Friday in Melbourne – 25 Years in the Ma

After almost 25 years since we first got to know each other while studying abroad, I finally made it to see Hannah in Melbourne – something I’d always meant to do, but somehow… it took me a quarter of a century. We’ve met in between over the years, but visiting her in Australia had been on my list for way too long. And what a day it turned out to be.

I got to meet her wonderful partner Matt, their sweet dog Olive, and Matt’s hilarious-looking but completely lovable cat, who totally stole my heart with its oddball charm and gentle soul.

We set off from Port Melbourne, cruising down the coast to check out some iconic spots: the colourful bathing boxes at Brighton Beach, followed by a coffee and cake stop near the nostalgic Luna Park – the perfect little break before our evening adventures.

Later, we picked up Matt and headed into Fitzroy to kick off the night. First drink was at Naked for Satan, where the rooftop views at sunset were just magic. We kept the evening rolling with another bar stop where we met Hannah’s brother Sam and his partner, and then moved on to another lively Fitzroy hangout – name forgotten, fun not.

Dinner was at little Japanese Izakaya spot where we enjoyed some delicious dishes. The perfect night ended with a scoop of what might honestly be the best pistachio sorbet I’ve ever had – milk-free, rich, and pure joy in a cone.

Melbourne, Fitzroy, and old friends – it was worth the wait!Read more