We hired a car in Wollongong for a period of twelve days. The first day Peter took the car for a test drive along the coast North of Wollongong.
Via the Sea Cliff Bridge we went as far as Bald Hill.
The hang gliding hadn’t started yet on that day. There were already signs out that it would start soon.
From here you can see where we had come up along the Sea Cliff Bridge. We also had a brief stop near that little beach.
Along here you can walk to that little beach. We had stopped our car nearby.
We soon felt hungry and wanted to go some where for lunch. We actually did find a very nice place at the top of the escarpment where we had a lovely meal. We also took heaps of pictures from up there. I am going to publish some of these in my next post.
Exactly one week ago we splashed out on some cake in St.Kilda. After Peter and I had spent some time in Central Melbourne around Swanston Street, we met up with Martin and Lauren again. The four of us boarded a tram to St.Kilda.
This cake was placed in one of the beautiful boxes for us to take home.We had been looking for this particular place and were happy when we found it.We went inside and selected a few pieces of cake to have with some coffee.It was excellent cake!
And the coffee was great too.
The cake that we took home in the box turned out to be excellent too.
Uta in St KildaThis St Kilda tram took us back to the city
The following day, Friday, 19th April, Lauren did go back to Newcastle. Her flight left very, very early in the morning!
Martin helping his daughter to catch her flight.Lauren about to check in
Uta at the entrance of the State Library, Melbourne Thursday, 18th April, 2013
That Thursday was Lauren’s last day in Melbourne. She wanted to go to the Queen Victoria Markets on that day. Martin said he’d go with her. Peter and I announced that instead of going to the markets with them we’d pay the State Library a visit. Later on we could meet to go by tram to St. Kilda and splash out on some cake there!
We all caught the train from Essendon to Melbourne Central. The State Library was a few steps from there and the markets weren’t far away either. Before we went to the library Peter and I first of all looked for a place where we could sit down and have some morning tea. We soon found a lovely place that was just right for us.
During the early afternoon we met up with Martin and Lauren again and caught a tram to St. Kilda as planned. I’ll show pictures of St. Kilda and all the lovely cakes and Lauren’s departure to Newcastle in my next post.
When we met Noeleen the other day in Glenferrie Road, Hawthorn, there was a Readings Bookstore. We found out that in the State Library in Swanston Street, there is also a Readings Bookstore. I bought another book. It’s called a ‘Text Classics’. (textclassics.com.au) Copyright Robin Boyd Foundation 2010. They say ROBIN BOYD was arguably Australia’s most influential architect.
Somewhere near Swanston Street Peter saw these bikes that are apparently for hire.Where we had morning tea there were a great many mirrors.
There are some shops near this courtyard where we found this sign:
The Bunyip
All these monuments are to be seen near the library entrance. Opposite you see an add on the facade of a house.
Morning Tea! This is our tea tray at that nice place with the mirrors.
Peter, granddaughter Lauren and I had been waiting at Flinders Street Station for granddaughter Justine who was going to meet us there after work. It was a happy meeting after not having seen each other for sooo long!
Uta and granddaughters at the Yarra River
Dinner at Il PRIMO POSTO, Italian Restaurant
After dinner we strolled to a Gelato shop that was still open. We each had a little tub of this delicious gelato and sat down at a large table with a terrific view of the Yarra.
This was a lovely night out with the granddaughters. Justine caught the train back home from Flinders Street Station. Peter and I went with Lauren by train back to Essendon where our son Martin was waiting with the car to take us home.
Essendon is part of Melbourne. We went there to a beautiful Garden Centre called ‘Poyntons’. We admired all the wonderful displays and flowers and shrubs for sale. We went a bit further up where the cafe is situated. We had lunch there but no desert even though there was a good selection of cake available. They had some specially brewed local beer. Also freshly squeezed juices. Where we were sitting in the cafe we had a good view of the river Yarra. Our son Martin and granddaughter Lauren came with us to Poyntons. Martin drove the car there. Ample parking was available in a separate parking area.
After a 90 minute drive we arrived at Warburton. We had a very joyful family day at this peaceful, beautiful place with clear mountain air. The good weather lasted throughout the day. Only later in the afternoon as we were driving back to Essondon there were a few raindrops. We were so happy to see our lively, little great-granddaughters again. I think they could hardly remember us for it had been one whole year since we had seen them last.
Kia knows how to open mini-coconuts!
Each visitor was given one of these decorated wooden ducks. The decorations were done by the two little girls before lunch with a little help from their mum.
I am thrilled to get a beautifully decorated duck. The girls hand the ducks out very enthusiastically. They very much enjoy being able to give out some gifts.And this are the happy parents of these two lovely girls.
So we made it to the outback of New South Wales. For the last three days we’ve been travelling a lot in our beautiful hired car. Today we finally arrived in Mildura for a day’s rest on Friday. On Saturday we travel on to Melbourne.
This is a nighttime view from our Motelroom
Yesterday we were so tired after all this travelling that we went to sleep at 8 pm and woke up again at 4 am. It was of course still very dark outside. But a lot of lights were on. This is why Peter could take the above picture.
And this is what it looked like in day-light.This is the car we’re travelling in.The OutbackHere we had breakfast in Moss Vale on Wednesday.Here we had lunch on Thursday.
Here’s Bulli Beach again! We had another lovely time there last week on Tuesday. We decided we would stay there for lunch. And of course we had some coffee as well.
From where we were sitting we could look down to the swimming-pool.
Yesterday, that is on Sunday, 7th of April 2013, I opened another “Page”. It’s called Uta’s early Childhood. I was able to retrieve some of my early childhood pictures and published them in this “Page”. I have heaps and heaps more childhood pictures in my album, which is of course ancient. The pictures start with the day of my birth, which was on 21st of September 1934. I have at the moment some difficulties with my scanner. With Peter’s help I may eventually work something out how to do further scanning. However, for the next two weeks or so I can’t do anything about it. It’ll have to wait!
We have plans for the next two weeks! Early on Wednesday, this is the 10th of this month, we’re going to leave for a lovely little holiday in the country. We’re also going to spend some time in Melbourne with our son and his extended family. We are very much looking forward to finally see all the Melburnians again. Also going to see another granddaughter who’s coming to Melbourne from Newcastle during her school holidays. This granddaughter we missed out on seeing a year ago. So we’re glad we can finally see her again.
We plan to be back home on Saturday, 21st of this month.
AuntyUta 