What a great day!!!
Alright, I am going to write a little out of order. We have done some fun stuff since the last posting but today was fantastic and fresh in my mind. So... I am posting today's activities first.
First of all its fall, my favorite time of year and it was a beautiful sunny, crisp day. Not unlike and sunny fall day in Portland.
We took the tram into the city center and then transferred over to the City Circle tram. This is a tourist tram that loops around the city center. At each stop, there is a recording that tells you sites nearby, etc. So informational as well. Ben didn't like it though. He felt that since he was on school holidays, he was also on an educational break. Too bad for him! The tram was fun and we actually got to parts of the city I hadn't been to. So, definitely worth while.
The next stop was the Greek section of the City Center for lunch. We ate at a Greek restaurant. We have been to two others in and around the city. We love greek food now. Its much more than Gyros. We had lamb, fried cheese, rice rolled in grape leaves and Pita. There are actual Greek names to these things but I can't remember so its easier to describe.
Generally, Greek food is fresh and also includes alot of seafood. We didn't have any today though. There is also lots of Feta, Olives and they squeeze lemon on everything. At most Greek restaurants you can get a set price dinner where you get several courses. We have done this and its soooooo good. So... I will give you the run down. You start out with dips and pita and then move onto some sort of squid or octupus. At one restaurant it was served deep fried at another, the octupus was steamed. I was a litte leary but it was excellent. With the octupus, we were served the fried cheese with lemon on top. Its salty like cheese curds but not coated in any sort of batter. This stuff is seriously addictive. Then you move onto the rice/grape leaf thing which has a strange tangy flavor. Yummy. Then you are served steamed prawns with the heads still on. Nowhere in this country can you get headless prawns. You get the body, antennas and beady eyes. After the prawns, its onto the meat course where you get lamb patties, lamb kebabs, roasted lamb, shaved lamb and so on. Wonderful!!!! Then at last its dessert. Baklava, custard and some wierd but yet tasty gelatine block made with rose water and rolled in powdered sugar. And of course greek coffee. I didn't try it as it looked like the sludge at the bottom of the pot. I opted for an italian cappucino.
I have side tracked enough. After our incredibly yummy and filling Greek lunch we moved onto ChinaTown to check it out. There were a ton of restaurants and some shops. Of course this was china town in the City Center. There are also many other pockets of Asian neighbourhoods in Melbourne where there are restaurants, markets and shopping. Obviously being so close to SE Asia, there are alot of immigrants and there is a huge influence here.
After Chinatown, we took the kids bowling. Jake and I love the Bowling Alleys here. First of all they are all very retro modern. Very 60's lounge like with the vinyl couches and colorful lighting. Also, like all of the hotels here, they all have a lounge which is not sealed off from the lanes like in the states. You know, as a kid, the door you were forbidden to open and walk through. Here its wide open and just another section of the alleys. The ambience is very Austin Powers like but with current music playing. Rock n Bowl is 24/7. Also, the lanes don't have the little computer with the scoring where you type the names, etc. The workers take care of it at the front desk. You just watch the screen above. Instead each lane has a swanky vinyl Austin Powers couch and coffee table set. So, today for example, Jake and I ordered Martini's kicked back on the couches and watched the kids bowl. Now this is family entertainment!!!
Alright, I forgot to mention that on the way to the lanes we stopped of at a great tea shop; a tea lovers paradise. I think that the owners are asian and they only sell loose leaf tea. They had everything from traditional english to asian, south american and african teas. They even had a black tea infused with chocolate. All the teas are out so you can smell all of them before buying. I was looking for some green tea. I think they had about 50-75 different kinds. They had some infused with blueberry, raspberry, rose and the list goes on. Needless to say I purchased a green tea sampler with the blueberry infused green tea. I am drinking it right now and its soooo good. Not too fruity but very flavorful. I will definitely be back.
So after the lanes we mosied on over to a chocolate cafe. I have seen one in a neighborhood near us, so we will have to try that one but today we were at one in the city. This place is all about chocolate. Its like a coffee bar where all the snacks are chocolate based. Rachel had the milk chocolate fondue with strawberries. Ben had the belgian waffle drenched in strawberries and chocolate. I had the chocolate souffle, can you say dark chocolate?? To drink a cappucino with milk chocolate drizzled over the top. Jake had the chocolate chip muffin with milk chocolate dipping sauce. He also had a hot chocolate which was served as a cup of milk over a candle ( kind of like those potpourri pots that you heat with a candle) with the chocolate chips on the side. So, as the milk warmed up he slowly added the chips to taste. This was a winner for both Jake and Rachel! The only downside, they need a dark chocolate dipping sauce. But still very decadent and wonderful.
