Adelaide

---

Wednesday 25th October to Wednesday 15th November 2006

Adelaide was the city of the Jacaranda - the purple flowering tree...

Adelaide was the base from where Claire took me on adventures into the South Australian countryside... (usually involving a long walk!!)

...to the farmers market;
...Up to Mount Lofty and walking through the trees seeing all the colourful birds when a phone call breaks the silence and it's Johanna calling from London after a night out!
...Walking around the many paths up and down in Clealand National Park - and people joggin past!!! Crazy people!!
...Walk around Granite Island and the horse drawn tram; see a dolphin whilst having a coffee! Then to Goolwa beach and fish and chips.
...Warrawong Wildlife Park - we arrived at 5pm ish but managed to see a Platypus in the ponds! I thought it was just is nose (! not sure that's the correct term but you know what I mean!!) but it was the whole Platypus! I didn't realise they were so small!
...12km walk to Deep Creek - yes Claire decides to tell me someone has died on this walk AFTER we start walking in the 29degree heat!! he!he! It's great walking with Claire because she spots and has a good knowledge of the local wildlife, environment and history and a passion for it. You realise you've seen something exciting - like a Wedge Tail Eagle just flying overhead - because of the excitment she brings to it! We also saw huge Kangaroos - I have to admit they were pretty scarey - I know its a Kangaroo but they were big and pretty close... Also some 2 headed lizards - one that moved out of our path and another that let us get really close which was great! - until we realised it was because it was dead!!! he!he! I also learnt a plant name - the 'bugger' bush! - I was like 'why is it called that?'. Claire knew not to answer as I went to touch it and got pricked by a spike and said 'oh bugger'!! - now I know why!!

Adelaide was where the weirdest day travelling so far occurred...

...it began with one German girl having loud 'intimate relations' with a random bloke in one of the bunks at about 4am once they finished (including him getting locked in the bathroom - naked) the second German girl came back with her stallion! - except the answer for him was no, so the next hour was spent trying not to listen to him coaxing her to say yes! By the time they both passed out it was light and no way sleep was going to happen... so it was up for breakfast.. and off to get a spot nice and early for the Christmas pageant - it's a major thing in Adelaide with everyone (under the age of 10!!) turning out and waiting patiently to see Father Christmas!! I may be giving the illusion it was cold - it was only about 8am but having come from the NT I was finding the Adelaide weather particularly nippy!!! And Father Christmas came... in the midday sunshine whilst wafts of suntan lotions passed... and the float with surfers on (!!!) and REAL camels!!! Now that was impressive! he!he! Next it was off to see the Adelaide Horse Trials... next was getting interviewed by the local radio station! By the evening it was time for a drink, so it was off to Grace Emily's where we ended up meeting some Aussies and going to a club for a good ol' boogie! After making everyone stay for a while longer than they wanted... (!) I was talking to randoms and making everyone dance!! we left and got back at 5am! What a day! - Who said Adelaide was dull?!!?

Adelaide was my first city for 6 months...

Adelaide was where I was introduced to Matthew Flinders and the explorations of Australia...

...I also became very cultured in Adelaide and taking full advantage of the free tours around the Art Gallery, the State Museum, The State Parliament and the State Library (which I even got a tour of the Australian Geographical Society area - where I was shown a special piece of wood that had been taken on the first full journey from South to North Australia along the Telegraph Line and more recently to the moon by an Aussie astronaut! Wow!! That's exciting! And people take the mick outta Adelaide!!)

Adelaide Central Market is where I enjoyed a BLT and whiling away the day trying to find the cheapest bit of melon!

Adelaide is where I went on the Groovy Grape Barossa Wine Tour and was drunk by midday!

Adelaide was where I went to the cricket in the sunshine and the nighttime!

Adelaide was where I caught the tram to Glenelg - a beautiful, peacful and tranquil beachside town...

Adelaide was where mum and dad were due to arrive on the 12th November!!! Hurrah!

Adelaide... a chilled and enjoyable City, only considered boring by those who don't have any imagination...

---