The weather is being so good to us here – it’s been another wonderful bright sunny cloudless day, with even higher temperatures than previous days. We were out of the hotel just before 11.00am and wandered to the route of the free bus – but the map was out of date and the route is now different! Still, by walking the way we did, we arrived at the Central Market, one of the chosen destinations of the day.
It’s not as big as Melbourne’s Victoria Market, but much nicer – cleaner and better laid out. We spent an hour just wandering through the stalls, then had coffee and stickies from Michel’s Patisserie – they do some really yummy cakes. We found a wine store and I spied a bottle of Tin Shed Shiraz, which Tom had to have and we bought some fresh rolls for dinner tonight (still some pate left!).
Leaving the market, we walked to Victoria Square, which we’d passed through on the tram yesterday. There is a huge fountain there
– one of the few that are still in operation because of the water restrictions – and several statues, plenty of scope for photos. The free bus also runs through the Square so we caught it and went round the circuit one and a half times, picking out the places we wanted to return to. The centre of the city is much more compact than Melbourne although the streets are wider and the traffic doesn’t seem so frenetic. While on the bus, we had a conversation with a little girl who sat opposite us. She was a real sweetheart, 3 years old and full of chatter – I could just see Isabel in about a year being like that! When we disembarked, we bought our Anzac day badges from an old soldier (Anzac day is on April 25th when we’ll be in Perth). Then we took the wine and bread back to our room, before setting off again to North Terrace where the University buildings and the Botanic Gardens are.
On the way, we passed the Art Gallery and the Museum, both wonderful buildings, beautifully kept. They look much older than they are as do many of the buildings in Adelaide – it’s a very English city, with its brick and stone buildings, but with so much land available it feels more spacious and uncluttered.
It’s known as a city of churches as there were very many of them at one time. Some still remain as churches, but, as in UK too, many have been transformed into wine bars, shops or small museums. Along the pavement in front of the university, is a Walk with plaques commemorating people who have been instrumental in making Adelaide what it is today. Somewhere there must be a list of who’s who – we’ll try to find it before we leave.
On the way to the Botanic Gardens, we saw an impressive building on the opposite side of the road.
The doors were open so we walked in and had a look around the very imposing interior. The tours are usually on a Thursday, but Tom went to reception and told them that we were on holiday from UK. The building superintendant came down, Tom introduced himself, and we were given a short guided tour. It’s one of these places that look quite small until you get inside then it seemed to go on forever. There were views from the roof over part of the city, and this was our only chance to get a skyline view, as there isn’t a tower in the centre like there is in Melbourne or Brisbane – at least, not that we can find.
Ayer’s House, a National Trust property is along the same road, but by this time it was 3.30pm and it closes at 4.00pm so we will try to fit that in tomorrow instead. After that little side-track, we reached the Gardens and enjoyed a leisurely walkabout, and a cool drink at the café. The gardens are really well kept although parts of them are suffering in the drought and the water features that normally would run are switched off except for one small rill through the SA water garden showing off plants that grow in many parts of the world where water is scarce. Once again we found a huge tree.
This seems to be becoming a habit.
We were also too late to visit the National Wine Centre, which is at the northeastern end of the Gardens – hopefully that too we’ll do tomorrow.
Our way back to the motel was via the shopping centre. Little did I know that Tom had brought his programmable belt buckle with him in the hopes of finding a belt to fit it on! There are lots of shops in Adelaide selling belts – and none of them had what he wanted! But eventually a kind lady shop assistant sent him to a bootmakers and leather specialist in one of the arcades and, bingo, a belt was produced and the belt buckle affixed, so he’s a happy chappy. Having now walked the equivalent of the marathon (that’s what it felt like) we hobbled our way back to the motel and have enjoyed our fresh rolls and pate, followed by crisp, juicy grapes while watching Midsomer Murders on TV – yes, they do get it here. Now we’re watching the end of Sleepless in Seattle before hitting the hay ready for our last full day in Adelaide.
It’s not as big as Melbourne’s Victoria Market, but much nicer – cleaner and better laid out. We spent an hour just wandering through the stalls, then had coffee and stickies from Michel’s Patisserie – they do some really yummy cakes. We found a wine store and I spied a bottle of Tin Shed Shiraz, which Tom had to have and we bought some fresh rolls for dinner tonight (still some pate left!).Leaving the market, we walked to Victoria Square, which we’d passed through on the tram yesterday. There is a huge fountain there
– one of the few that are still in operation because of the water restrictions – and several statues, plenty of scope for photos. The free bus also runs through the Square so we caught it and went round the circuit one and a half times, picking out the places we wanted to return to. The centre of the city is much more compact than Melbourne although the streets are wider and the traffic doesn’t seem so frenetic. While on the bus, we had a conversation with a little girl who sat opposite us. She was a real sweetheart, 3 years old and full of chatter – I could just see Isabel in about a year being like that! When we disembarked, we bought our Anzac day badges from an old soldier (Anzac day is on April 25th when we’ll be in Perth). Then we took the wine and bread back to our room, before setting off again to North Terrace where the University buildings and the Botanic Gardens are.On the way, we passed the Art Gallery and the Museum, both wonderful buildings, beautifully kept. They look much older than they are as do many of the buildings in Adelaide – it’s a very English city, with its brick and stone buildings, but with so much land available it feels more spacious and uncluttered.
It’s known as a city of churches as there were very many of them at one time. Some still remain as churches, but, as in UK too, many have been transformed into wine bars, shops or small museums. Along the pavement in front of the university, is a Walk with plaques commemorating people who have been instrumental in making Adelaide what it is today. Somewhere there must be a list of who’s who – we’ll try to find it before we leave.On the way to the Botanic Gardens, we saw an impressive building on the opposite side of the road.
The doors were open so we walked in and had a look around the very imposing interior. The tours are usually on a Thursday, but Tom went to reception and told them that we were on holiday from UK. The building superintendant came down, Tom introduced himself, and we were given a short guided tour. It’s one of these places that look quite small until you get inside then it seemed to go on forever. There were views from the roof over part of the city, and this was our only chance to get a skyline view, as there isn’t a tower in the centre like there is in Melbourne or Brisbane – at least, not that we can find.Ayer’s House, a National Trust property is along the same road, but by this time it was 3.30pm and it closes at 4.00pm so we will try to fit that in tomorrow instead. After that little side-track, we reached the Gardens and enjoyed a leisurely walkabout, and a cool drink at the café. The gardens are really well kept although parts of them are suffering in the drought and the water features that normally would run are switched off except for one small rill through the SA water garden showing off plants that grow in many parts of the world where water is scarce. Once again we found a huge tree.
This seems to be becoming a habit.We were also too late to visit the National Wine Centre, which is at the northeastern end of the Gardens – hopefully that too we’ll do tomorrow.
Our way back to the motel was via the shopping centre. Little did I know that Tom had brought his programmable belt buckle with him in the hopes of finding a belt to fit it on! There are lots of shops in Adelaide selling belts – and none of them had what he wanted! But eventually a kind lady shop assistant sent him to a bootmakers and leather specialist in one of the arcades and, bingo, a belt was produced and the belt buckle affixed, so he’s a happy chappy. Having now walked the equivalent of the marathon (that’s what it felt like) we hobbled our way back to the motel and have enjoyed our fresh rolls and pate, followed by crisp, juicy grapes while watching Midsomer Murders on TV – yes, they do get it here. Now we’re watching the end of Sleepless in Seattle before hitting the hay ready for our last full day in Adelaide.
I shall leave you with fond thoughts, my friends and will speak to you tomorrow – goodnight.
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