There is nothing better than going away with your girlfriends. You can guarantee it is full of laughs which is great for the soul and working out those stomach muscles, your friendship generally deepens as little secrets are revealed and if you are like my friends there is nothing better than amazing food , great cocktails , retail therapy ( which actually this trip we did not participate in ) and spending time at a spa.
This trip was with a longterm girlfriend I have been friends with her as long as I have been with my husband and she is one of those friends that is always there been through ups and downs , good times and bad times and a trip away to Melbourne with my friend was just what we both needed.
We both tend to enjoy the finer things in life and my friend organised this whole trip it was our birthdays and we deserved it !
After our 2 hour flight from the Gold Coast which I must say as a mum of 3 there is nothing better than not been able to move for 2 hours just sitting there reading a brand new book without someone needing a toilet or food or breaking up a squabble. Yes my girlfriend took herself of to the toilet , brought her own food and we do not squabble well only over who is going to have the last drop of champagne and we normally fix that by ordering another bottle.
Our choice of hotel was The Crown Towers which over looks the Yarra River on The Southbank which is a great spot for whatever you may be doing in Melbourne. After a light lunch in the waiting room and a wander around the shops of Crown it was time to get ready for our night out.
Our first night was dinner at Vue de Monde at the top of the Rialto on Collins street. We arrived at 5.30 pm so we could enjoy the view of Melbourne as the sunset and started with a cocktail in Lui bar which is definetly as they state the epitome of class and charisma. Lui bar boasts an extensive wine , champagne ,beer and spirit collection. My girlfriend always enjoys a Cosmopolitin and I am a tini girl anything with tini at the end I will try. The service was top class , views sensational and the cocktails did not dissapoint.
We were then escorted in to Vue Du Monde the design of the restaurant reflects on Australian history and brings back the glory days of Melbourne during the gold rush. We had an exceptional Chefs Tasting Menu with an Australian twist and of course no tasting menu would be complete without the wines to perfectly match.The head Sommelier was attentive and charming and was very passionate about his wines as you walk in to the restaurant there is a 20 meter glass enclosed cellar with over 1500 bottles of wine and they house a further 7000 bottles in their downstairs cellar. Once again the service was second to none as soon as a napkin was dropped it was replaced if you visited the ladies an arm was given to help you across the floors in your heals. All staff were very charming and I think had attended flirt school as they certainly knew how to make 2 old chicks in the city feel good about themselves.
After dinner it was time to head back to Lui Bar and have an Espresso Martini of course it has tini at the end what else would you have as a nightcap ! This time the bar had a totally different atmosphere from when we had our pre dinner drink it was a perfect way to finish the night with fun and frivolity and after six and a half hours we certainly left enchanted and merry.
It was then back to Crown where we could sleep the night away with no interruptions from anyone whatsoever just what a mum needs every now and then .