Wine and Dine All the Time

4/20/12 – Melbourne, Australia

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!

Of course it was hard having my birthday away from my family.  I know most of you must think that I should be a pro at this by now having been across the country from my family for the previous four years at Bucknell, but what you all don’t know is that the Parent’s Council Meetings also fall on my birthday weekend meaning that my dad was with me at Bucknell for the previous four years.  That would make this my first birthday without someone in my family.  Luckily I had Tommy to save the day!  

I actually have always hated my birthday, besides the wonderful presents of course because anyone who knows me knows that I LOVE presents!  I just hate the idea of getting older.  I used to always tell my mom and dad every year that I wanted to stay 7 forever, or 17 forever, or 21 forever, but somehow I keep getting older.  I just don’t like the idea of growing up.  Well, Tommy made it a wonderful day!  Even though it was a work day for both of us, Tommy woke up extra early to make me breakfast in bed, and spent an hour decorating the apartment with balloons, banners and streamers.  It was so sweet to see all the effort he put in to make the day special.  I was greeted at school by birthday wishes from a few of my students who remembered that it was my birthday; this was so sweet and made me feel quite special.  The best surprise of all was when a beautiful bouquet of flowers and a huge box full of cupcakes arrived at the school reception from my amazing parents and my GREAT friend Gina!  Even from across the world, my parents were with me on my birthday.  The day ended with a special birthday menu set up by Chef Tommy which was unbelievably delicious, especially the yummy ice cream cake!  I really am a lucky girl!

5/5/12 – 5/6/12 – Yara Valley, Victoria, Australia

The rest of my birthday present from Tommy was combined with our two-year anniversary present.  TWO YEARS!  Shopping is way too expensive in Australia, and I really have everything that I need, so what better present than a weekend getaway!  After weeks of intensive and exhausting planning, Tommy was dying to let the secret slip of what we were going to be doing for our anniversary weekend.  I let him set the entire weekend up, and I have to say he has a hard time keeping a secret…

We were picked up this morning at 4:40 to be driven to the Yarra Valley.  It was quite an early start but well worth it…  We were driven out to a winery called Rochford Latitude, which is conveniently only an hour drive from the city.  We had to go so bloody early because Tommy set up a sunrise hot air balloon surprise, which was fantastic!  We went up when it was still pretty dark and as the sun started to rise everything started coming into view and changing colors.  It was spectacular.  We had to help blow up the balloon and when we landed we helped take the air out and fold it all up.  It was actually quite hard work and I was sweating by the end.  

It was very cold in the morning so I was happy to be extremely bundled up and only my toes were a bit cold, but I was appropriately dressed like a snow bunny!  It was such an exhilarating feeling flying over the valley in this huge balloon, especially over such a gorgeous area.  We lucked out because apparently the balloons could not go up for the entire past week, and this was the first day the balloons were permitted to go up again because of the weather and wind.  We were told that we could not have asked for more perfect conditions and it could not have been a clearer day for us.  WOO!  

Following our float across the sky, we returned to Rochford Estate for a champagne brunch, which was DELICIOUS!  It was actually quite comical!  Our hot air balloon pilot gave us a bit of history about how hot air ballooning all started and how the tradition was to bring a bottle of champagne on every trip to give to the farmer who owns the land that the balloon lands on, and they actually still do that.  Everyone drinks champagne to celebrate the flight, which we of course did to join in on the fun tradition!  The pilot is supposed to say a prayer before every flight because back in the day at the start of ballooning, the Irish people said that was the only way they would allow the balloon to enter God's space up in the air.  Well our pilot explained how this would be just a bit disconcerting for passengers to see; the pilot down on one knee praying before he takes everyone up, so instead our pilot prefers to pray after by taking the champagne cork, dipping it in his glass and crossing all our heads with the champagne.  It was hilarious!  

After our lovely breakfast to end an exciting morning, we were picked up by Ron, our driver for the day, who took us on our wine tasting tour of the Yarra Valley where we visited six wineries.  There were only six of us on the tour, and we had quite a fun time with the two girls from Holland (but living in Melbourne) around our age.  We tasted many delicious wines at gorgeous little boutique wineries.  Tommy and I ended up buying six bottles to come home with us, and I actually got a bit silly from tasting so much even with pouring a lot out!!!  I guess I did not realize I had become SUCH a lightweight.  I took a little snooze when we got back to the cottage, and Tommy had to drag me out of bed at 6:30 to make our 7pm dinner reservation!  

We had a delicious dinner at the Healsville Hotel.  On Sunday we explored the cute town, did some shopping, went and did a wine tasting at the place we had lunch, and a beer tasting at the brewery in town.  It was hard to leave because it was such an amazing weekend but the good news is that it is an easy hour trip back with a train and bus that will take us around easily!  I have to say, Tommy did an awesome job planning a wonderful weekend!

5/17/12 – Melbourne, Australia

I just have to mention that I am thrilled to say we are finally starting to make more and more friends!  Tonight we went on a double date, tomorrow we are going on another full day double date, and next weekend is already booked up!  FINALLY!  Contact with other people was much needed…

5/18/12 – Mornington Peninsula, Victoria, Australia

The Mornington Peninsula is another wine region just over an hour down from Melbourne towards the coast.  It is the peninsula the divides Melbourne Harbour from the Bass Strait coastline.  Not only are there beautiful beaches, but the peninsula is also filled with rolling green hills that are filled with cute towns, shops, cafes, and best of all WINERIES!  

A companion of Tommy’s from work, Steph, offered to take us on a full day trip to the Mornington Peninsula with her boyfriend David.  Of course the wineries were all amazing with the gorgeous ocean views, but we also went on a full day tour of the area!  We visited the town of Portsea which is at the very tip of the Peninsula and has the most expensive mansions in the area.  We stopped in the quaint town of Sorrento where the ferry runs across the harbor over to Torquay, we visited the Ashcombe Mazes and raced through the hedges to see who would pop out first (me of course!), and we started our morning off soaking in the luxurious hot springs followed by a delicious breakfast with an ocean view.  It was such a fun and relaxing day!