16 DAYS OF TRAVELLING

It wasn’t really the plan well, but as usual the lockdown happened so all my plan changed. So for my birthday in July I wanted to go to Sydney to celebrate a bit and then do a road trip going back to Melbourne passing by Canberra and Thredbo but it was impossible because the second lockdown of the 2021 happened so my only chance was to go now to Sydney try to work there a bit and then visit Canberra work there as well, then enjoy the mountains in New South Wales and coma back to Melb.

( Thredbo Village in New South Wales )

DAY 1 – Wednesday 09.06.21

( Night at: Ignenia Holidays Avina, Vineyard )

I woke up at 4:30 am getting ready to leave Melbourne, the driver Glenn came to pick me up at the Hostel at 5 am as we decided the day before, at the same time also my Chinese roommate Yvonne was leaving to go back to China so we said good bye and we left our room number 401 on the fourth floor of The Village Hostel. So I jumped on the car with the driver and we went to take the proper car with the dog trail just a bit out of Melbourne, than we drove to Geelong were we did the first stop at the house fo David the guy that contact me on Facebook unless the owner of the Woofer Pet Transport and he gave us the first dog which is a greyhound puppy. After we did one more stop in Geelong and then we went in the opposite side of Melbourne at Nar Nar Goon where we picked up a puppy French bulldog of only 8 weeks, after finally we could leave Melbourne for real around 10 am which it was pretty late honestly. Then we stopping a farm to collect seven puppies in Waaia after Shepperton and then after that we went to Albury were we stopped for lunch at 4 pm in the motorway actually a bit after Albury precisely at Lavington and we collect and other puppy French bulldog of three months. Then we keep driving till Crowa where we dropped of the puppy Greyhound that David give it to us the first dog that we picked up. The way started to be really long Glenn he started to get tired and bored, then we had also few fornitures that he was transporting that they weren’t fixed well so few times we stopped to block them, and also started to rain a lot and we were going to the mountains in the middle of no where in NWS so it was definitely an adventure and we realise that we could be in Syd around 2 am after all day drinking which it was too much, but Glenn he will stop to sleep before SDY in Vineyard where he suggested me to stop there to sleep as well because they have a spare room, David approved my stayed there as well and he willl drop me off the day after in SYD. Since we were getting boring we stopped on the way in a pub to buy same beer to drink on the even if it’s not really allowed. After other hours of driving we stopped at Wallerawang to drop off the French bulldog of three months and then we drop off the 8 weeks puppy French Bulldog around mid night. Before we went to Vineyard we started to drink a bit to celebrate Glenn birthday, and yes it was his birthday, it was fun drinking smoking and listening to the music with the dogs on the back that they were a bit noisy. Finally 1:30 am we arrived at Ignenia Holidays Avina which is a caravan park with little bungalow, I’ve got my own room double bed which it was fantastic but unfortunately the alarm will be at 7 am.

DAY 2 – Thursday 10.06.21

( Night at: Sydney Backpackers Hostel )

I woke up at 7 am getting ready to hit the road again and do few pick up and drop off in the area and then Glenn will drop off me. First we went to Richmond to pick up a Greyhound dog and then to Agnes Banks to pick up again an other Greyhound adult dog. Then we went to Ryde and we dropped off the seven Cavoodles puppys and we picked up other two. And then was the time ti said goodbye to Glenn that he dropped me off at the train station and I jumped on the train that it took around an hour to arrived in Town Hall were I get off and I went to do the check in at the Sydney Backpackers Hostel in Town Hall definitely in the heart of the CBD. Once I did the check in I just went straight to my bedroom a six female room and I straight slept till 6 am. Then when I woke up I was still over tired from the trip it was a really exhausted day but I had to go to work so I went to Mcdonald I eat something and I went to work at Men’s Gallery, till 3 am.

