TRAVEL DIARY: TASMANIA 1 It wasn’t long after we arrived in Hobart that we decided to take a walk around the city. I hadn’t realized just how hilly it was! I had forgotten my walking stick at my daughter’s place in Melbourne, so naturally, I had to find one that matched my jacket. Anyway, despite…
Category: Jo’s Monday Walk
Lysterfield Lake
Lysterfield Park is a hidden gem in the outer south-eastern suburbs of Melbourne. I recently enjoyed a refreshing walk there with Jack and some great friends. This is a lovely spot to unwind. I saw people preparing to set sail on the lake, adding to the vibrant atmosphere. Some visitors were out kayaking on the…
Market Walk
My husband and I love exploring local markets, but this Saturday, we decided to try something different. Jack, Patricia, and I headed to St. Andrew’s Market, nestled among the gum trees in the Yarra Valley. It’s Victoria’s oldest and most unique market, offering a delightful mix of local produce and artisan goods. I love admiring…
Alowyn Gardens with friends
Alowyn Gardens, located in Victoria, Australia, is a stunning horticultural destination that offers a blend of natural beauty and carefully curated landscapes. As we entered the gardens we were greeted by period carts, oil lamps, flowers and sculptures. We paid our discounted entry since we were all seniors. Then we proceeded to the Autumn Harvest…
Bayside Walk
We wanted to go to the beach for a stroll because the weather seemed great for it. We decided to pass by this trail of murals in Mordialloc, which we saw previously but then it was still in the process of completion during the festival. It was like this then click here and it is…
Walking the Vibrant Town of Sassafras
Visiting a place I hadn’t been in a while was a true delight. While some familiar sights remained unchanged, many new additions had emerged. As we anticipated, the beautiful weather brought a bustling energy to the town last weekend. Sassafras, located in the Dandenong Ranges of Victoria, Australia, is a charming village known for its…
A stroll on Father’s Day
In Australia, Father’s Day is celebrated on the first Sunday of September, setting it apart from other countries. Last Saturday, we enjoyed a lovely lunch and stroll in Fitzroy, near my daughter’s place. We started with a meal at Blue Chillies, a Malaysian restaurant, and the food was absolutely delicious. After lunch, we wandered through…
A return to Montsalvat with Sis
TRAVEL DIARY: MONTSALVAT WITH SIS Its funny to experience the same thing with different people. You see how they react, and how they meet or subvert your expectations. I had a fantastic time at Montsalvat earlier this year with friends, so when my sister came to visit in April, I was excited to introduce her…
Public Art Walk
BRIGHTON & ST KILDA We had this walk on the 1st of April 2024. First stop was the Beach Boxes in Brighton which is a popular free destination whenever somebody from overseas comes along. Jack, Pilar and I walked from one end to the other, taking in the vibrant and varied designs of the houses…
Exploring Forest Glade Gardens
“And the secret garden bloomed and bloomed and every morning revealed new miracles.” – Frances Hodgson Burnett, The Secret Garden I previously posted the rebuilding of the Forest Glade Gardens, and now I’m excited to share a special walk my husband and I enjoyed there last May. I almost overlooked posting about it, but Anne-Christine’s Lens-Artists…
Being a tourist (in Melbourne)
We parked near Federation Square to take advantage of discounted parking—only $16 instead of $25. Great deal, right? Then we hopped on the tram, which was free within the tram zone area, so that didn’t cost us anything either. Headed straight to Askal. Traditional Filipino flavours in an upscale contemporary experience. Another birthday celebration for…
Day trip
TRAVEL DIARY: MORNINGTON PENINSULA Time went by so fast, and it has been more than three months now that my sister and my niece visited me here in Melbourne. Jack and I took them to Arthur’s Seat Eagle. Arthur’s Seat is a picturesque coastal landmark situated on the Mornington Peninsula in Victoria, Australia. We went…
A short stroll in Mornington
TRAVEL DIARY: MORNINGTON It was a sunny weekend so hubby and I decided to go out and enjoy our Sunday. About half an hour drive to Mornington Walked around the main town. And saw some stools and got envious of these cuties sitting on sun chairs. Then it was lunch at Betty’s Burgers. Heading away…
Royal Botanic Garden Sydney
TRAVEL DIARY: SYDNEY I’ve visited Sydney numerous times, yet I’ve never had the chance to explore the Botanic Gardens until now. One of the perks of hosting visitors from overseas is discovering places I wouldn’t typically think to visit. This is the entrance to the Gardens, Austtalia’s oldest botanic gardens with all its natural beauty….
