So after 6 months it was finally time to leave Melbourne. Much like when we left Hawke's Bay, we had much organizing to do and make our rounds of goodbyes! The last Monday before we left we had drinks with John's colleagues from his work--Jon from the kitchen, and Sally who worked with him on the floor. Bottles of wine and good times were had by all!
They also went out to a bar later but I was pooped! John was only working temporary work for the last 6 weeks while we were in Melbourne, after leaving his job at the Ludlow Formation just before we went to NZ. So I was the bread winner still working 40 hours (or as close as I could get) those last few weeks. Though, he did join the Zoo function staff for those last few weeks and we got to see each other more during the day! Well, he got to go around in the buggy pretending to work with my work friend Jesika's husband Hans, who also worked at the Zoo. They would visit us while we were actually doing work :) But yes, it was nice he got to meet all my Zoo friends as well because they were all very nice people, and I shall miss them!
So yes, John went out that night and to his delight our good friend Lewis from Ludlow and another girl Becs, who has just returned from a vacation in Thailand, went out after work to meet up with him and say their goodbyes!
The night before my last day of work it was time to head out with my friends! We met up for pizza and drinks at a trendy little bar on Brunswick Street just north of the city. Both the duty managers and all my zoo friends came out and I felt so loved! We had a great time chatting and not too long after everyone drifted downstairs for some good ole' booty shaking!
We had a great time and it was such a lovely send off. The following day was my last day of work! It was quite an easy day as we weren't very busy (we also had BOTH bistro managers there that day). So I got off early and the chef made me a nice pasta, I walked around and said my goodbyes, and before I left they gave me a nice bottle of wine and stuffed orangutang from the gift shop! It was so nice and I will keep it forever. That night was also my last night on the Tramcar and it was a nice night working with some nice co-workers and had really nice people on the tram. So after 6 months of practically the same work routine, that was it! All done!
But I must say while John and I had a . . . tempestuous . . . relationship with the city of Melbourne and her plethora of resident jerks, we were fortunate to make some really nice friends during our time there and they will be missed as we head on our travels North (though we can't say as much for the city)!
After spending all of Sunday packing up and cleaning the apartment making it spotless (which, I must say, our little apartment was fantastic and I will remember it fondly as one of my favorite things about Melbourne), we went out for dinner just the two of us to this restaurant right around the corner from us that we had always walked past but never been to. It was a gourmet Korean barbecue place and while we were uncertain of how to eat certain things, it was a delicious last meal in Melbourne-and the place was busy!
Oh yes, also one of the last nights before we gave away our small tabletop oven John decided to make a delicious dinner and top it off with some flan! (or creme caramel) It was delicious and I promised him I would post a picture:
The next morning it was time to pack up and go. If only it had been that easy! We woke up early and tried to catch public transport to the site in West Melbourne where we would pick up our first camper van. Of course, the bus we needed did not come so we ended up taking a taxi with a driver who, of course, took the longest route possible for us to get there. But we finally managed to get there and picked up the van which was an old Mitsubishi manual van with your basic bed, storage beneath, and a little cooking area in the back with a cooler and portable butane cooker with some plates, bowls, cutlery, and one pot and one pan. Oh, and as we rented it from this budget company called Wicked, the outside was two huge portraits in spray paint of Lou Reed and David Bowie. It wasn't the most ostentatious van they had, which was a relief, but it wasn't exactly the cleanest on the inside--a bit dingy with writing on the walls in permanent marker, but it would be an adventure! (Despite my initial hesitation). We headed back to the city, packed up the van, stopped on our way out to return our keys and such and finally we were on the road! The whole morning had been cloudy and dreary, and a bit rainy, as Melbourne tended to be those last few weeks, but as we drove over the bridge and out of the city proper the clouds parted and we were greeted with sunshine and blue sky as we headed on our first proper Aussie Adventure! First stop: The Great Ocean Road!
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