Sightseeing Week 37

This week was all about sightseeing:

On Monday (10.09), Ben and I went to the city. First, we wanted to visit a fair, but it turned out to be a business one. So we took a walk along the Yarra River and admired the street art again. After that, we hopped on the 'City Circle,' a tram that takes you around the city and provides free information about various attractions to the passengers. Unfortunately, the announcements were unintelligible due to the poor public address system. But we still enjoyed the view and saw a lot. In the evening, we had dinner and returned to Elwood with full stomachs. The walk was definitely worth it. Many places were beautifully lit up and looked fascinating at night.

On Tuesday (11.09), Ben and I had a day at the beach. It was the first sunny day in Melbourne. We strolled along St. Kilda Beach, and crazy Ben even went for a swim in the freezing water. But for me, it was definitely not swimming time yet. We also thought about going on a bike tour, which we inquired about that day.

On Wednesday (12.09), we focused on preparing for our bike tour. We baked cookies and made a casserole that could also be eaten cold for our trip. We took care of other errands, and in the evening, Ben and I went to an Asian restaurant with Grantley and Flizzi. Surprisingly, the food was really good. Later that evening, we packed all our stuff for the bike tour so that we wouldn't waste any time the next morning.

On Thursday (13.09), the big journey began. Our plan was to go to Sorrento, which is in the south and approximately 5 hours away by bike according to Google. We got up at 7 am, got ready, and were about to leave for the bike shop when Tim showed up in the kitchen and wanted to join us. So, the three of us headed to the bike shop in St. Kilda. The bike dealer was impressed with our plan from Tuesday, so he allowed us to rent the bikes for 24 hours (which they don't usually do, so it was really nice). Once we all had a suitable bike, we set off towards the south. Ben turned out to be super fit and kept a fast pace the whole time, cheerfully leading the way. Tim and I followed behind. The view was very beautiful. At first, we rode directly along the beach, and then through various suburbs with beachside villas. After about an hour, I received a call from a beachfront restaurant in Brighton, offering me a shift the next day at 9 am. I immediately agreed and continued with more energy (for a while). We made stops at some beautiful spots for snacks and photos, enjoying the view and the sun. The weather was perfect that day. It wasn't too hot or too cold. The sun was shining the whole time, and there was a clear, cloudless sky. Just perfect. Until Tim's chain got stuck. But we were able to quickly fix it thanks to helpful Australians at the next bike shop. By that time, Tim and I were already quite tired. Our legs hurt. The bike dealer's comment that the real uphill journey was just beginning surprised us. We thought the worst was already behind us. But we soon realized how naive we were. Mount Eliza was waiting for us. It was constantly steeply uphill and then downhill again. Every time we thought we had reached the top, it turned out to be far from it. Ben seemed unaffected by the mountains, as he kept zooming ahead and waiting for Tim and me at meeting points. However, the climb was so steep that Tim and I often had to push our bikes and were grateful when we suddenly saw Aldi. We immediately stopped for an ice cream as refreshment and took a break. We caught up with Ben, who had been waiting for us for a while. Our legs hurt so much, and we still had to ride all the way back. At that point, I immediately said that I wouldn't make it to Sorrento, or rather, didn't want to make it. Plus, I had to get up at 7 am the next morning for work. So, we decided to take a break at Mornington Pier, which was nearby.

We had a picnic at the pier and rested for an hour. We enjoyed the sun, the sea, the view, the food, and the peace and quiet. Ben even went swimming again.

At 5 pm, we got back on our bikes so that we wouldn't have to ride the whole way in the dark. The bike shop didn't sell lights because they would just be stolen. But the reflectors were enough, and we only rode on illuminated paths. Ben enjoyed the sunset on the mountain, while Tim and I narrowly missed it because we had to push our bikes again. Mount Eliza was really challenging. One particular spot was the worst. We climbed and were relieved when we reached the top, hoping to use the momentum to coast down the next hill. But no, the Australians had placed a traffic light between the hills, ensuring that all momentum was lost at red. Tim and I often encountered red lights...

Ultimately, it was a struggle to get back home. Everything hurt, we were out of breath, and we just wanted to go home. Each way (there and back) took about 5 hours. In total, we rode 110 km, and I must emphasize this again: Mount Eliza was tough.

But it was really nice to see the illuminated skyline of Melbourne from the beach at night. We could also get glimpses inside the villas. This distracted me the most, as I marveled at the interior and felt like I was flipping through a home catalog. Some houses were truly beautiful. The clear night sky above us also left us in awe.

When we finally arrived back home in Elwood, it was just a matter of showering, eating, and going to bed. Tim and I were completely exhausted.

On Friday (14.09), I went to 'The Baths Middle Brighton.' It's a beach bar, kiosk, and restaurant that I stumbled upon a few days ago. When I was on my way to meet Flizzi in Brighton, I noticed that they were hiring. So, I went straight in with my CV. I had already done a trial shift (see other posts). They sent me the contract afterward, and now it was time to get started. My shift was originally only three hours, but the manager was so impressed with me that he asked if I could work an additional 2 hours if I had the time. I agreed and, after about 5 hours of work, headed back to Elwood. The staff there are all so nice. Many young girls from all over the world work there. I've already had conversations with many of them, and it's really fun to work there. The food also looks delicious. Everything is meticulously arranged, so every customer takes a photo of their food first. The view of the sea is also unique, so it often doesn't feel like work. After my shift, I rested for the rest of the day. The Hofbräuhaus didn't have much to do that evening, so I couldn't work there.

On Saturday (15.09), I had my second shift at the beachfront restaurant. I was able to take on many new tasks. Unfortunately, the weather was rainy and cold, so there weren't as many customers. After 3 hours, it was already time to finish. But I have three long shifts for next week and I'm looking forward to working there again. It's so much fun, and I get to speak more English there as well. Occasionally, I also meet German customers, which means a little chat in German. After work, back in Elwood, I baked pancakes for the boys and myself, which we enjoyed together. It was heavenly. In the evening, I worked at the Hofbräuhaus, but only for three hours. But at least it was something.

By the way, Luisa and Helge arrived in Melbourne on Friday evening. I'm especially excited to see Luisa again. We're planning to meet tonight (on Sunday, 16.09) and watch the penguins that can be found on the beach here in Melbourne. Other than that, today is just about shopping and taking care of some organizational things. Next week will be very busy for me work-wise, and I'm really looking forward to it. The Oktoberfest will be celebrated at the Hofbräuhaus next Saturday, and the weather will be good, so the beachfront restaurant will have a lot of work for me. Plus, Luisa is here, and I want to do some activities with her as well.