So, by now we were full, so it was time for a walk. In the city center the have a store called Big W which is like a Walmart. So, we decided to check it out. I am glad we did. Not that I am a big fan of Walmart but we finally found a place that we can purchase large, well priced packages of TP, laundry powder, fabric softerner and so on. So I was happy we checked it out. I have heard that Costco is coming ot Melbourne by 2006. Can't wait. I think the Aussies will eat it up.
After Big W we explored more of the city. However, it was dark by now. Its fall and we turned the clocks back a few weeks ago so by 6:30 dusk has fallen. Then, we went to Fed Square ( somewhat similar to Pioneer Square) and rode the big Ferris Wheel which is in town. After that we caught the Tram back home.
What a fun relaxing day. Although throughout Jake and I made our list of things (besides family and Friends) that we miss about the US. Here goes (please hold the tears back as its fairly sentimental...)
Altoids, if its the curiously strong mint from England, why the hell isn't it in Australia. Mentos suck!!!!!
Carmex. I really need my carmex now that fall has hit and winter is around the corner. Blistex just doesn't cut it!!!
Big Red gum or any sort of cinnamon gum. This is Jakes request as I am not big on chewing gum. If you know my upbringing you'll understand. My mother hated the sound of gum snapping in your mouth. Needless to say it never lasted more then 2 minutes before she'd make you spit it out. So what was the point of buying any.
Now some of my friends will truly understand this one. I need my Bath and Body Works, Antibacterial soap with the little granules in it. A friend of Jake's at work was just in the states and brought back four bottles for his wife. She gave me one on the condition that I get a replacement when visitors come and visit. I forgot how much I love this stuff. It's like an a mini spa for your hands each time you use it. So, if you plan to visit, if you could bring a few bottles, I would be highly appreciative.
Well that's it for today. I hope you enjoyed the recap. Keep checking in as I do plan to play catch up this week and post our adventures from previous weeks.
jen :)
First of all its fall, my favorite time of year and it was a beautiful sunny, crisp day. Not unlike and sunny fall day in Portland.
We took the tram into the city center and then transferred over to the City Circle tram. This is a tourist tram that loops around the city center. At each stop, there is a recording that tells you sites nearby, etc. So informational as well. Ben didn't like it though. He felt that since he was on school holidays, he was also on an educational break. Too bad for him! The tram was fun and we actually got to parts of the city I hadn't been to. So, definitely worth while.
The next stop was the Greek section of the City Center for lunch. We ate at a Greek restaurant. We have been to two others in and around the city. We love greek food now. Its much more than Gyros. We had lamb, fried cheese, rice rolled in grape leaves and Pita. There are actual Greek names to these things but I can't remember so its easier to describe.
Generally, Greek food is fresh and also includes alot of seafood. We didn't have any today though. There is also lots of Feta, Olives and they squeeze lemon on everything. At most Greek restaurants you can get a set price dinner where you get several courses. We have done this and its soooooo good. So... I will give you the run down. You start out with dips and pita and then move onto some sort of squid or octupus. At one restaurant it was served deep fried at another, the octupus was steamed. I was a litte leary but it was excellent. With the octupus, we were served the fried cheese with lemon on top. Its salty like cheese curds but not coated in any sort of batter. This stuff is seriously addictive. Then you move onto the rice/grape leaf thing which has a strange tangy flavor. Yummy. Then you are served steamed prawns with the heads still on. Nowhere in this country can you get headless prawns. You get the body, antennas and beady eyes. After the prawns, its onto the meat course where you get lamb patties, lamb kebabs, roasted lamb, shaved lamb and so on. Wonderful!!!! Then at last its dessert. Baklava, custard and some wierd but yet tasty gelatine block made with rose water and rolled in powdered sugar. And of course greek coffee. I didn't try it as it looked like the sludge at the bottom of the pot. I opted for an italian cappucino.
