Day 1 - Thursday, 9.23.10

I arrived in Melbourne Airport at 8am and Laetitia picked me up.  As we drove back to her apartment Laetitia told me that Melbourne is known for its art and prides itself on being Australia's cultural capital.  This was immediately evident as we drove along the EastLink Freeway where massive art sculptures and pieces were strategically placed.

EastLink Freeway's $5.5 million public art collection presents the following pieces of work:



Callum Morton - Hotel



Emily Floyd - Blackbird and Worm




Ron Swann - Vault

Simeon Nelson - Desiring Machine

French toast at Liar Liar

In addition to their eclectic art, Melbourne is also known for its fantastic food.  We ate breakfast at this amazing coffee cafe known as Liar Liar Cafe located in Hawthorne.  I drank a soy vanilla chai latte, which was creamier and tastier than the States, and I ate the most amazing French toast coupled with mascarpone and warm plums. 

Walkway at Uni of Melbourne

After breakfast we went to the University of Melbourne, where Laetitia goes to school.  We walked around the beautiful campus which was established in 1853 as a public-spirited institution that makes distinctive contributions in research, teaching, and knowledge transfer.

A few hours later I was introduced to the Spudbar in St Kilda for lunch.  It's a very simple concept with impeccable tasting rewards.  You choose from a baked or sweet potato and add up to as many as 15 different toppings.  Such exotic toppings can include pineapple, bolognaise, mango chutney, or beef curry. 

After lunch Laetitia and I walked around St Kilda, an inner city suburb of Melbourne home to many of Melbourne's famous visitor attractions including Luna Park, the Esplanade Hotel, Acland Street, and Fitzroy Street.  St Kilda is situated on one of the most picturesque points of Port Phillip Bay and offers several of Melbourne's big events and festivals.  It is also home to St Kilda Beach, Melbourne's most famous beach.

St Kilda Beach



St Kilda Pier





In the evening Laetitia treated me to the Peninsula Hot Springs, the first natural hot springs & day spa centre in Victoria, Australia.  It was exactly what I needed after a 16 hour flight from Los Angeles.  At the Hot Springs I also met up with Laetitia's brother, my other cousin by proxy, Nicolas.