3 days in Adelaide

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Geo: -34.9258, 138.6

It is an hour and a half flight from Sydney to Adelaide and prices are reasonable if you go Jetstar or Virgin. A friend called Mark picked us up and took us to Glenelg, a suburb of Adelaide which has a marina and a few old colonial buildings mixed in with the new. The weather is warmer and sunnier here than in Sydney and it was in the 30's when we arrived, which was unusual for March, when it is usually about 25 degrees. After a stroll around we stopped for lunch at Sammy's seafood restaurant on the Marina for oysters, seafood chowder and seafood fettuccini- lovely, before Mark gave us a lift to the Hyde Park area where we were staying with Holly's parents, Rod and Marie. They gave us a rapturous welcome and looked after us for the 3 days. They have a beautiful house- single storey as most houses are but large with 3 double bedrooms and lounge dining room and open kitchen. I have never seen so many beautiful houses in Australia as there are in Adelaide. The whole city is built on a grid system so is easy to get around. Lots of the streets are tree lined and the main roads are wide. It is also exceptionally clean.

In the evening we went to a restaurant called "The Sauce" a very good French restaurant with very friendly staff and excellent food. We were joined by Mark and another friend Katie. I find Australians so easy going you feel as if you have known them for years.

The following day Rod drove us up to the Barossa valley which is about an hour and a half away. We tasted and bought at the Rockford, Langmile and Barossa Valley estate wineries and had a pleasant lunch with a gorgeous Rose wine at Saltram. There is a great view from a viewpoint on Mengler's Hill which also contains a small sculpture park. Rod had grown up in this area and still has a lot of relatives here. I wouldn't have liked to be driving round on our own as it is a huge area so it is good to have a guide.

Back home later Marie had cooked Whiting, all caught by Rod on his fishing trips and washed down with some of the bottles we had purchased.

The following day Marie drove us to The Cedars near Hahndorf. This was the home of Hans Huysen an artist, whom I must confess I had never heard of whose studio is also here. We weren't here for his art however, but for the modern sculptures set all around the grounds by different artists. This was part of the Adelaide Fringe festival which happens every March. We bought a guide but it was more fun making up our own names for the works than reading the official ones. The works were set among the most beautiful Gum trees I have ever seen and it was easy to see why Hans Huysens painted his landscapes here.

Back in the city of Adelaide we parked at Central Market which is a must to see. Beautiful fresh produce and lots of vegetables I had never seen before as well as Chinese veg which we wish we could get so easily at home. We had lunch in the market and after Stefan & I caught the tram, which is free within the city centre, and went to the Art Gallery of South Australia. There is no entrance fee and there is a good collection of Australian art as well as a restaurant with seating in the shade outside for a post visit glass of wine. Marie picked us up from outside the gallery and gave us a tour of the city and residential area before taking us home for a steak dinner. Helen and Wildy walked around the city and came back by the tram and foot.

As part of the Fringe Festival there was a huge tented area in the Garden of Unearthly Delights so 10 of us ended up there in the evening for one of the shows which was a Comedy/Illusion show which was good fun. After the show the 6 “kids “went off to the bars and we oldies went back home to sink more wine in comfort.

It is an hour and a half flight from Sydney to Adelaide and prices are reasonable if you go Jetstar or Virgin. A friend called Mark picked us up and took us to Glenelg, a suburb of Adelaide which has a marina and a few old colonial buildings mixed in with the new. The weather is warmer and sunnier here than in Sydney and it was in the 30's when we arrived, which was unusual for March, when it is usually about 25 degrees. After a stroll around we stopped for lunch at Sammy's seafood restaurant on the Marina for oysters, seafood chowder and seafood fettuccini- lovely, before Mark gave us a lift to the Hyde Park area where we were staying with Holly's parents, Rod and Marie. They gave us a rapturous welcome and looked after us for the 3 days. They have a beautiful house- single storey as most houses are but large with 3 double bedrooms and lounge dining room and open kitchen. I have never seen so many beautiful houses in Australia as there are in Adelaide. The whole city is built on a grid system so is easy to get around. Lots of the streets are tree lined and the main roads are wide. It is also exceptionally clean.

In the evening we went to a restaurant called “The Sauce” a very good French restaurant with very friendly staff and excellent food. We were joined by Mark and another friend Katie. I find Australians so easy going you feel as if you have known them for years.

The following day Rod drove us up to the Barossa valley which is about an hour and a half away. We tasted and bought at the Rockford, Langmile and Barossa Valley estate wineries and had a pleasant lunch with a gorgeous Rose wine at Saltram. There is a great view from a viewpoint on Mengler's Hill which also contains a small sculpture park. Rod had grown up in this area and still has a lot of relatives here. I wouldn't have liked to be driving round on our own as it is a huge area so it is good to have a guide.

Back home later Marie had cooked Whiting, all caught by Rod on his fishing trips and washed down with some of the bottles we had purchased.

The following day Marie drove us to The Cedars near Hahndorf. This was the home of Hans Huysen an artist, whom I must confess I had never heard of whose studio is also here. We weren't here for his art however, but for the modern sculptures set all around the grounds by different artists. This was part of the Adelaide Fringe festival which happens every March. We bought a guide but it was more fun making up our own names for the works than reading the official ones. The works were set among the most beautiful Gum trees I have ever seen and it was easy to see why Hans Huysens painted his landscapes here.

Back in the city of Adelaide we parked at Central Market which is a must to see. Beautiful fresh produce and lots of vegetables I had never seen before as well as Chinese veg which we wish we could get so easily at home. We had lunch in the market and after Stefan & I caught the tram, which is free within the city centre, and went to the Art Gallery of South Australia. There is no entrance fee and there is a good collection of Australian art as well as a restaurant with seating in the shade outside for a post visit glass of wine. Marie picked us up from outside the gallery and gave us a tour of the city and residential area before taking us home for a steak dinner. Helen and Wildy walked around the city and came back by the tram and foot.

As part of the Fringe Festival there was a huge tented area in the Garden of Unearthly Delights so 10 of us ended up there in the evening for one of the shows which was a Comedy/Illusion show which was good fun. After the show the 6 “kids “went off to the bars and we oldies went back home to sink more wine in comfort.

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