Day trip into the CBD – The Tea Rooms 1892 – and a spot of shopping

24 Jul Day trip into the CBD – The Tea Rooms 1892 – and a spot of shopping

Yesterday was a fun adventure!!

My client was not answering her phone and our agreement is to leave her in peace if that is the case. And so, I was at a loose end. . . When I left my home in my semi-dishevelled state, from not having enough sleep (and having plans changed at that early hour of the morning), I did not know where I was off to. I just felt that I needed to get OUT, and I knew that I had to do some work. A cafe seemed like the best spot for this kind of activity.

I remember walking past my corner store, and something made me think about the Beekeeper Parade bag shop, that is now in the city. I had visited this shop in Brunswick Street in Fitzroy, back when I did the Greenie tour and had tried to go back there when I was in the market for a new backpack. Unfortunately, the Fitzroy store was a COVID casualty. However, I later found out (via Instagram) that they have a store in the cbd now.

So. . . I wondered if that might be a nice destination. . . Also, because I thought that Turtle was maybe in the city (if he is still there, , , I DON’T KNOW 🙁 )

Off on an adventure

In any case, I got on my pegs and got to the tram stop. It was running late, for whatever reason, and I started to wobble. Also, I hadn’t heard from Turtle, , , so I thought maybe I should shelve this idea and go to the gym or work somewhere local to save some time.

I started walking up Smith Street to my favourite cafe in Collingwood. It was nice to stop there for a while. I sorted out some receipts, chatted to the staff and drank a Yerba Matte drink. It was lovely to see them ((all)).

While I was there, I got a ‘message’ from Turtle that said (what I thought was something like) ‘I think it is a good idea to go into the city’. So, I missed a tram or two, but got on one and went into the CITY!!

I got off the tram at the stop BEFORE Swanston, because I was trying to be tricky. . . It was handy Andy, because it got me walking past JB HIFI and I went in and had some strong words with them about my phone charger bank (which has never worked)) . They were very kind and amenable, , , I hope they can FIX it. It is so annoying. By this stage, I had 50 % charge on my phone, and I had no idea what I was wearing (but it wasn’t particularly pretty ESPECILLAY, , , my shoes, , , which never feel right, , , and never seem to work, ,, , except , , , with pants perhaps, , , but ANYWAYYYY).

Another new bag?!

After I went to JB, something, (or someone), , , I can’t remember what, , , but maybe I saw a Crumpler messenger bag reminded me of Crumpler. .. I wasn’t sure WHAT I needed from there, but it seemed like a good idea to go a less direct route to my destination of 11 Centre Place, where Beekeeper is located.

I walked along Little Bourke Street and found Crumpler, , , just past Elizabeth Street (???) I think that was right!! I went in, and instantly realised that I could buy a SMALL bag, which I had seen my friend wear when she was going to pilates, , , and I had been craving since.

I tried on a yellow bag, and it felt like it was TOO much colour for my style, then I tried a black, , , small pouch bag, , , which seemed fine, , , if a little small perhaps and boring. . . I came across this bad boy, , , and it fit pretty much EVERYTHING in!! And it had a cord for keys, , , as well as a secure place for my phone, and was big enough for my water bottle, wallet, , , sunnies, , , etc.

So I bought the little man, , , hehe, , , He is green, blue and red (inside and the cord), so I feel like that it is most of my colours sorted (on some level).

Then what?

I stopped for a toilet break, at the toilets outside H & M and was disgusted to find that a homeless person had to bathe in cold water there, , , because they turn off the hot water, , , which is probably to keep the place from being over run, I suppose, since it is OPEN to the public, but it felt a little mean. . .

Then I felt like I NEEDED a drink of some sort, and to sit down.

I started walking through the arcade between Little Collins Street and Collins Street. I am not sure what that ARCADE is called, but it is located on the Elizabeth Street side of Little Bourke Street. There were some cafes in some alleys there, and some (potentially) pushy people out the front, which always makes me feel so uncomfortable.

I would have sat down perhaps, , , but for their drinks. It seems to me that in the CITY at least, the only drinks are sparkling minearl water, sugary soda drinks or lemon lime and bitters (again) sugar. . . So, I kind of absconded, and went further into the guts of the laneways, until I reached Block Arcade.

Ah, , , at last!!

This cafe , , , the Tea Rooms 1892 (formerly Hopetoun Tea Rooms), looked like such a miracle in the desert. I felt that I would sit there no matter what they had available.

I did not feel like sitting inside. , , (because I often feel a little claustrophic, but am getting better at this) and got a menu and sat at a table in the arcade. They had all the same drinks as above too. However, they also had a blood red grapefruit drink which was exactly what I WANTED. . . so, , , I was SOLD!

1892 Tea Rooms

I realised after I had sat there for a while that this cafe is the one I sit at home and get visions of when I am wanting to go on some kind of leisurely adventure into the city. . . And so it felt like I was in the right place.

The scent from the perfumery next door, , , (Essensorie??) was absolutely divine. . . I loved it a lot!