South to Victoria - farming country

This photo was not taken in Saskatchewan. It was taken when Sandy and I were on our way to Apollo Bay, near Melbourne and Bells Beach. 

For those of you who don't know ABB, an Australian grain company has merged with Viterra and the company is now Viterra. You may ask why. Have a look.

This grain terminal is at the Harbour at Geelong, which is about 700 kms. south of Adelaide in the state of Victoria. 

The Toyota Camry in the photo is the care we are using while we are here. 

We also passed Wolseley while we are driving south. 

Every once in awhile the trees reminded us we were in Australia - especially the palms. The green in the fields is also a slightly different colour - I think it is slightly darker. Its weird - too me it looks like someone has used the wrong paint, because everything else really looks the same. Just the colour throws me off. 

The soil is also redder but to me that wasn't as noticeable as the different  green. Maybe I am used to the red now.

Relaxing

Shortly after we arrived here we found the corner coffee shop. I think we must have been attracted by the smells.  Coffee here is really good. The coffee and baking are really good and they have gluten-free goodies.

In fact, most of the restaurants have gluten-free items and sometime entire menus. Sue is working at an Italian restaurant and they have a gluten free key on the cash register. I think all the choices can be made gluten-free.

All the coffee is made fresh with espresso makers. A short black is an espresso, a long black is a tall black coffee made fresh in an espresso machine, a flat white is half milk (at least I think it is half milk). The first week-end we were here we went for brunch with some friends and she ordered a flat white. I thought she was ordering wine, but it was coffee.

The restaurants here all seem to be slightly classier than at home. The plainest still have wine glasses and table clothes. Eating out is slightly more expensive than at home, but I know prices have been going up there, too. In fact, when Sandy and I were travelling, we stopped on Easter Sunday about 6:00 am at a McDonald's. It was the only thing opened and they had baking that looked really good including gluten-free cakes.

Our corner coffee shop is really busy. Late morning it is hopping with people eating lunch or taking it out. Here it is "have in" or "take away". If you say you want something to stay they don't even hear you because you haven't said the right thing.

Its Autumn

Charlotte appears to have left us.  I think she likely left her hundreds or thousands of babies for next spring and went on her way.

After all, its Autumn here - not fall. No one knows what fall is so we call it autumn.

Its dark by 6:30 in the evening now and the days will continue to get shorter until we leave in June. We will be leaving a few day before the shortest day of the year and arriving home on about the longest.  This sort of thing fascinates me. I will also be looking forward to longer days!!!


We went to the Botanic Gardens at Mount Lofty to enjoy the reds and yellows of autumn.

Adelaide Centre Market

There is a central market here where farmers come to sell local produce. There are also fish mongers, butchers - both domestic meat and wild meat such as kangaroo, crocodile, wild birds, rabbits, etc. There are also shops attached to the market such as Coles, which is the grocery store, health food stores, pharmacies (usually called chemists) and small specialty stores. It is usually packed with people mainly buying fresh food. 

These pictures are compliments of Sandy. Note that I am in these photos. I really am in Adelaide - not just sending you someone else's stories.  

Adelaide United

We took in a soccer game when Sandy was here.  I realized I was going local when Sandy and I were downtown and saw a flag in Victoria Square. She asked me what the flag was and I responded with: "Maybe it is the Japanese Flag. We are playing them in the soccer game tonight."

 We learned shortly after arriving at the game that Japanese colours are purple and white.

Sue was hedging her bets. She wore her purple fleece so we put the Adelaide United scarf on her. The people sitting beside us were really wondering when they came in but soon learned that we knew nothing about the Asian soccer league.

It was a gorgeous evening with no wind, stars in the sky and perfect temperatures. 

The Mascots are Big Red and Ruby Roo.

 

I even got an autographed posted that will be hung up when I get home. 

Lots happening here

Its been awhile since I have time - or access to the computer. But, I have used the camera a lot. Hope you enjoy.

First I would like you to meet Sue's new friend, Charlotte. Charlotte is living in a tree in the yard.

The city of Adelaide is one mile square. It is not quite square as to directions - its on a slight angel. Around the square is the green space about three long blocks wide. We have seen soccer games, skate parks, areas for BBQs, picnic areas etc. in the space. Outside of that is the rest of the population. See map below.

The developers are really trying yo get their hands on the green space so there is a constant battle to protect it. 

We live in St Peter near the top right.

Mount Lofty in the Adelaide Hills overlooks the city. It is usually hazy from there but here are a couple photos. 

The tall buildings in the middle are the city.

There are about 1.6 million people in South Australia ( the state) and about 1.1 million live in Adelaide, which is the state capital. 

The following are some snaps of the city, starting with a Friday evening of entertainment at a coffee shop in the park by the River Torrens. 

Sandy posing in front of the fountain in Victoria Square.

There are always some interesting differences between countries and "cultures." The culture here is really the same as  middle class north American but there are some differences. Toilets being one. You do not ask for a restroom, a washroom or a bathroom. You say what you mean. Ask for a toilet. (I did notice in the tourist town of Apollo Bay that there was one restroom sign.) 

There are public toilets in malls and on the streets that are amazingly clean. I think they get cleaned about every hour. Restaurants have to be over a certain size to have a toilet. So, if you go to a small coffee shop you have to go to one of the public toilets down the block. Nor are there many garages with toilets. 

When we were visiting on Kangaroo Island we discovered that the toilet is at the campground - not at the beach or at the local restaurant and gas station. So, you have to drive five kms to the toilet. Better plan well if you are taking your kids to the beach.

The toilets all have signs on the doors as well.

On that note I will leave you for today.

Travel photos to follow.

P.S. - I mailed some post cards today. As I dropped them in to the mail box I said to Sue - Oh, there is no postage on these. So I will redo them and if some of the non-postage ones slip through some of you may get two post cards. Won't you feel special?