Liverpool
TRAVEL DIARY: LIVERPOOL There are places I’ll rememberAll my life, though some have changed.Some forever, not for better;Some have gone and some remain.– the Beatles Even if you’re unaware, you’ll unmistakably sense when you’ve arrived in Liverpool—where everything transforms into a celebration of the Beatles. But first was dinner. We decided to go to Jollibee,…
Edinburgh
TRAVEL DIARY: EDINBURGH From York, we headed to Edinburgh, where Jack, Tim, and I spent three days and two nights at my cousin Connie’s place. Our visit was more about catching up and reminiscing than sightseeing. Last time I saw her was in 2016 with her late husband Rick, who drove us around Scotland.…from Glasgow,…
York
TRAVEL DIARY: YORK After a scenic 4.5-hour drive from Bristol, we reached York around 7 p.m. Hungry from the journey, we headed to Riverside Farm near our hotel for a delicious dinner of traditional English Roast with mash and gravy. It was the ideal way to unwind after our travels. After dinner, we were all…
Cotswolds – Castle Combe
TRAVEL DIARY: COTSWOLDS After our European holiday last October 2023, Jack, Tim, and I embarked on a six-day road trip to visit my cousin in Edinburgh. With my son’s commitments sandwiching our travel dates, we had to keep it brief, but having Tim behind the wheel amidst such stunning scenery made it all worthwhile. En…
Our last day in Porto
TRAVEL DIARY: PORTO 6 Before leaving our Airbnb, I suggested to my husband that we visit this church I’d seen on Instagram known for its stunning azulejos. Luckily, it was close to where we were staying. The Capela das Almas, an 18th-century chapel on Rua Santa Catarina, boasts a striking blue façade adorned with over…
Day Trip to Aveiro
and to Costa Nova do Prado TRAVEL DIARY: AVEIRO & PRAIA DE COSTA NOVA Though the days were totally wet, we couldn’t pass up the chance to explore beyond Porto, so we opted for a day trip to Aveiro. The train journey from Sao Bento to Aveiro, lasting about an hour and twenty minutes, was…
Misty Adventures in Porto
TRAVEL DIARY: PORTO 5 We took the Hop-On Hop-Off bus for the second day and our first stop was the Porto Cathedral. Perched on a hill overlooking the Duoro, Se do Porto is the most important cathedral and religious building in this city. Construction began in the 12th century and is mainly Baroque architecture but…
The Magic of Porto
TRAVEL DIARY: PORTO 4 Due to the persistent rain in the morning and looking like the same for the following days, we opted for a two-day hop-on-hop-off bus tour, conveniently stopping near our airbnb. From the top seats of the double decker bus we saw some amazing misty sceneries and public art. By the time…
Still wandering in Porto
TRAVEL DIARY: PORTO 3 BACK STORY: This is a continuation of my previous blog and this day, as I’ve said, it was pouring rain. While exploring, we stopped for lunch at a unique McDonald’s in downtown Porto, Portugal. Surprisingly, this restaurant, known as the McDonald’s Imperial, is housed in a historic café adorned with stunning…
Wandering in Porto
TRAVEL DIARY: PORTO 2 Since we were in Porto, we started our day with, you guessed it right, Portuguese tarts. Had it in the cafe right in front of the Livraria Lello. Livraria Lello is celebrated for its stunning blend of Neo-Gothic and Art Nouveau styles, making it a must-visit. Established in 1906, it’s among…
First impressions of Porto
TRAVEL DIARY: PORTO 1 After a brisk journey aboard the Alfa Pendular, Portugal’s flagship Pendolinoa high-speed train, we arrived in Porto just past midday, so we were starving from the trip. Near our Airbnb, we stumbled upon a nearby restaurant where, unsure of what to choose, we trusted the owner’s recommendations for our meal. Francesinha…
Around town on our last day
TRAVEL DIARY: LISBON 4 Did you know that Uber fares are incredibly cheap in Portugal? We stumbled upon this discovery during our visit to Sintra when we opted for a taxi. Glad we found out because since then, Uber has become our go-to mode of transportation. So this was our last day in Lisbon and…
Discovering the charm of Obidos
TRAVEL DIARY: OBIDOS The next stop on our day trip is Obidos. This is one place not to be missed when in Lisbon … a gorgeous medieval town perched on top of a hill. As we entered the town through Porta da Vila, the main gate, we were greeted by a stunning balcony adorned with…
Exploring Portugal’s Coastal Gem
TRAVEL DIARY: NAZARE As we were leaving Fatima, the rain started again. We resumed our journey toward Nazare approximately an hour’s drive ahead. Glad to see the blue skies as we were approaching town. Nazare is one of the most picturesque seaside towns in Portugal Proceeded to the market stalls. Legend has it that nobleman…
Fatima then and now
TRAVEL DIARY: FATIMA The story begins in the village of Fatima, Portugal, on May 13, 1917. On that fateful day near that tiny village, The Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God, appeared to three young peasant children: Francisco, Jacinta, and Lucia; ages 10, 9 and 7… As Catholics, hubby and I were interested to visit…
Exploring the Magic of Sintra’s Most Iconic Landmark
TRAVEL DIARY: SINTRA 2 Having marveled at the grandeur of the Quinta de Regaelera in the morning, we continue on our walk and immerse ourselves with the enchanting beauty of the Pena Palace in Sintra. My daughter Pat first introduced me to this palace in 2017 through a photo from her solo European trip, urging…