Chilling in Torquay

Since I have finished working a bit before I am supposed to fly out to New Zealand, I decided to take a couple day off the city life and head down to Torquay (yes, it's pronounced like Turkey more or less so everyone asked me why I was going to Turkey for two days, but it doesn't matter...), a surf village on the Great Ocean Road, in Victoria.

I spend a couple of days doing nothing, eating Aussie pies and fries, reading my books, falling asleep in front of the sea and looking at the surfers walking barefeet around the place!

The funniest bit was the 3 German guys I shared a room with, 18 and loaded on goon as they were trying to forget their car broke down on the first leg of their Ocean Road trip but, as they said.. "We'll zee if ve kan get it vixed" :D

Italy vs Ireland

It almost always surprises people, after they heard me speaking for a while, when I say I am Italian. They get quite confused by my mixed accent - some say it's Irish, some says it sounds like I have been hanging around with English people for too long. The other day the taxi driver asked me if I was from Lebanon...
But I was as Italian as I could last night, watching the Rugby World Cup. Was drinking Peroni, screaming a few "merda"s here and there, trying to support the Azzurri in the sea of Irish jerseys.
The first half was really good, the Italians really got into the game and I was well excited. A few drinks and 40mins later, Ireland won 36-6 and I was a crushed Italian woman, getting beaten up by all the Irish people around me (most of all my friends!).
Good thing is, next time, I could draw a few freckles on my face, sculling pints of Guinness and cheer for the Irish team... hoping they make it all the way to the final - as I'll be in New Zealand for that!
Go the boys in green!

Yum sweet home!

Never really been homesick, even if I haven't been living at home for quite some time now... and that's because I have a secret trick to deal with it.
Whenever I miss home, I make some Italian food! Carbonara, spag Bol, a nice bottle of red and it all goes away...
But... just the other night, I had an amazing dream. I was at my Nonna's home (grandmother) and we were just getting ready to eat, cutting the prosciutto, placing the olives around, some nice fresh bread... I could just see her calling me up to her house to eat... and I woke up.
It was a weird and kinda sad feeling... so I just had to go and buy some fresh bocconcini di mozzarella yesterday and have some nice salad with balsamic vinegar to make it all better!

Girls night out!

Take some stressed childcare workers, my leaving do, a few bottles of champagnes and some naked men... brilliant time at the strippers!
My amazing girls from City Kids took me out to Melbourne's best male strip club.
We were all so excited we knew all the best acts already: Pistol Pete in his policeman uniform, some Italian stallion (wtf, he couldn't even say "ciao" in Italian!) and some Spanish dancer to show you how to salsa...
We had a great time, I got to dance on stage and, last but not least, I also got a goodie bag... I'll let you guess what's in the strippers' goodie bag! ;)

An average Sunday afternoon...

As it happens, we're trying to make the most of our time Australia.
That means feeding the kangaroos, being afraid of spiders and all... but sometimes I just forget I am in the land down under!
Not only we live in a part of Melbourne crowded with Irish people (so much we call it Co. St Kilda!) but we have also found an Irish bar called "The Craíc".
They serve Guinness, they have live Irish music... and we ended up having a Sunday session, playing spoons and dancing to some Irish songs: we know all the lyrics now... and none of us is Irish!

Just go with the roast

Living in Melbourne with 2 English girls has shaped my idea of food. Not only do I eat pretty early (yes, 530pm is considered an acceptable dinner time) but, also, as much as I try to cook Italian, the odd beans on toast and mash potato always comes up!

Sometimes you just have to give in completely, forget all about balsamic vinegar and the home made pasta sauce and just go with the roast...

That is the result of a Monday night roast (yes, it was supposed to be a Sunday dinner but a few beers came our way instead!), lovely gravy and all - thanks girls!

Change of plans (...and planes!)

MS ELENA GIULIA VENTURINI

Itinerary Details:

From To Flight Date Departure Arrival Cabin Baggage

NADI MELBOURNE FJ 931 22NOV11 18:25 23:45 ECONOMY 23 KG

Ticket Details:

Ticket Number: 260242119****
Guess I always knew that I was not coming home in December...
I just bought a ticket back into Australia, coming back here after a month of traveling between NZ and Fiji.

I haven't got many plans, I just want to come back to Oz and see what life takes me from there.
Perth, Melbourne, Sydney, Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok, Leeds, Edinburgh - I don't know... we'll just wait and see!

Now I have officially no flight home - exciiiiiiiiiiiiiting!

Passenger Details: