TAPA LAND... Movida Nextdoor

The best restaurants, bars, and little eateries I've happened upon are situated in the little alleyways and side streets of this maze of a city we call Melbourne.

To discover these hard to find restaurants, and watering holes, you either have to

A. Take the time to let yourself get lost in the city

or

B. Pry the information out of a local

After meeting my new friend who's been living in the city for quite some time for a drink one of Melbournes best kept secrets, Misty Place, we were in the mood for some small bites.

Just two doors down, Rikesh guided me to a sensational tapas bar where every night is like the weekend.

MOVIDA NEXTDOOR

Movida translates to "movement" in Spanish,

and you're sure to find plenty of it on any night of the week at this cozy restaurant.

I'm told there's almost always guaranteed to be a wait list ,

but boy, is the food worth it.

Movida has a more than satisfying

selection of vinos to choose from while your waiting at your wooden tables for your tapas to arrive.

FOOD?

The Ajo Blanco was my favorite of the tapas.

This $4 mouthwatering Chilled Almond Soup

with Grape Granita.

Followed by a little Cured Sheeps Milk...

We also had baby Calamari in Squid Ink

and a few other nightly specials scribbled

on the chalkboard above the eclectic bar,

but they were so delicious that there was no time for a photo opp.

And to finish?

Who doesn't love Churro's with Chocolate Dipping Sauce?!

I give MOVIDA NEXTDOOR a 2 Thumbs up!

http://www.movida.com.au/next_door.html

Just Around The River Bend...

After a 50 hour work week at the new ball and chain of a job, and a little lack of sleep, I was ready for some peace and quiet. The clouds parted and after a solid 11 days of rain, the sun was finally shining!

Feeling a bit overstimulated, I was looking for something serene in the big city. I felt like a walk. With no destination in mind, I headed south toward the Yarra River.

After crossing the Flinders Street tracks,

my eyes fixated on the nearby park.

The path enticed me and

just a football field or so away from the big buildings, roaring engines, honking horns, and noisy sirens, I found my little slice of heaven.

Established in 1846, the Melbourne Botanical Gardens have 52,000 different plants

and are home to around 10,000 different species from all over the world!

A few of my faves:

The Secretive Swans

Not So Tiny Turtles

The Eerie Eels!

And even a bee pollenating a vibrant flower...

(Can you find the Bee in this picture?)

What a breath of fresh air.

SU(SHhhhhhhhhhhhh)I

What's the first thing I'll say when someone asks where I want to go out to dinner?

If you know me at all, then you know how much I love sushi.

These little shotgun dining hallways are scattered

all around the city in nooks and crannies for the bustling masses.

Displayed along the storefront, they're similar to a sushi boat back home.

Maybe not the most creative, but these rolls are ready fast.

A "ready in 15 seconds" California, Spicy Tuna, or Salmon Roll for an afternoon snack?

These"hand rolls" are nothing like the US version, and they are served togo in an open faced bag or a quick eat in at on of the little tables. To actually eat the handroll is rather tricky. You see, it's just like a regular sushi roll, but they don't actually cut it at all.

At my first (and last) attempt at biting off the log-like sushi, only about 1/2 the roll made it in my mouth and the other 1/2 made a somewhat graceful landing in my lap and all over the counter. The next time I was smart enough to request it cut into 4 smaller pieces. I had a great time watching other tourists attempt the "hand roll", but the locals seem to have it down.

The hunger quenching snack in-between meals or not actually hungry enough for a lunch is mere chump change at $2.50 a roll.

Fast, Fresh (enough), and Filling.

MeLbOUrNes MorNinG fiX: THE MESS HALL

Melbourne is in the midst of Cafe-land where coffee lovers crave their fix each and every morning. When asking locals which direction I should point my stomach in, several advised I check out this little "brekkie" hotspot. From my first step into THE MESS HALL I was greeted with a friendly smile and outstanding service.

Situated in the Central Business District, you will always find professionals among others grabbing their 6:30 am coffee on the way into the office, or having an espresso and nibble just about brunch time.

With a single prop airplane as their logo, "mess hall" comes from the aviation term where the men gathered to eat meals together. From the interior design to brown paper menus, The Mess Hall has simplicity written all over it. The concentrated menu allows an easy choice hence more time for enjoyable conversation with your fellow company.

Breakfast, lunch, or just coffee for ONE?? You're in luck. There are 3 front facing "VIP" window stools perfect for people watching on busy Bourke Street.

My pick: The (steaming hot) Scrambled Eggs with smoked Salmon and herbs on Sourdough Toast and add a side of avocado. Warning! Portions are hearty, so prepare to have a small or non-existant lunch. I will certainly be back for more!!

American In Oz(stralia): There's No Place Like Home...

Take-off time again!

