IKEA, Costco, repeat.

Whew! No, I'm not getting bored with this new blog yet, my lack of posting is due to the fact that we've been moving to a new apartment this week. We're still in the CBD, just a few blocks further north. When we moved here from the States we decided to sell most of our belongings and start fresh when we got here. We figured it would cost about the same to ship a container as it would be to start over. Also most of our furniture was scaled to a much larger home, rather than a small inner city apartment. So we opted to stay in a serviced apartment for the first couple of months while we got our bearings. That way we didn't have to worry about buying furniture, etc for a while. Well, that has come to an end. We've signed a lease, and are now working on furnishing this place.


First stop...IKEA

(Photo by Glen Hunt - I was hardly about to lug my camera with me on an all day shopping spree)
If you've never visited an Ikea store, prepare to get lost. There are two main levels, the tope floor is the showroom and the lower floor is where they house most of the items for sale- i.e. you browse the top floor, making notes of what you'd like to buy, then go to the bottom floor and pick up those items.
The whole store is set up like a Las Vegas casino. They do their best to keep you there as long as possible. There are no windows, so who knows what time of day it is! There is a cafeteria type restaurant  conveniently located at the stair/lift down to the lower level. This way you can grab a bite to eat and all of a sudden you're re-energized for another level of shopping. Finally, each level is essential a one way maze. You are meant to follow the path (arrows included, so you don't fell too lost) which winds around the store passing through each and every section. If you really keep your eye out you can find a few shortcuts, they tough part is knowing whether it's taking you ahead (toward the exit) or back where you started.
That being said... I am very grateful for IKEA. They make it possible to furnish a 2 bedroom apartment in just a couple of visits, and for a reasonable price. But be warned you have to put everything together yourself! Whenever I mention going to IKEA everybody loves to make the same joke "you have to have an engineering degree to put that stuff together" haha. It's really not that difficult.
If you have a car, you'll be amazed at how much you can fit, since all the items come flat packed in boxes, but if you're buying large items, like mattresses and sofas, or if you're like me and don't have a car, they have a delivery service. They were able to deliver all of my items the following morning. Be warned however, they do not deliver anything breakable. So if you're buying dishes, glasses, lamps, etc, be prepared to carry it out (in my case that meant 2 HUGE bags and a box of dinnerware- all the home via two trams, ugh!)


Next... Costco

The sofa I wanted was at Costco, along with items like vacuum, microwave, fans, bins. So I made a trip over there, not too bad, a quick tram ride to the Docklands , walk through HarbourTown shopping center (no complaints there- we'll do a longer post later on that) an there's Costco. Now any of my friends back in Texas will confirm that I LOVE Costco! I frequented our store about once a week. Now, however, it is pretty impractical to lug a 24 pack of paper towels on the tram and up 20+ levels to my apartment, and then have no space to store my monstrous package of paper towels (or cases and cases of Diet Coke). So I don't go there often, but when I do... It's like being home again! The staff was very helpful getting my sofa onto a trolley and up to the front where my bill totaled over $1000! I had to laugh when the cashier then asked if I'd be willing to donate $1 to the Royal Children's Hospital Fund- how selfish would I have felt if I couldn't give $1 on top of my already whopping bill.
My only problem surfaced when I tried to get my items home. On a previous trip I had been told that Costco does not provide delivery service (you have to arrange that yourself) so I had called a moving company to come and pick up my items and deliver them to my apartment. Before I left the store I spoke with the merchandise pickup guys to check and double check that my items would be released to the delivery guys as long as they had my details (member number, receipt, etc.) But of course when the delivery guys showed up there Costco said no way could they give them my stuff without the receipt, don't worry I got on the phone and let them have it, luckily I had the name of the guy I had talked to and they allowed my items to be delivered, whew. But for future reference don't try it!


Then...repeat
Another trip to IKEA to get the mattress that was previously out of stock
Another trip to Costco to get a few more items I forgot
and I think we're finished!

House of Parliament of Victoria

I doubt there are many Melbournians that have actually been inside the Parliament House. It seems like the kind of place that might attract primary school groups and old people on holiday. But there was something about that building, with the grand steps to the front entrance that was intriguing to me and I took the opportunity to go on a tour. On days that Parliament is not sitting they offer free tours at 9.30 am, 10.30 am, 11.30 am, 1.30 pm, 2.30 pm and 3.45 pm.  However, when I went over for the 2:30pm tour, they told me the next tour was at 3pm, so make sure you have a flexible schedule (or call ahead). There are plenty of cafes nearby to wait out the time until your tour begins. 

The tour begins in the vestibule with its amazing tile floor and takes you through:

the Queen's Hall,

the Council Chamber,

where our tour guide allowed me to sit in the President's chair.

The Assembly Chamber

and the Parliament library

The friendly and knowledgeable tour guide was able to answer any questions that I and my fellow tourists were able to come up with. To a foreigner this tour was interesting as I am pretty clueless as to how the government here in Australia is organized, but I imagine even a lifelong resident of Victoria would learn something new. 

Name: House of Parliament

Location: Spring Street, East Melbourne

Telephone: 03 9651 8568

Website: www.parliament.vic.gov.au

Admission: Free

QV Fashion Show

Here's why I love this city. You can be walking home after dropping your kids off at school and as you walk through the QV building you find out there is going to be a fashion show at 12:30 and 1:30 that day. Okay, that takes care of my schedule for the day. 

