A windy Sunday at St Kilda Esplanade
The sun was blazing down on the good people of St Kilda this morning. I had definite bike envy as i arrived at the esplanade. The streets were awash with groups of road cyclists taking a morning turn out on the beach road. Which i have heard has some stunning sights! I was drooling at the bikes as they all cruised past at the crossing points, i didn’t fly mine out as i have been moving around quite a lot and didn’t want to risk it getting stuck somewhere. But i am sorely tempted to, or to hire one. As much as i love my Dutch beauty, she’s not got the aerodynamics of Bella the Bianchi.
Once got over my bike perving i got stuck into the task at hand which was exploring the St Kilda Sunday market. It’s choc full of locally made products from soaps and skincare to home decor, clothes, cards and art. I finally managed to pick up a hat, which is a must for me and my sun sensitive skin. It’s a super cute 20s style affair, which wasn’t loving the windy seafront this morning. (Neither was my circle skirt, trying to keep my hat on and skirt down at the same time ended up being quite a feat!) In an effort to protect my modesty i planted myself on the decking and ended up doing quite a lot of people watching. Such a crazy mix of people, some walking their dogs, going for runs, coming home from the night before. It was so nice to just sit back and take it all in watching the waves crash at the shoreline.
I eventually had to brave the wind as i started to get super hungry, i had a romantic idea to sit by the water. But that wasn’t
20s style hat for the cake lady
really feasible in the wind. I nabbed a seat at the very busy beachcomber, I couldn’t say that i would recommend though sadly. I’m afraid it was up there in the worst calamari i have ever had. But i was hungry! Ahhhh there is a reason why all the cafes on Acland street were stacked full of people. Note to self for next time. I did use the time to write my final Christmas cards thought, yes its taken me to come all the way to the other side of the world to have the time to send Christmas cards. I found some gorgeous cards illustrated with Australiana designs perfect to tell the story of my December trip to Melbourne. I’ve even written one to myself in the future, i thought it would be nice to reflect on what i was thinking and feeling on the day and what i thought might be happening in 6 years time. There are a series of these being written on certain milestones and sometimes just when the desire overcomes me to note something of particular beauty or a new observation.
My market experience only got better later in the day when i was treated to a trip to South Melbourne market, holy moly. It’s a beautiful place (beauty is in the eye of the beholder right?!) It’s a stunning old victorian building teeming with fresh fruit, vegetables, delicatessens, meat, fish, cakes. I could happily spend a whole day in there having a look around at all the goodies. There are even some spectacular bike stalls, clothes and locally made jewellery and toiletries again. We didn’t have time to spare nosing around it all as we had 45 mins to pick up the ingredients for a salad and then dash back home to whip it up before attending a sunny Christmas party. It was fabulous to meet some of Allie’s family. They are all so welcoming and friendly, curious to know why i would pick their city and full of tips of places to go and people to speak to about jobs etc. It’s very heartwarming.
I’m still not sure what i am going to do on Christmas day, i have a couple of invites to various family dos. But I’m not sure i want to be around anyone else’s family, as i think it may make me miss mine too much. I will see how i feel nearer to the time. I do know however that I’m going to have to get a job pronto in order to be able to sustain my “research” around the markets of Melbs. This cake lady is off to hatch a cunning plan… 🙂
Baci a tutti
x x x x
