Melbourne and More

For date night this week, I chose the fixed orienteering course around Weston Park. We walked around with our maps looking for the orange and white markers - see Him Outdoors helpfully pointing them out. Okay, those who know me well can now pick themselves up from the floor after incredulous laughter. 

We rewarded ourselves with bubbles and fish and chips from Snapper on the Lake.

The gang-gang cockatoo is a beautiful bird with mostly grey plumage and a red head and crest for the males. It ranges throughout south-eastern Australia - mainly in cool, wet forests and woodlands - and is the faunal emblem of the ACT. I spotted a couple in a tree right outside my window at work. I particularly like this tidbit from Wikipedia: 'It is easily identified by its distinctive call, which is described as resembling a creaky gate, or the sound of a cork being pulled from a wine bottle.'

And we had a trip to Melbourne to see some theatre and catch up with my dear friend, Sight for Sore Eyes.

Cocktails at a rooftop bar with Sight for Sore Eyes

As well as cocktails, there was breakfast.

Breakfast time at Higher Ground

Ricotta hotcake, maple syrup, seeds and grains, seasonal fruit, flowers

Walnut granola, buffalo yoghurt, rooftop honey, seasonal fruit, native riberry

Minced lamb fry-up, miso eggplant, fried eggs, barberries, smoked yoghurt, pine nut dukkah, sourdough

From the Plated and Sated series at Higher Ground

We walked through Melbourne centre and along the river to the art gallery. I love the public sculpture that is everywhere in this city. 

We went to a mind-bending (and very busy) Escher exhibition, about which, more later. I can spend much longer in art galleries than some, so I looked at the artwork at my leisure, leaving the other two to their own devices - these devices turned out to be the pop-up bar in the square outside selling Stomping Ground beers. The decor of the setting and the design of the cans was all extremely colourful and summery.

We went back to the hotel for a quick nap and a freshen up - I was pleased to see this considerate advice left on the bedside table. 

Keep away from small children - I do my best

In the evening we went to the Arts Centre, Playhouse to see Miriam Margoyles star in the Melbourne Theatre Company's production of Alan Bennett's The Lady in the Van. I was still in a cultural frame of mind, so I admired the artwork in the lobby. 

The next morning we went out to meet more friends for more breakfast.

Nutella Crepes

Statue outside Phancy Cafe

In the afternoon, we took Sight for Sore Eyes to lunch at one of our favourite hang-outs. Okay, so I know this looks like all we did was eat and drink, but... it's Melbourne, so bite me. 

Seafood linguini at Burnley Brewery

Beers tried were the Botanical Hoppy Sour (fabulously floral and botanical characters blend really well with the sourness - extremely enjoyable), Passionfuit Berliner Weisse (funky, sour and fruity) and the Vienna Lager (malty, light toast and hoppy).

Burnley Brewery Passionfruit Berliner Weisse 

Walking back to the hotel to pick up our bags, we passed these excellent examples of graffiti.

And this one belongs in the 'curious artwork in hotels' file. I kind of like it though.

It was a great weekend. I love seeing friends, but I am always very sad when they, or we, have to go. To cheer myself, it's good to know there are wonderful people in great places where I can visit!