Arrive in Adelaide

Today was the day to arrive in Adelaide, the Festival City. There are actually three festivals in town: The Adelaide Arts Festival, The Fringe Festival, and WOMAdelaide (a music festival). The arts one has been going already for ten days, and has a bit more to go. But the city is humming.

Let me back up. Still on the train, we had another unneeded meal last night, met some more travellers (most of whom seem to want to regale you with their stories of travel all over the world) in a too-noisy dining car eating pretty good food. It was a pleasure to leave the dining car and retreat to the quiet (relatively) of our cabin. And, since we were to lose ninety minutes this night to time changes, we went to be somewhat early. However, this was the night the train engineer decided to see if he could make the vehicle physically rock and roll. A gentle sway of the train helps me to sleep, but this got a bit more, shall we say, violent. It included, at about two in the morning, several shunts, bumps, hits, and other niceties to wake one up. Sleep seemed to be at the mercy of the Engineer/conductor. Was he drinking and driving?...at any rate, it was not a peaceful night.

Arrival into the Adelaide station was uneventful, and about on time (to the surprise of locals). We were met by Steve, in a tie and jacket. And it was raining, something rather rare in this part of Oz at this time of year. By early morning, we were at the hotel, but it had no room for us (yet). So we went off in search of breakfast and a real coffee, finding it down the street a ways, past the strip joints (male and female strippers), shisha joints, and just generally scuzzy places. If I had known, we might have chosen another locale in town. Pictures following are, first, down the street towards the hotel, and, second, from our front window.





But by noon, the room was ready and we were able to settle in. We had arranged to meet and old friend, Libby, for lunch, so we were back through the strip joint locations to the same little street for a very pleasant lunch. Unfortunately, Darlene threw out her hip, so a trip to the drug store ("chemist") was in order to get paracetamol (Tylenol) tablets and a cane for walking. We also tried to get the free city tour bus, but without success; there is some kind of bus driver work-to-rule. And it was raining.

So dinner was take-out from across the street (order it online, pick it up in fifteen minutes - good service and good food), along with wine and Aussie TV, which was also very good.


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Location:Hindley Street,Adelaide CBD,Australia