting.
Day 3: Rosebud! We packed Annie’s car and headed south to a town called Rosebud on the Mornington Peninsula, which is about an hours drive to Melbourne and at the southern coast of Australia. We rented a house for a week, and while it sleeps 16 one night we had 25 people spend the night!
We themed the nights at Rosebud: Pirate, Tight and Bright, Hawaiian, and Jersey Shore for New Years. Annie is the drama teacher at her school and brought her costume box along, which made dressing up all the more fun.
Days 4 – 8: beach, beer, BBQ, watching the first season of Arrested Development, re-enacting the Ape run, beach cricket, poker and many a card game, crossword puzzles, and lots of relaxation.
Day 9: Jess, Annie, Rose, Bec, and I drove down to Sorrento and took the ferry to Queenscliff and then drove about an hour to the start of the Great Ocean Road, which is known as one of the most scenic drives in Australia.
Day 10: A relaxing morning at the Peninsula Hot Springs in Rosebud: pools of all different temperatures, a steam room, sauna, Turkish steam bath, and spa treatments. Lunch of tapas – cauliflower and blue cheese spread, pumpkin and sage flatbreads, Spanish olives – and then an afternoon at the beach in nearby Dromana.
Alright, that recap wasn’t nearly detailed enough. More to come as I remember it. Happy New Year to everyone back at home!
