St Kilda

St Kilda Cenotaph

Luna Park

A day of exploring the sights of St Kilda is our plan for today. Our route takes us down Fitzroy Street, watching the racing trucks come out of the park rolling on to their next racing destinations. Then it’s turn left at the seafront and carry on past the St Kilda Cenotaph to the Palais Theatre and Luna Park, which we discover is closed today, so we have to be content with looking at the rides over the wall. The theatre has had a show on last night and the roadies are busy loading out the gear. Dave’s eager to have a look inside at the art deco building but I’m not so keen just in case I get given a job!

Palais Theatre

Our meanderings take us further along Marine Parade to the marina, unfortunately we’ve stepped onto the wrong section of the walkway as a cyclist gruffly tells us, “this is a cycle way only”, oops. Time for a coffee and as we sit there, I’m fascinated by the triple level small boat-shed, I mean, how do they get the top ones down? Also, there are lots of people returning with sky diving gear, Dave suggests I have a go, the answer is an emphatic NO.

St Kilda Botanical Gardens

St Kilda Botanical Gardens

We take a turn off the coast road and reach the St Kilda Botanical Gardens, they may be small in area but they do have a nice cross section of native trees, ornamental planting and a rose garden. We’re now walking through the residential streets of St Kilda, there seems to be a mix of modern apartments and old Victorian style houses both large and small, all in various states of repair. Our route takes us up Acland Street, an area rich with small eateries and back to the lower end of Fitzroy Street. This end of Fitzroy seems to be attracting several rough sleepers and feels less desirable than the upper part of the street. This is made more so from my point of view as I experience a direct hit from one of the many birds in the trees above us. Time for a quick return trip to The Icon for a change of clothes.

Restored Old home

Small is beautiful!

Our last evening in St Kilda should be memorable, we’ve decided to try the Windsor Ale House for a beer, it’s very like a traditional English pub and Dave tells me the beer is good, I’m sure this would be a favourite if we lived here. For our last meal here, we had picked a Sri Lankan restaurant but unfortunately, it’s shut, so a walk down Fitzroy Street takes us to The Prince of Wales. Now, it’s kerb appeal I think you would describe as a bit grungy, but the Art Deco building is crying out for a refurb. Fortunately, the Prince Dining Room has had just that, completed in December. It’s retained all the Art Deco features, rounded, tiled balconies, smaller paned windows, ceiling fans and enhanced them with curved booth type seating. The menu is equally unusual and middle eastern, hummus with baked chickpeas and pitta breads to start. To follow, skewered lamb with marinated chilli sauce, tabbouleh, wood oven potatoes and roasted carrots, so much food. Sitting at the end groaning, as we’re so full a scurrying movement catches my eye and we both realise at the same time, mouse on the loose, either that or a very large furry spider and neither of us are offering to evict it! Time to leave.