I had seen advertisements around the city saying that this week there would be various fashion events around the city, so I was thrilled when I happened upon this show. The set was really cool, like a life size doll house and before the show started they had model standing out front posed like dolls. 

Rather than showcasing the work of a specific designer this show was a collection of designers and shops within the QV building: Guess, Christensen Copenhagen, Kam Otto, Sevinha, Mooks, Pamper Heiress. I was in fashion heaven. It's not very often that a "normal" person like me gets front row seats to a fashion show, granted this was no Dior show, but it was really well done. The models were of course tiny and beautiful, the clothes were to die for and the set and music fit the scene perfectly. 

How cute is that headband?

Bottom line for the season:

Skinny pats are here to stay for a while- If you haven't yet, go out and get some great skinny Jeans and black leggings.

Pair those skinny pants with lots of voluminous layers up top.

The perfect finish for a perfect outfit is still the stiletto, but for all you city wanderers like me, a good ballet flat is still a great stylish option for your wandering.

Happy shopping!

Melbourne Zoo

Who doesn't love a trip to the zoo? It brings out the kid in everyone. Standing at the pool of rays I was just dying to reach out and touch them, never mind the sign next to me saying "please do not touch the animals". Moving through the Wild Sea exhibit, I would have given anything to jump in and swim with the seals! For anyone looking to feel young again- head to the zoo!

Melbourne zoo is certainly one of the good ones. Coming from Austin, Texas where we only had a joke of a zoo, I was enthralled with the animals here in Melbourne.

And coming from the United States I was, of course, thrilled to see the kangaroos, koalas, and wombats. 

The birth of a new baby elephant, Mali, has attracted lots of new visitors, and for a good reason. She is adorable. Do not miss a chance to see that baby run around and play. She's super cute! I apologize for the blurry photo, that baby sure can run!

My other don't miss exhibits: 

The Wild Sea, gotta love those seals! 

We especially like the bears- although they look a little pale for brown bears.

Have you ever seen Meerkat Manor? Those little guys are so fascinating! No wonder they can make a whole TV series out of their lives, sometimes I think they might be more interesting than my own life :)

There is certainly plenty to see at Melbourne Zoo. We have been twice now and still haven't seen everything. I appreciate how nicely the zoo is arranged. It's large but you don't have to walk a long distance to get to the next exhibit (even with small children). There are also plenty of cafes and food stands to grab a bite to eat, but they also don't mind if you bring in a sack lunch.

Name: Melbourne Zoo
Location: Elliott Avenue Parkville, VIC - easily accessible by tram 55
Telephone: 03 9285 9300
Website: www.zoo.org.au
Admission: Adult $24.40, Child $12.10, Family $55.50

Friends of the Zoo Passes are good at all 3 zoos (Melbourne Zoo, Werribee Open Range Zoo, and Healesville Santuary) for 12 months from the time of purchase. See the website or the FOTZ office near the main entrance to the zoo.

Medallion Greek Cafe

Today's Mission: Greek Food

What better place to go than the Greek Precinct, right? We headed to Lonsdale St between Swanston and Russell Streets in search of a gyro and some spanikopita. There were a number of Greek restaurants, but since we had the kids with us we opted for the more relaxed, cafe style of Medallion. 

At street level there is outdoor cafe seating for those wishing to watch people, enjoy the weather or have a smoke (as there is no smoking indoors). Upon entrance to the restaurant there is a display case of desserts including baklava and sticky fig cake. At the counter you can order take-away gyros and souvlaki. Beyond the  counter there is ample indoor seating, with plenty of space on a Friday night. 

I chatted with the owner, Ignatios Karasavvidis, a Greek immigrant who has owned the restaurant since 1990. Medallion has been in operation since 1970 and at the Lonsdale location for the last 20 years. In addition to Medallion, Ignatios also owns the Greek restaurant and taverna, DION, which is located next door. Both restaurants serve traditionally cooked lamb and chicken (DION also serves steak and seafood). 

Our lamb and chicken gyros were just what we were looking for, nicely flavoured, tender and delicious. Served with pita bread, tomatoes, lettuce, onion and tzatziki sauce. The spanikopita left a little to be desired, over-cooked and a little greasy, rather than the light flaky pastry I hoped for. Prices ranged from 5-10 AUD for entrees and 10-20 AUD for main dishes. Overall, a nice meal and relaxed, pleasant atmosphere. 

Name: Medallion 
Location: 209-211 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne 
Phone: 03 9663 4228 
Website: www.dionrestaurant.com.au (this was the website given to me, but the link didn't seem to work)

How to Discover Melbourne

G'Day Y'all!

I moved with my family to Melbourne from Texas, United States just a few months ago and have settled in the CBD. The last thing I want is for our time here to end and I feel like I haven't experienced all this city has to offer. So I've made it my mission to spend the next year discovering Melbourne. Don't worry, I have a plan. Since I don't have a "real" job and my kids are in school I've been spending a lot of time as a city wanderer. My plan is to continue my wandering. Brilliant, right? However now I have a goal, to spend my days visiting the sights, the shops, the restaurants that make Melbourne special. Then I'll write about them here. So stay tuned to find out what I find and who I meet as I go about DISCOVERING MELBOURNE!