Destination: MELBOURNE.

Feeling the toasty weather, I slipped through the glass doors just outside the airport to catch my shuttle in Melbourne. The 17 hour flight I just disembarked from was a little bumpier than I anticipated. At least I was able to sit next to someone in my line of work: Therapist/Bartender: same thing right? With sleep not on my side, I wandered aimlessly up and down the corridors trying to find the little black shuttle with no luck.

A nice aged Aboriginal man directs me in another circle before I see the blatant "SKYBUS" that had been staring me smack in the face the entire time. I lucked out and caught a free shuttle from the airport directly to the steps of "The Mansion": vaulted ceilings that when your on top bunk you feel privileged, not suffocated. Standing up, I couldn't even touch the ceiling. From the golden light fixture that dropped 3 1/2 feet attached to the large white ball of light, to the flat screen TV in the corner, this place was vintage with just a few upgrades. The only downfall was the lack of air-conditioning, which I haven't come close to needing so far. This is where I would be spending the next 6 days sharing a room with 6 strangers; three girls from Holland, two lads from France, and an Australian from Sydney in a pear tree. We quickly became a happy family, rooting eachother on for local jobs to stay for the summer, and swapping travel stories from all over the globe.

Going from the laid back summer life on the Island of Nantucket or Queenstown, New Zealand, to the City life was a bit of a culture shock. When I eventually fell asleep night after night, it wasn't to the peaceful sounds of the birds chirping anymore.

I now had the purring of the by-passing mufflers, the crude caws from the ever overpopulating crows, the loud locust buzzing, and the rain shooting off the spinning tires as the light turned from red to green. I no longer felt the need for an alarm clock. The morning traffic now wakes me up on the 6:30 am commute, or if I'm lucky, maybe a siren quickly buzzing by or two from a late night crime at 5 a.m. after the bars have let out.

From taking the subway and tram, and not worrying about getting parking tickets all day long, to the hustle and bustle of the 9-5 corporates rushing for their morning caffeine fix or afternoon lunch at their favorite local cafe, city life is most definitely different than the simple life I have been living for the past two summers. With an endless amount of exploring to do, I am thrilled to be here.

So enjoy...

just as I am enjoying be an American in Oz.

There's no place like home...

or having too many

Earl... brings back memories

Thirty-six hours before the storm, I perch myself on the shore just off of Eel Point. The birds are huddling close together on the beach. It is far too windy to soar today. Waves are crashing a little harder. My bright yellow beach towel is held down by only a fist sized rock and the September Issue of Vogue (the magazine outweighing the rock tremendously). As I look left, a gust of wind picks up and sand slaps me in the face.

In town, everything looks typical. People are walking around, shopping. Children in strollers being pushed by mothers and nannies down main street. We're still busy at work later that night. Not too many have left the Island, hoping for the best.

After breakfast, I notice workers boarding up local businesses, some with spray painted slogans like "Let it Blow, Let it Blow, Let it Blow", or "Bring it on Earl." Main street looks like a construction zone, but people are still out doing damage to their credit cards and checking accounts.

I go out for a 5p.m. sushi dinner with a few of the girls, get home to finish my last minute chores before I expect the power to go out. Earl comes packing punches and will bear the brunt of the storm as they say on the weather channel over and over…and over again. I sit alone in my house digesting my dinner before I head out for a Hurricane cocktail. I lend an ear to the howling wind and the raindrops tickling my window. As the light tapping turns into a loud knocking, and I eventually have to shut my window and deny the refreshing breeze.

If nothing else, this storm,

even though much less strong than previously thought,

is a reminder to many of us of that fateful storm on August 29th, 2005.

Hurricane Katrina changed my life as well as countless others.

This is to remembering those in New Orleans.

September... Getting back on Track.

Hi there! Remember me? I've been missing for a few months. The summer has kidnapped me in Nantucket, but now, it's September and time to start planning my winter travels.... and My MAGIC 8 BALL tells me I'll be heading to South East Asia... So stay tuned. But here's a little piece of info that I wanted to share from someone who motivated me to get back to my goals today...

There are people you come across in your life that help you get back on track without even realizing it. They don't have to, particularly, give you any advice at all. You may meet them in the grocery store, work out next to them at the Gym, or they could even be one of the many customers at your bar. But when you come across them something inside you changes your life for the better. You get re-energized and motivated to get back on track from your sidetracked goals you may have unnoticingly left behind.

You look at how they live their life, how they they treat other people, and how warm they are to others. You see they are achieving their goals and making a difference in not only others lives, but enhancing their own. This is no every day occurrence, but when it happens, it's so special. that match lights up inside you again. You get the extra boost of energy you need to realize, once again, that anything is possible.

So thank you passer-bys...

customers...

friends...

September is here and I am ready for some new challenges!