Hello from the other side

Birthday on the plane:

Cheers to 25 with some sweet snacks I found at the Los Angeles Airport.

I do not know if I would do a birthday on a plane again, but 25 will be a birthday I will never forget.

And here is a reccomendation for United Airlines: when I first got on the plane one of the flight attendants found me and wished me a Happy Birthday personally. It was a little creepy because I had not told anyone it was my birthday BUT it was nice to have someone else on the plane remember my birthday. Way to go United! I really should have asked for a free birthday drink but alas the opportunity has long passed...

Oh my gosh we are flying over land- after 15 hours on a plane over the Pacific Ocean and over 30 hours of travel, Australia was looking mighty fine!

The Home at the Mansion, my hostel and home for the next week.

This is the first trip I am truly- winging-I am only planning a week out in advance.

I want to see where this trip takes me.

First Impressions of Melbourne:

I freaking love this City- could totally see myself living and or going to school here one day. (Please don't worry too much mom!)

First of all, there is a free, yes free, tram (kind of like a cable car) that travels around the city center

More of the tram

They have a beautiful National Public Library in walking distance of my hostel with better wifi than the hostel and of course the wifi is free (which is for me)

Reading Room in the Library-a perfect place for me to write this blog

 Gardens Everywhere

 Like I said the Australians love their parks and gardens

They have a HUGE coffee culture in Melbourne

They are growing food in a garden, I ate some mint, in front of the Councils' (like the Govenor) Building

And they have random community garden plots with vegetables growing around the city

 There is a beautiful place to walk and enjoy theYarra River

 

 Tons of public art by the river and around the city

The food is both healthy and delicious

 They had a Sustainable Living Festival, the weekend I arrived 

and was the perfect place to volunteer and make friends!

 And they have a sense of humor!