Angels, Saints and a little slice of Devil's food gateau Heaven

My mission today was to see how the other half live...or maybe not. The excursion was to Melbourne's general cemetery researching a scene that takes place in my book. It is one of the quirks people have to love about me that I like to visit cemeteries and be with the dead people. They are great company, no seriously. Reading the names on headstones can keep me amused for hours on end and it is a fascinating lesson in history to read about their life through their death.

This cemetery is gobsmackingly huge. Imagine the biggest cemetery you can think of and times it by six. That's how big Melbourne's cemetery is. I'm talking enormous here. As far at the eye could see in every direction stretches row upon row of black marble, white marble, concrete and stone. Angels, pietas, crucifx, monuments, Madonnas and saints, they are all there in groups of Chinese, Jews, Greeks, Italians, English. Every colour and creed is represented here but the dominant theme is Christian. Ave Maria, alla cara memoria, eterno riposo, mother, father, sinner, saint the line up is a who's who of Melbourne's past. Raftopoulos rests next to Leung. In the next avenue are the Dawsons alongside the Vizzinis. The cemetery is as much a melting pot as the living City of Melbourne. The Italian graves are the most interesting. Glossy black marble embossed with gold lettering and photographs of loved ones. Arcangela, Nunziato, Benedetta, Crescendo. Beautiful names for beautiful people the photographs are all of tough old settlers. I did not see one grave belonging to a child. These are all hardy people who lived long and prosperous lives. Their families still come to visit them, black clad with respect for parents and grandparents who died twenty years ago. The Italians are a tight knit clan. After walking much further than anticipated in high heels I felt that I needed a wee Carlton special treat.

One word then...Brunettis. For anyone familiar with this magnificent establishment,the name says it all. Brunettis is an Italian pasticceria, paninoteca, gelateria and caffe in Carlton and an offspring kiosk in City Square on Swanston Street. It is a little slice of Italy's finest gateaux bringing all the best of classic Roman decadence to Melbourne. Mmmmm. At this point I am struggling to find words to best describe Brunettis except that it is a Mecca for indulging the palette. It's like a Monet for the taste buds. When I die I want to be buried at Brunettis alongside the pistachio choux pastry and tiramisu. Brunettis is like an Armani suit. In the immortal words of Cole Porter, you're the tops, you're the toy balloon that is fated soon to go POP! And pop I certainly would if I spend too long at Brunettis.