Day 25 – Lazy Day.

I woke up late and sorted out some breakfast. New Zealand is +13hours from the UK, which actually makes it really easy to work out the time difference. Stuart and Lizzie were both at work so I decided just to chill around the house for the day and plan what I want to do. I skyped my parents and I think we ended up speaking for about 3 hours as it’s the first real time we’ve spoken since I’ve been away, so we definitely had a lot to talk about! After that, I chilled out in the garden, watered the plants, put some washing on (which I think I’m too excited about), read some of my book and read ‘Jasons NZ travel guide’.

Once they were home we popped down to the RSA club for some drinks and where I met a lot of local people.

Day 21 – Queen Victoria Market.

7:30am - This has to be the earliest I’ve woken up since leaving Perth but it was all for a good reason and that reason was breakfast (and to see Valerie)! Valerie’s flight back to Sydney was at midday so we arranged to meet at 8:30. Eventually I found the right Crown hotel entrance (why make a hotel so big?!) and we were on our way.  We only walked around the corner to one of the restaurants on the southbank, it was a pretty chilly start to the day but it soon brightened up. After a lovely catch up it was time to say goodbye but I shall be staying with Valerie when I’m in Sydney in March so it’s only bye for now.

I walked back to Flinders Street where I jumped on the free tram to Queens Street to make my way to the Queen Victoria Market. This market runs 4 days a week and sells pretty much everything; fruit, vegetables, clothes, souvenirs etc. Shruthi had said about going to this market so she came and met me. When the market started to close, this is when it really came alive! People snatching up every last bargain they could and fruit being sold by the boxes for just a dollar or two. Absolute mayhem!

We still had quite a bit of the day left and we weren’t quite sure how to spend it. We had mentioned about going to the cinema before so we looked at what was on around us. The Wolf of Wall Street is the film of the moment so we decided to go and check that out at the Holgs cinema in Melbourne central. Although it was quite a long film (3 hours to be exact!) I’m not quite sure what to make of it, the whole thing was pretty crazy really.

Day 19 – Breakfast, Royal Botanic Gardens & Yoga.

Shruthi had the morning off so we went for brunch along Lygon street which is just up from where my hostel is. We ate in a place called Stuzzichino and ohhh my it was amazing! I went for one of the specials, this consisted of grilled ciabatta with avocado and feta mash topped with 2 poached eggs, delicious and very filling.

From here we walked down to Federation Square and caught the free Australian open tram to the tennis where our plan was to walk to the Royal Botanic Gardens. We didn’t make it as far as there before we decided just to pass out on the floor. It was hotter and less windy today compared to the rest of my time so far in Melbourne. We walked across the Yarra river and saw quite a few rowers training on the water.

When Shruthi had to go back to work I decided to walk back into the central area, on walking Heather was in contact and she was nearby with a friend so I met up with them. We walked around a couple of shops but slowly made our way up Swanston Street back to the hostel. 

I noticed a poster when I arrived about a free yoga class that is taken on the roof of the hostel every Thursday evening, so we decided to check it out! My yoga skills are no where near as good as they used to be but it was a fun way to spend some time doing some much needed stretching after sitting in arena chairs for 2 days straight at the tennis!

I said my final farewell to Heather as she is off to Sydney tomorrow but who knows what the future holds and whether we will meet again!