Flowers

Here are just a few photos of amazing flowers everywhere.

Aborigines

Although there are probably not any aborigines in Geelong anymore, names of places and plaques recognize them.  The landmark low mountains always in view are called the Youyangs. At the chocolate factory this sign acknowledges them.

Candover Street

The Parkinsons live on Candover Street.  In fact, Chris grew up on this street.  I would call this the historic district although the houses are cottages and not mansions.  Their house was built in 1885. Houses from this period had fences at the sidewalk, small front yards with flowers, a small front porch, center hall with 2 rooms on each side, each with a fireplace, high ceilings, lovely ceiling molding, and a small kitchen and lounge at rear.
Porches with intricate metal lace like trim are called Victorian, more geometric patterned trim, Edwardian and later version

s into the 1930s with more art nouveaux features.  Factory workers could have lived here since there were many clothing, shoe, rug and even a Ford plant nearby.  The harbor and train station are near.
There is a lot of interest in maintaining  / restoring these houses.  Chris and Rachel have added a large country kitchen and den plus updated/ added bathrooms.  Work is still underway on the porch paint, stain glass windows and metal trim.
Sadly,  some are torn down, let run down or add ill suited 2 story additions behind. Here are just a few.

Kangaroos, golf and chocolate

 Kangaroos are everywhere here...on labels, in logos, even browsing casually on golf courses and life size at the chocolate factory.  The chocolateria is a chocolate factory, gelateria and pastry shop. Chocolate from around the world is blended, shaped and seasoned in an amaz

ing variety.  It was hard to pick a few flavors to bring home.
Rachel's mom and sister joined us for cappuccino while the kids enjoyed gelato.
Then off to check out a nearby golf course for kangaroos.  Yes, there they were, some reclining others grazing while golfers played the links. Quite a sight!

Geelong Art Museum

After coffee,  Chris' mom, Cambria, come by.  She had invited me to the Geelong Art Museum and lunch.  She knows more than any guide book about local history and people as well as the Australian artists and their art.  She is always smiling and has many humorous anecdotes.  Lunch is lovely and then we try to go to the 5th floor of the lubrary for a panoramic view of the harbor.   It was closed for the day but  I took a photo of us leaving .  This building is Geelong's answer to Sydney's Opera House.  Not that it

is so grand but innovative and modern, a sphere of glass and mirrors.
6 stories high.  In front of it is a small replica so the picture is a photo of us taking a photo of us taking a photo of the replica.  We had a good laugh at that!

Coffee and tea

Although the British heritage would seem to suggest tea as the nacional beverage, coffee is king here.  Every other shop seems to be a coffee shop with people at little tables inside or outside enjoying a coffee.  And not just the bland coffee we know but robust espresso, frothy cappuccino or occasionally a full bodied cafe latte.  Any time of day is a good time.  Although Chis' dad admits to having an instant coffee from time to time, in this house it's all in.   Chris orders a monthly supply of whole beans- 2 kilos- of specific blends and roasts.  Morning begins with grinding beans and the hum of the espresso machine.   Little red cups warm on top ready to be filled.  Usually Chris will turn to me with the rhetorical question "can I make you a cappuccino?" He puts a Starbucks barista to shame.  He makes me think of Ed when he confesses that if they are not flying, the espresso machine comes on vacation with them.  Umm, where have I  seen this before? Sorry no photo of my cup-  it's empty.

The Bellarine Penisula

A rainy Sunday morning turned into a beautiful sunny afternoon.   We drove out to the Bellarine Penisula which besides having a coast dotted with small beach towns like Queenscliff provides rolling fields of olive trees and vineyards. We stopped at the Jack Rabbit Vineyard for lunch and a chilled bottle of their chardonnay.  I had local mussels fresh from the next bay...Portarlington.  Rachel's grandmother had

lived in that area and Rachel often played on the beach there.  We drove along the beach road on our way home.  The sea was calm and sparkled in the afternoon sun.  A postcard scene for sure.

Ballet

Today was Ivy's ballet recital.  It made me think of Isabella 's dance recital 2 years ago: lots of mostly girls in costumes, ballet, tap or modern jazz.  April had to help her with her

eye liner and stage make-up.   While we were at the theater, April worked as a photo assistant at a wedding.   She is very interested in photography and will be working with a photographer who has her studio nearby.  Apart from that it was just a round the house day.

