Thornbury Fromagerie

Thornbury Fromagerie

Welcome to my new favourite place in Melbourne. In Thornbury. Where I live. The Thornbury Fromagerie. A short $8 AUD Uber from home. I could walk there it is that close. Winning in life! Imagine my absolute pleasure and utter delight in finding out early in 2020 that there was FINALLY a Fromagerie in my…

Zsa's Bar Bistro Deli

Zsa’s Bar Bistro Deli

Zsa’s Bar Bistro Deli is a Mediterranean inspired one stop shop/café/bar/bistro located on High Street, Northcote. Opening a business in the middle of a global pandemic is definitely no easy feat. Trust me I know (I started my business Smart Artist Management *** at the start of 2020). But to open a restaurant while Melbourne…

Le Café Flo

Le Café Flo Thornbury

What is now fast becoming the ‘French Quarter’ of the inner northern suburbs of Melbourne is the local staple Le Café Flo. Located on busy High Street, Thornbury, Le Café Flo has been around for several years and I have been a happy patron for as many years as they’ve been open. Owned by Frenchman…

Rome Colosseum

Colosseum Tour: Arena Floor

I cannot stress to you that while in Rome and doing tours, especially the Colosseum Tour: Arena Floor that you really should be paying the little bit more to do a ‘Skip the Line’ tour. Who wants to be spending a good portion of their holiday waiting for entry into a famous historical site or…

St Peter's Basilica

Vatican Museum Tour

For my Vatican Museum tour, I chose a ‘Skip the line’ through City Wonders. Mainly and importantly because I didn’t want to stuff around losing precious time waiting in line to get into to the Vatican. For cost of the ticket ($101 AUD), and 3 hours in the Vatican, I’d pay it again over and…

Streaty Food Tour Florence

Vera’s Rooftop Tour Florence

When researching tours to do in Florence I wanted to try something different. Like really different. Sure, there’s plenty of wine, history and art tours. But I wanted something that combined everything, with a twist. Cause I am a twist kind of gal. So why not try out Vera’s Rooftop Tour. So, on a rainy late Florentine afternoon, I find myself…

Streaty Food Tour Florence

Streaty Food Tour Florence

After doing a Streaty tour in Venice I was really keen to do another one in another of the cities they covered. Streaty have just started doing Food tours in Florence. So I was happy to be a part of the start of something, especially when it comes to food. This was a tour for me.  I met my…

Chianti Winery Tour

Chianti Wine Tour

Well of course I was going to do a wine tour in Chianti while in Tuscany. What a no brainer!! After getting lost trying to find the meeting point for this tour (it was a fair distance from the train station) I finally found my way to quite an organised set up. Quickly herded onto a big coach bus…

Florence Apartment The Bright Eyed Explorer

Florence Apartment

There was nothing I could find wrong with this place. Clean and filled with everything you need for an extended stay. The apartment is very secure with numerous locked entry points to the actual apartment.  Easy communication with the owner upon booking and with arrival with the owner’s mother whom was absolutely lovely. Armed with…

The Bright Eyed Explorer Parione One

Hotel in Florence

What a cute little place to stay. Loved it  Initially it is hard to find, as there is no signage until you walk into the small foyer. Even then it is confusing. For a while there I thought I was lost but admittedly I was early and the reception area wasn’t yet open.  The staff here are incredible. Very…

Bologna food market

Best of food in Bologna

The tour was run by Elisabeth whom I discovered through AirBnB experiences. Elisabeth is actually from the Netherlands but I specifically chose her to take the tour so I could gain an outsider’s perspective on living in Bologna.  Elisabeth is a student and attends university in Bologna. Specifically choosing Bologna for the chance to learn more about Italian food, art and culture.  The…

Le casine di Vladimir

Bologna Apartment : Le Casine Di Vladimir

Apartment in Bologna  I stayed two nights in Le Casine Di Vladimar whilst in Bologna. The apartment is about a ten minute walk from the main train station and less than ten minutes from the Centro Storico (main centre). There are some great café’s, bars, restaurants and grocery stores close by. Easily accessible on the second floor of the apartment building. The apartment is secure…

Venice Canals

Ca’ Due Leoni – Venice

Ca’ Due Leoni is old school Venice. Set in the Cannaregio area of Venice the hotel is about a 5 minute walk from the train station. Or in my case 20 minutes as I managed to get myself lost at every turn. The hotel is hidden away in a little courtyard which makes it nice and quiet, being away…

Streaty Venice Tour

Streaty food tour – Venice

This was my first, but not the last time using Streaty for a walking tour while in Italy. I found them on AirBnb experiences and thought that what they had to offer suited what I was looking for in Venice.  I chose to do the Venice food and wine evening tour which was hosted by a very knowledgeable local. Meeting point…

Dinner is served at Rata, Queenstown

Fine Dining in Queenstown

I’ll start with saying, I am a moderately experienced fine diner. And with a great foodie reputation of course I was excited to try out some of Queenstown’s finest. I always like to treat myself to one ‘fancy’ dinner experience while travelling abroad. I go all out, and why shouldn’t I? When it came to…

Fergburger Queenstown

Fergburger

‘In Ferg we trust” it says on the sign above the door at Fergburger at 42 Shotover Street, Queenstown, and after a burger or two, you know that you can’t do anything else but trust. And love. And love I most certainly did. There is so much hype that surrounds Fergburger. So much so, that…

Bergen Bors Hotel

Bergen Bors Hotel

Bergen has many a great hotel, but most are well beyond the mid range budget. Especially if you want to stay close to the water. However I was lucky enough to stumble across a true gem of a mid range motel. Immediately upon walking into Bergen Bors to enquire about a room I was met…

Auberge Flora - Paris

Auberge Flora – Paris

Auberge Flora Really enjoyed my stay at the Auberge Flora. The staff were really attentive, creating a personalised experience. Always happy to help and welcome you back after a day of exploring Paris. The bed was a highlight, super comfortable after 22 hours of flying. Rooms were immaculately clean and tidy and the food for…

Outback Pioneer Hotel, Uluru

Outback Pioneer Hotel

Located within the Ayers Rock Resort complex at Yulara, the Outback Pioneer Hotel is a practical choice for the budget conscious without compromising on comfort and amenities. Staying anywhere within the Ayers Rock Resort is considerably expensive by Australian standards and for the cost per night of a room the Outback Pioneer Hotel is nothing…