Melbourne peninsula

A couple days have passed again in this laid back country. On Thursday Tiia has her first real holiday. She slept (as usual) till quite late so I had a morning run by a lake close to their place. The first fifteen minutes I could be alone but then suddenly, I don't know where all the people appeared from, there were loads of walkers and joggers. Austarlians are quite crazy for sports. You can always see people running or cycling. What comes to the food they seem not to be so healthy but still the appearance is important and that's why running is popular. Even in the city center you see people running through wearing their tiniest jogging clothing. And that seems to be all very normal.

What are the main attractions in Melbourne? Shopping and eating. That's also how me and Tiia ended up spending our Thursday. We had creppes at French cafe. Then we just wandered around on the streets and one piece of clothing us both - I bought a nice top, Australian design. But do not think it's cheap to do shopping here. Eating in the restaurants is cheap, half the price from Europian prices. But phew, clothes and shoes are just the same price, or more expensive.

On Friday I visited NGV, National Gallery of Victoria. As I entered the building there started a classical concert. I had a quick look of contemporary art and European paintings and sculpture. I have never experienced that kind of feeling in a museum; was so overwhelming to look at paintings at the same time as the orchestra was playing Mozart, all this live. There was also a large section of Dutch and Flemish paintings.

On Friday eve we arrived here in Blairgowrie where have now spent two nights. It is a small town between Sorrento and Rye, two small town also on this peninsula. The activieties here are quite much sea and beach related. The first eve we had a traditional bbq. Lamb chops, T-bones and sausages. Very heavy but oh so very tasty!

Yesterday we took a drive here on the peninsula. Eukalyptus trees, golf courses and fields were the most I saw. We visited a strawberry farm which had their opening yesterday. unfortunately we weren't allowed to go and pick the strawberries. But something better: we had some wine, alcohol tasting. Tasty wines which all had strawberries. I also bought a bottle of Pinot Gris Strawberry wine, not very cheap, but different and very delicious - that's why I put my money on it. We also visited a vineyard and had a few glasses there.

It has not been too warm here (not cold either). Swimming you cannot even think of, it's less than 15C degrees. And as the currents are so strong from down south it never gets really hot. In the end of January the sea would be nicely warm but then already the weather gets chillier. Swimming in the bay is nicer but at the moment I couldn't think of dipping in. Walking on the beach is still nice when ever and we had a walk wathing good clear waves for surfers. Incredible how blue the water can be.

In the evening yesterday Lib (Ben's Mom) cooked us seafood. A visit to a fish shop was nice. A-quality fish and not expensive, as here fishing is done a lot. Tasty food, indeed!

Now it's Sunday morning and soon we'll head to Great Ocean Road. We have lent Ben's Dad's one car. It's yellow BMW, old model. I hope it doesn't fall apart before we've done our road trip. I have seen so many nice pictures of the views on the way where we're heading that I hope to capture some nice pics myself.

Erika