Melbourne

Today we took the train to Melbourne.  Many people commute the hour into the city.  The train is in walking distance from the house but it was raining when we left so Chris drove us.   Melbourne is a city of contrasts...old historic buildings next to modern skyscrapers.  Trams and cars clog the streets and a river of pedestrians flows by.  This is a city of immigrants from the original British penal colony to the gold seekers from the world over to recent waves of Vietnamese, Malaysians,  etc.  We went to the Victoria St. Market which reflects this in food stalls of every ethnic taste.  Kind of like a giant food court.  There is also a fruit and vegetable section and rows of stalls selling coats to key chains.  I had greek lamb wrap.  Yum.
Then through to the Royal Arcade and the Block Arcade...what a shopping mall originally looked like.  After 8,000 steps we were glad to be on the train going home.

Suddenly summer

It is spring here with an abundance of flowers

and newly leafed out trees.  But yesterday was suddenly summer with temps at 32 c. Or 90 degrees f.
On with the bathing suits and off to the beach!  There are many beautiful beaches here but for children swimming Queenscliff is the best.  The beach is at the bottom of a cliff and faces the shipping lane entering Port Phillip Bay.   Look carefully at the picture and you will notice a rock reef forming a protected lagoon that appears at low tide.  The shallow water warms in the afternoon sun and is ideal for safe swimming.  The kids play on the exposed reef and jump into the lagoon.   The shallow water holds a few strands of strange seaweed and an occasional starfish.  Shell hunting of course.

Lemingtons

Coming to Australia I had several things in mind: of course to visit the Parkinson family who had invited me and experience everyday family life, to learn about the history and culture,  to see the countryside and sample  local food.  Balarat is about 90 miles north through pasture land, a distance the gold seekers walked with their families.  Cliff and Cambria live  on the edge of the Brisbane Ranges National Park, more srubbier trees and ravines. Cliff has terraced the sloping yard for flowers.  It was nice to spend the day with other geandparents and share mutual interests. A lovely veranda encircles the house providing shady places to enjoy the birds and flowers...so up my alley.  Cambria also made me a lovely plate of lemingtons, a local favorite cake to enjoy with their g

Ballarat

Ballarat is the Williamsburg of Australia. It was a small town that boomed to 10,000 in a few months once gold was discovered in 1851. The Boer war resulted in a great loss of man power and the mines filled up with water and the town was abandoned.   Today it has been restored and demonstrations go on showing how candles were made, carriage wheels were lathed, gold was made into ingots, etc.  Chris' mom and dad took me and we had a great time noting we were all born in the same year.  We took a wagon ride and went through an under ground mine where a huge gold nugget was found. Visited their charming log home before returning.

Narana aboriginal cultural center.

Today we visited an aboriginal center and nature walk.  We did see emus but really just an excuse to have a coffee with Rachel's mom, sister and kids.  Another great day.

Fish and chips

Sunday starts off with mass at St. Mary of the Angels.  Since Father Jim had been to dinner Friday night he greeted me by name which made me feel like a local.   There was a wedding expo on that April and Ivy came to with me.  Ivy liked the candies and cake tastes better than the parade of gowns. 
Afterwards walked along the harbor where I  saw the paper bark tree.  But the best part was sitting on the top deck of a docked boat turned fish and chips restaurant.  Sorry no photos since we were too busy enjoying the fresh butterfish, the sun and all the Sunday after noon harbor activities.
Oh, the cake design is typically local with eucalyptus leaves on the bottom and gum nuts on the top.

Bollards trail

In 1995 artist Jan Mitchell was commissioned to transform over 100 reclaimed timber pier pylons into figures who played a part in local Geelong history. Some are in groups or placed individually along park walk on bay.

Wallabies and emus

Another activity packed day here with the Parkinson family.  Flora is an active 5 year old busy into crafts and learning to ride her bike without training wheels.  Well, that was easy! Hand designed invitation to a picnic led to blankets and pillows in courtyard, fresh flowers in her favorite skull vase , fresh fruit designed artfully and a plate of desert cakes. Great fun.
Then on to Serendip park to see lots of local birds, reptiles and animals. They all just roam around or you join them in their areas.  The fragrant eucalyptus air is wonderful.
For dinner, Rachel fixed a special meal since the local priest had been invited.  He had actually been one of chris teachers before entering priesthood.  A date cake with caramel sauce and ice cream was the finale of another great day!