Looks like a white Christmas...

It looks like we had a white Xmas after all down here...they are not joking when they say Melbourne is the city with four seasons in one day, just like the Crowded House song.

A drive on the Great Ocean Road

It's always good to get away from the city once in a while if only to breath some fresher air. There never seems to be enough consecutive days off work to enjoy a proper getaway from the daily grind, so when they present themselves, it's a good idea to put them to use. We went on a short camping trip on the great ocean road, saw some nature, drove on some curvy roads and one of us even went swimming. We had some beautiful days and torrential rain at night. There is something quite satisfying about listening to the sound of rain on your tent... when you KNOW your tent is waterproof.

On the way we passed through Geelong, a largish sized city about an hour's drive south of Melbourne.  Geelong has a number of scenic landmarks and is especially well known for the brightly painted wooden statues, the Baywalk Bollards, created by a local artist. The life-sized statues can be found clustered throughout the picturesque esplanade.

Seeing this sign on the side of the road whilst driving on the curvy lanes between a large rock cliff and a steep drop to the ocean is a little unsettling. Was it put there out of necessity following a series of accidents caused by forgetful tourists, or just because they make a good travel photo...I am hoping for the latter.

San Francisco

San Francisco...we meet at last. A great big city with so many different areas worth discovering and getting lost in. Leaving the colder weather back in Melbourne, we were really looking forward to some warmer weather and summery sunshine...I just wish someone would've told me that it's never really warm in San Francisco, I would've packed slightly differently! Weather was gorgeous nonetheless, just slightly chillier than expected. Going back to the States, there's one thing we were really looking forward to: the food! The endless quest to find the best burrito, dinner or breakfast place was an enjoyable ride.

San Francisco has got lots of charm and is very colourful, so lends itself really well to photograph. We spent a few days wandering around with no clear plan in mind. Here are a few pics.

Visiting Alcatraz was a worthwhile expedition, they really did a good job with the audio tour and it's very compelling. The prison and the grounds were fun to explore, but the view of the city from the island was especially stunning. The island is close enough to the shore that you can still hear the humming of the city.

And here are some shots of the 4th of July fireworks at the pier.

San Francisco - look at more photos in the photo gallery

Overdue trip back home

At last, this overdue trip back home finally happened! It had been close to three years since our last visit, so we managed to line up a little over a month off from work, and made out way back home with a busy itinerary through the States and Canada to see some of the family and friends we have missed so much.

I was great, filed with joys, happy reunions and some tears...but before you know it, time is up and it's time to leave again, and saying goodbye really doesn't get easier.

Coming back, you realise how fast it all goes by, how long you keep looking forward to it and how it feels like a blur when you think back on it. Thanks to my camera for validating that 'I was there'...already miss you all so much.
À la prochaine...

Grampians, Victoria

Here are some photos from a weekend away from the city at the Grampians. It was a little chilly and overcast, but we did a couple of hikes and got some good views.
It's so good to get out of the city, the air smelled so fresh out there!