Monday, July 5, 2010

Vanessa & Toni’s Aussie Visit

(Note: We are back in the States and are getting settled into our new place. We will try to keep up on our blog to let you know what’s going on with us. This blog is very late in coming, but we hope you enjoy it.)
Vanessa (Anthony’s Mom) and Toni (Anthony’s cousin and godmother) came to visit us in Melbourne for 11 days at the end of March. We had a great time with them and were so glad they were able to come and visit us. We took this first pic from our balcony just after they arrived.Toni's pics 006The first afternoon was spent looking around Port Melbourne and shopping in the City. Anthony was able to meet up with them after work for chocolate and some more site seeing.
Vanessa in our courtyard:  Vanessa's Pics 065Vanessa's Pics 067
Toni walking along the boardwalk in Port Melbourne:Vanessa's Pics 068
Shopping  in the “Paris” end of Collins Street in the city:Toni's pics 019Vanessa's Pics 074    Vanessa’s $1900 shoes!!!Vanessa's Pics 080
Koko Black Chocolatier:Vanessa's Pics 084   Vanessa's Pics 083 More sites around the city: Toni's pics 041 Toni's pics 504
You can click on the album below to see the pictures from their visit to St Patrick’s Cathedral.

That evening we took them for drinks at the crown casino and walked around Southbank, which is beautiful at night. We were also able to see the “flame” show in front of the casino, where fire shoots out of towers along the walkway in a synchronized show.  Vanessa's Pics 103Toni's pics 047 Vanessa's Pics 104We went to Philip Island for one afternoon and evening. Our first stop was the Koala Conservation Centre. We got to see quite a few koalas up close, which was a neat experience for all of us. Vanessa's Pics 130 Vanessa's Pics 138 Toni's pics 076 Toni's pics 091We stopped at Cape Woolamai, which is a famous surfing beach. We were able to watch the surfers and the beautiful sunset.
Toni's pics 094Vanessa's Pics 147We ended the evening with the “Penguin Parade”. The little penguins come out of the ocean every night after the sun sets and cross the beach to make their way to their burrows. It’s such a unique experience and we were glad that Toni and Vanessa were able to see them. We are not allowed to take pictures because the flash scares the little penguins, so this is the best we could do :)
Toni's pics 106 Toni's pics 105 The one downside to the trip was that Toni got food poisoning from the cafe we ate at in Philip Island. The whole next day wasn’t much fun for her being sick in bed. We all felt bad for her, but she was in really good spirits and didn’t let it ruin her trip.
Once Toni was feeling better, she and Vanessa went shopping for souvenirs at the Queen Victoria Market. It’s quite the experience and you can find some pretty good deals.
Vanessa's Pics 150 Vanessa's Pics 148 Vanessa's Pics 149
That night, we went out to dinner at C’est Bon, a cute French restaurant near our apartment. Thanks for dinner, Toni – it was awesome!
Toni's pics 116    Vanessa & Toni's Trip (9) Vanessa & Toni's Trip (57)
We definitely had to take our visitors to the infamous Great Ocean Road. I don’t think a trip to Melbourne would be complete without it. The weather was beautiful and we had a wonderful time. We took a lot of pictures, so click the album below if you’d like to see them.
On our way back to Melbourne, we spotted some kangaroos, so we had to check them out, of course! We may have trespassed in order to get a closer look, but it was worth it!
Vanessa & Toni's Trip (169)Toni's pics 221 
Here’s our escape route:Vanessa & Toni's Trip (171) Vanessa & Toni's Trip (28)The next morning, we left to go to Sydney for three days. It was great to be able to get away with them for a mini vacation.
Our friends Ray and Synthia recently moved from Melbourne to Sydney, so we met up with them for lunch at the Sydney Fish Market. It was nice catching up with both of them.Toni's pics 230Toni's pics 237Vanessa & Toni's Trip (76)   
We had three days full of site-seeing around Sydney. We were pretty worn out by the end of each day, but we had a great time. Here’s a recap of our time there.
Opera House and Harbour Bridge:
Toni's pics 248Vanessa's Pics 182  Toni's pics 266
“The Rocks” district:
Vanessa's Pics 203
Vanessa & Toni's Trip (173)
Vanessa & Toni's Trip (174)Vanessa & Toni's Trip (224)Toni's pics 301  
Manly Beach:
    Vanessa & Toni's Trip (85)Vanessa & Toni's Trip (132)Toni's pics 316Toni's pics 322Hyde Park and St. Mary’s Cathedral:
Toni's pics 333Toni's pics 334Vanessa & Toni's Trip (233)Toni's pics 341Vanessa & Toni's Trip (92)Toni's pics 345
Watson’s Bay:
Toni's pics 356Vanessa's Pics 280Vanessa's Pics 282Vanessa's Pics 286 Toni's pics 366Toni's pics 372Vanessa & Toni's Trip (95) Toni's pics 389Vanessa & Toni's Trip (49)Vanessa & Toni's Trip (145)Botanical Gardens:
Vanessa's Pics 306Toni's pics 406Toni's pics 409Toni's pics 405 Toni's pics 413
Back in Melbourne, Toni and Vanessa went to the Melbourne Zoo. They got some great pictures you can see in the album below.
The last full day of their visit, we drove Vanessa and Toni to the Dandenong Ranges. We had tea and scones at Miss Maples’ Tea Room and then drove to Sky High, a beautiful park with gardens and a great look-out over the city. It was a wonderful way to spend our last day together.
Vanessa's Pics 318Vanessa's Pics 317    Vanessa's Pics 329Toni's pics 490 Vanessa's Pics 330Vanessa's Pics 331Toni's pics 494Toni's pics 495 Vanessa's Pics 335    Vanessa's Pics 339Vanessa's Pics 340Toni's pics 502We really enjoyed our visit with you both, Vanessa and Toni. Thank you so much for making the long trip! We love you!

4 comments:

Ronda said...

Enjoyed the fun, pretty pics...What an awesome experience for you guys to have been able to live in such a neat place. Love you guys! :)

Ashley Riley said...

Kristi, I sent you an e-mail way back on Myspace, but I guess you don't check it anymore. Where are you guys at now? I am getting married in June, and I need your new address! Send me an e-mail at acoletter@yahoo.com

romanya vizesi said...

very nice pictures

Car Rental Sunhine Coast said...

this is a very nice pics