I have side tracked enough. After our incredibly yummy and filling Greek lunch we moved onto ChinaTown to check it out. There were a ton of restaurants and some shops. Of course this was china town in the City Center. There are also many other pockets of Asian neighbourhoods in Melbourne where there are restaurants, markets and shopping. Obviously being so close to SE Asia, there are alot of immigrants and there is a huge influence here.
After Chinatown, we took the kids bowling. Jake and I love the Bowling Alleys here. First of all they are all very retro modern. Very 60's lounge like with the vinyl couches and colorful lighting. Also, like all of the hotels here, they all have a lounge which is not sealed off from the lanes like in the states. You know, as a kid, the door you were forbidden to open and walk through. Here its wide open and just another section of the alleys. The ambience is very Austin Powers like but with current music playing. Rock n Bowl is 24/7. Also, the lanes don't have the little computer with the scoring where you type the names, etc. The workers take care of it at the front desk. You just watch the screen above. Instead each lane has a swanky vinyl Austin Powers couch and coffee table set. So, today for example, Jake and I ordered Martini's kicked back on the couches and watched the kids bowl. Now this is family entertainment!!!
Alright, I forgot to mention that on the way to the lanes we stopped of at a great tea shop; a tea lovers paradise. I think that the owners are asian and they only sell loose leaf tea. They had everything from traditional english to asian, south american and african teas. They even had a black tea infused with chocolate. All the teas are out so you can smell all of them before buying. I was looking for some green tea. I think they had about 50-75 different kinds. They had some infused with blueberry, raspberry, rose and the list goes on. Needless to say I purchased a green tea sampler with the blueberry infused green tea. I am drinking it right now and its soooo good. Not too fruity but very flavorful. I will definitely be back.
So after the lanes we mosied on over to a chocolate cafe. I have seen one in a neighborhood near us, so we will have to try that one but today we were at one in the city. This place is all about chocolate. Its like a coffee bar where all the snacks are chocolate based. Rachel had the milk chocolate fondue with strawberries. Ben had the belgian waffle drenched in strawberries and chocolate. I had the chocolate souffle, can you say dark chocolate?? To drink a cappucino with milk chocolate drizzled over the top. Jake had the chocolate chip muffin with milk chocolate dipping sauce. He also had a hot chocolate which was served as a cup of milk over a candle ( kind of like those potpourri pots that you heat with a candle) with the chocolate chips on the side. So, as the milk warmed up he slowly added the chips to taste. This was a winner for both Jake and Rachel! The only downside, they need a dark chocolate dipping sauce. But still very decadent and wonderful.
So, by now we were full, so it was time for a walk. In the city center the have a store called Big W which is like a Walmart. So, we decided to check it out. I am glad we did. Not that I am a big fan of Walmart but we finally found a place that we can purchase large, well priced packages of TP, laundry powder, fabric softerner and so on. So I was happy we checked it out. I have heard that Costco is coming ot Melbourne by 2006. Can't wait. I think the Aussies will eat it up.
After Big W we explored more of the city. However, it was dark by now. Its fall and we turned the clocks back a few weeks ago so by 6:30 dusk has fallen. Then, we went to Fed Square ( somewhat similar to Pioneer Square) and rode the big Ferris Wheel which is in town. After that we caught the Tram back home.
What a fun relaxing day. Although throughout Jake and I made our list of things (besides family and Friends) that we miss about the US. Here goes (please hold the tears back as its fairly sentimental...)
Altoids, if its the curiously strong mint from England, why the hell isn't it in Australia. Mentos suck!!!!!
Carmex. I really need my carmex now that fall has hit and winter is around the corner. Blistex just doesn't cut it!!!
Big Red gum or any sort of cinnamon gum. This is Jakes request as I am not big on chewing gum. If you know my upbringing you'll understand. My mother hated the sound of gum snapping in your mouth. Needless to say it never lasted more then 2 minutes before she'd make you spit it out. So what was the point of buying any.
Now some of my friends will truly understand this one. I need my Bath and Body Works, Antibacterial soap with the little granules in it. A friend of Jake's at work was just in the states and brought back four bottles for his wife. She gave me one on the condition that I get a replacement when visitors come and visit. I forgot how much I love this stuff. It's like an a mini spa for your hands each time you use it. So, if you plan to visit, if you could bring a few bottles, I would be highly appreciative.
Well that's it for today. I hope you enjoyed the recap. Keep checking in as I do plan to play catch up this week and post our adventures from previous weeks.
jen :)
posted by jjniesen at 10:01 PM
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