DAY 3 – Friday 11.06.21

( Night at: Sydney Backpackers Hostel )

( Inside of the Queen Victoria building, Sydney )

I slept all morning then around 1 am I woke up, I made myself ready and I went for lunch at the Esquire restaurant in the Victoria building which it was amazing I forgot what the good life was after sprain my ankle and only working. But still I was very tired and I just went back to the hostel to sleep till 6 pm that I went to the Woolly to buy something to eat before going to work which I started the shift at 7 pm. Tonight at work there is also Havana my friend from Melbourne that she could come over because in Victoria they ease the Covid restriction so we worked together it was nice see her again and work together.

DAY 4 – Saturday 12.06.21

( Night at: Sydney Backpackers Hostel )

( Town Hall with the rainbow flag for the Pride month )

I woke up early at 8 am and I got ready to go to the dentist at 10 am which it was very early but I have to go, she did the cleaning and she check all my teeth which they are pretty bad honestly. After I went for lunch at McDonald and then I slept all noon till 7 pm which I went to holly again and I went to the club to work at 8 pm. Same as yesterday fortunately there was my friend Havana which we worked as a team and was very fun honestly and I went back home at 4 am.

DAY 5 – Sunday 13.06.21

( Night at: Sydney Backpackers Hostel )

( Opera House building in Sydney )

I woke up around mid day and I went for a walk around Darling Harbour which it was really great a sunny day with summer vibes I definitely loved it a lot, but I couldn’t find a place to eat because Sunday everywhere was pretty busy unfortunately so I went to Hungry Jacks to eat something and then I come back to sleep for a bit and around 7 pm I started to get ready and I went to work before to try to get more money because I supposed to work at 10 pm but it was very busy since the day after will be public holiday due to the Queen’s birthday. So this was the last night of work in Sydney and I did alone because Havana she went to clubbing.

DAY 6 – Monday 14.06.21

( Night at: Sydney Backpackers Hostel )

( Oyster aperitif in The Living Room at Park Hyatt Sydney )

I tried to woke up king of early around mid day basically and I got ready to visit The ground of Alexandria which is really famous and I never been there. It was nice but lee than what looks like on Instagram honestly and I could’t find a spot to eat so eat at McDonald’s and then I come back to the Hostel rest a little bit and make myself ready to have a night out. First I went to drink at The living room in the Park Hyatt Home in Sydney which it was amazing the the oyster were delicious. After the aperitif I went to have a diner at 6HEADS restaurant which is pretty famous and I really wanted to try it, I enjoy it a lot honestly and then I walk around the Sydney harbour to contemplate the places the harbour, the bridge, the opera house. Everything simply just amazing I love Sydney so much honestly I wish I could live there one day again maybe.

DAY 7 – Tuesday 15.06.21

( Night at: Sydney Backpackers Hostel )

( Sea urchin, trout roe and avruga tart. Dinner at Hubert restaurant in Sydney )

I woke up early and and at mid day I went to the Tea Room for the breakfast and then at 2:45 pm I went to the dentist again in Estwood where she has her office. Then I come back in the city and I did a bit of shopping at H&M for the evening, which I come back in the hostel I get ready and I went out for a dinner at Hubert restaurant which it was absolutely amazing probably my favourite restaurant in Sydney I loved it.

DAY 8 – Wednesday 16.06.21

( Night at: Sydney Backpackers Hostel )

( Tamara Beach, Sydney )

I Woke up early and I tooth train and then the bus to go to Bronte Beach which I never been because when I was living in Sydney was raining most of the time and I was focused on working actually so I didn’t really travel around honestly. When I arrived in Bronte I immediately went to Bronte Bath which it was really nice I loved the summer vibes around, I tried as well the water, obviously was very cold even if few person were swimming or surfing.Later I walk up north till Tamara Becah which it was as well spectacular with an amazing beach with a very clean water and then I keep walk till Bondi which I stepped for few photos at the Bondi Icebeg that are amazing and then I walked along the Bech till the opposite side which I arrived at The Depot where I stopped for a brunch which I loved it was very nice. Then I went to the Westfield in Bondi Junction to buy a new luggage because the backpack wasn[‘t enough after the shopping and not really comfortable. I went back to the hostel in the evening planning to work or go out but I was too tired that I just lied in the bed and I went to sleep. And I planned to escape from Sydney because the found one Covid case which it could be already a lot for Australia so going to Canberra it will be the safest solution and wait for Melbourne to reopen.

