Winter Magic Festival & the Priests Cottage at Leura

This weekend just gone, boyfriend and I went for a weekend away to the Winter Magic Festival in Katoomba.

We stayed at the priests cottage in Leura which was a nice little self contained granny flat type of place:

That is the main residence at the front and up the driveway on the left hand side is priests cottage.

Lounge room/bedroom - the bed was ULTRA comfortable, nice and firm with soft velvety blankets and marshmallow pillows!! (not literally)

Kitchenette - no oven :( I was going to make cookies :(

The bathroom - heated towel racks and the best shower ever......it was like showering under a waterfall!!

After eat a sustaining breakfast of pancakes (delicious I might add) we headed off to Katoomba and got the BEST PARKING SPOT EVERR!! I'm always really lucky with parking spots and the luck continued :)

The whole of Katoomba Street is closed off for the festival and lined with stalls selling everything from fresh home made fudge to ugg boots to dog collars and fairy skirts. It's an ecclectic mixture of hippie, punk, rockstar, teen and goth.

We got there just in time for the parade:

Look!! It's the read hat society just like in that episode of the simpsons!!

Mad Hatter!! I love it!!

Bellydancers!!

The view of the crowds alllll the way up Katoomba Street - packed!!

The lady in the spotted coat is Zoe, my brother and his fiancee's doggie. She's so cute, I love her jacket.

Everyone wanted to stop and pat Zoe all day. The other little dog in this photo is Aussie (Ozzie?) and he is the most adorable little dog ever. He belongs to my brothers fiancee's parents and he shakes non stop (whether it's winter or summer).

This is Murphy. He is my brother and his fiancee's other furry child. He's a very gentle dog and alot of people get scared of him because he is a Staffy and people think they're mean dogs - but he is seriously the best dog ever. He loves getting pats and cuddles and loves giving people kisses (which can get a little gross).

And this is Honey, who also belongs to my brothers fiancee's parents. I love the hoodie - very adorable.

First item of food for the day - boyfriend bought a chicken kebab roll. So, a chicken skewer on a roll with tomato sauce. $3.50. He said it was delicious - piping hot, delicious barbequed skewer and the bread roll was really fresh, crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside.

This is my brother mid sentance.

HOW COOL IS THIS DOG??! It's name is Penny and I think she's the best thing since sliced bread. Very steam punkesque is you ask me.

We wandered all the way up the street, checking out the stalls as we went (I didn't buy anythinge except food all day......whoops!!) and I purchased a brownie for everyone and it was delicious. Crisp on top, fudgy in the middle and a rich chocolate flavour - can't go wrong for $1.50 and when I teamed it with a chai latte, I was in food heaven.

Mel bought some Gozleme - spinach and cheese I think. I forgot to ask how it was, but you can't really go wrong with Gozleme, it's always pretty good!! I'd also like to point out how cool Mel's skirt is. It's made of TIES and she made it herself. Awesome!!

Tee hee. Cameron got a hotdog from the Saurkraut Sisters. Just plain. Bread. Hotdog. No sauce. No cheese. No onion. BORING!! He said it tasted good though!!

I came across this stall selling honey, sauces and butters. I purchased some lemon and lime butter and I am very excited to try it.

CUUUUUUTE!! Lady beetle!! There were heaps of kids dressed up - I saw an adorable child dressed like the boy in Where The Wild Things Are. Unfortunately I didn't snap a pic :(

What's that in the distance?? Chips on a stick?! YES!!

Mmmm hot, salty, greasy, potatoey goodness.

On a stick to boot!!

Yum you can choose what flavour salt you want on it - $5 for a stick.

Worth every dollar. Crispy on the ouside, fluffy and hot on the inside, perfectly salted with chicken salt. Yum yum yum.

You'd think I would have been full after that feast. And I was. Until I spotted churros.

Check out that cinnamon sugar.

Hot, freshy, cripsy churros - $5. Worth it. Totally worth it. Sugary, sweet, spicy from the cinnamon and sooooo fresh it's not funny. My mouth's watering just remembering it.

Check out this crazy guy!! He's on an ultra tall unicycle. Awesome!!

After the churros, we meandered back to our respective cars and headed back to our houses to rest for a bit, and then boyfriend and I went to my brother and his fiancees for the best dinner ever. I forgot to take photos, but it was damn tasty. Mel's a fabulous cook. Here's some pics of the doggies though!!

Yes, Murphy is a boy, and Murphy is wearing a pink jacket. He's cool enough to do that and not care.

Weeeee wrestling!! They bite each other all the time.....it doesn't seem to hurt them though!!

Aaaand me and the boyfriend - how cool is that light in the corner?!

So the weekend was delightful and fun as always - can't wait for next year!!

http://www.wintermagic.com.au/
Also, this is a link to the place we stayed:
http://www.stayz.com.au/14683