DAY 9 – Thursday 17.06.21

( Night at: YHA Hostel, Canberra )

( morning walk in the Sydney Harbour with the bridge view )

I woke up pretty early I organised everything and before 10 am I did the check out and left the luggage in the Hostel, and I took the tram to Circular Quay which is the Sydney Harbour and I walk around there, till the Opera House to enjoy the last day I Sydney. I was fabulous not to cold and sunny with no people around so peaceful that I loved it even more then used and I could enjoy the atmosphere. I did the breakfast at Guylian Belgian Chocolate Cafe very lovely and then I went back to Town Hall and I walk to Darling Harbour again and finally I could stop at the Niki’s restaurant for lunch which it wasn’t that busy as Sunday and I could find a table that I liked to enjoyed the summer vibes withe the harbour view. After I come back to the hostel I take my luggage and I went to the Greyhound Bus stop to wait the bus to go to Canberra at 3 pm, it was kind of a long way actually well basically four hours on the bus because I arrived in Canberra at 7 pm. I went straight to the hostel I did the check in and left everything there and I stopped at the supermarket in front of the Hostel to grab something to eat and then I call Uber to go to the Club which is kind of far away from the city. I supposed to met the owner at 8 pm but I arrived a bit in late, he did me a quick induction and then I got ready to go on the floor and at 3 am I went back home, it was alright not many rules I liked it but it was very quiet.

DAY 10 – Friday 18.06.21

( Night at: YHA Hostel, Canberra )

( At the Hostel organising everything to go to the mountains in the next days )

I woke up kind of early and I went to the information poi to have few more information regarding the tours to go to the mountain but I could’t find anything that I really wanted because as usual everything stop working due to the Covid pandemic that there are no more tourist in the country. But anyway I found a solution get to the mountain with a a Greyhound bus and sty there two night that was the minimum requested for the YHA Hostel in Thredbo. After organising everything I eat something mine while and then I went to sleep a bit til 6:30 pm that I get ready to go to work at 7 pm, it was terrible very quiet but I had no choices I already decided to stay few days in Canberra but never again to work.

DAY 11 – Saturday 19.06.21

( Night at: YHA Hostel, Canberra )

( In front of the Canberra Centre, ACT )

Basically I just slept all day because I couldn’t sleep the night before so I just rest and then I got ready to go to work again at 8 pm even if I was absolutely not motivated and in fact wasn’t very busy and a bit after 3 am I left because I was really done wth that place honestly even if the people and the management were nice it was impossible make money.

DAY 12 – Sunday 20.06.21

( Night at: YHA Hostel, Canberra )

( the War Memorial monument, Canberra )

I’ve tried to wake up early and get ready to eat something at Gus’s Place for brunch which I really like it and then I started to discover Canberra, which I took the bus and I went to the Australian War Memorial which it was very interesting actually, I liked it and the building was massive just facing the Australian Parliament for km aways very monumental. After I walked around a little bit in the city but isn’t something amazing anyway I liked it even if it was very cold, freezing. I get ready in the hostel to go out for a dinner and basically the only place open on Sunday ask the Monster Restaurant at the Ovolo Hotels which is something that I really wanted to visit because I liked the photos that I previously saw of the build and look really particular. Regarding the restaurant it was okay well I’m not anymore vegetarian and this was a vegetarian restaurant so I didn’t really enjoyed personally even if everything was delicious but I prefer most the environment honestly. After I went back to the Hostel and I called my mum a bit because due to the escape and the work I didn’t really had the time to speak wit her.

DAY 13 – Monday 21.06.21

( Night at: YHA Hostel, Canberra )

( New Australian Parliament House, Canberra )

I worked up around 9 am in the hostel room with the fire alarm that was ringing, well not the best way to woke up but anyway, so I get ready and I went to do the winter shopping at the Canberra Centre which I bought The North Face winter jacket and then a pair of Levi’s just because I’m running out of jeans. After I did a bit of groceries, well I had a lunch at the hostel and then I took the bus and I went to the Parliament House it was a really nice experience I went inside of the new and the old Parliament that they are facing each others. I walk through the Questacon – National Science and Technology Centre which I couldn’t get in due to the sold out tickets the I went to the Australian Museum when I tried to enter I realised that I left the locked open in my hostel room so I catch an Uber quickly and I went to the hostel, fortunately everything was there, I was very lucky. So then I started to get ready to go out for a dinner. Today for a dinner I wanted to try a fine dining restaurant in Canberra which it calls Courgette Restaurant, well it was amazing really nice experience and this restaurant life I really started to like it. Then I just come back to the hostel to sleep because anyway there is nothing to do to in Canberra after dinner.

DAY 14 – Tuesday 22.06.21

( Night at: YHA Hostel, Thredbo Village NSW )

( Thredbo Village, New South Wales )

I woke up at 9 am I prepare everything and at 10 am I did the check out, I did the breakfast in the Hostel and then I went to catch the bus to go to the mountains in Thredbo at 11:15 am. The run to the Village will take about four hours but the scenario was very good I liked it and in the middle of the way we also did a stop. The I arrived in Thredbo at 3 pm, I went immediately to the Hostel to do the check in and drop off the luggage and then I went around to explore the village. I walk around, taking few photos and I took my first hot chocolate in Australia with cream and marshmallow it was delicious. Then I went back to the hostel because gets dark pretty soon, and then I get ready to go out for a dinner at Black Bear Inn which it was very nice I loved it, very delicious food.

DAY 15 – Wednesday 23.06.21

( Night at: YHA Hostel, Thredbo Village NSW )

( Merritts Gondola in Thredbo Village NSW )

I woke up at 8 am I got ready and I went around to take few photos in the village, then I grab a breakfast at the ski station and at 11 am I took the Merritts Gondola to go up to the mountain where everyone is skiing there, but there is also a restaurant where I stopped there obviously for an hot chocolate because it was very freezing over cold. Then in the early afternoon I went down to the Village I took few more photos around but the started to rain so I had to go back to the Hostel where I just chilled and relax a bit before going hot for the dinner. Tonight for the dinner I changed the place I went to the Candlelight Lodge which I could really feel the mountain atmosphere in the restaurant of tonight but as well at the one of yesterday night, I really appreciate the mountain vibes.

DAY 16 – Thursday 24.06.21

( Night at: YHA Hostel, Canberra )

( Thredbo Village, New South Wales )

I woke up around 9 am I packed everything and I did the check out at 10 am. Unfortunately it still rain from yesterday I was very unlucky because online the weather was supposed to snow actually not to rain but is gravely raining from yesterday and probably all day. So I just run to the Bakery in the main square to grab the last hot chocolate and something to eat and then I went back to the hostel just chilling and writing in the living room waiting for the bus at 4:30 pm to go back to Canberra. I really liked the mountain atmosphere even if there wasn’t a lot snow and even if I couldn’t really enjoyed the three days due to the rain but I kind of missed the mountain and the snow. It was a long time without being in the mountain actually well the winter before coming to Australia I didn’t really see the snow because I was living in Paris a bit the winter before when I was in Italy I saw the snow but not too much honestly. So it was really nice experience and I want to learn how to ski or snowboarding just to try a new sport in my life and probably I have to do it now this it could be the good occasion maybe in the mountains in Victoria. At 4:30 pm I took the bus to go back to Canberra and I arrived at 19:50 pm and I went back to the Hostel were I was staying before at the YHA in the City which I booked it for one night, and I went immediately to sleep tired of all the travelling.

DAY 17 – Friday 25.06.21

( National Portrait Gallery, Canberra )

I woke up kind of early around 9 am and I went to Gus’s place to do the breakfast and then I took the bus to go to visit the National Portrait Gallery which I haven’t do it few days ago, it was really nice visit again a Gallery and see a bit of art honestly and after I went to the National Gallery of Australia which it very very interesting and quite huge as well, definitely liked the day experience. After I come back to the Hostel I picked up my luggage and I order Uber to go to the airport that at 6:40 pm I do have my flight with virgin to go back to Melbourne and to work at the night since is Friday.