So, the sights and sounds of Adelaide! I went with a different strategy this trip, no pre-prepared maps and transport routes, the plan was to play it totally by ear, which I did! Luckily for me and probably countless other tourists the City Centre is very well sign posted, with not only street signs but also landmarks. I wandered around Rundle Mall, was put onto a gorgeous little second-hand bookstore, thanks Iain!, spent what seemed like hours in there, inhaling that unique smell that only loved books can carry. A visit to Haigh's chocolatiers, of course, beautiful Semaphore beach, which I absolutely LOVE! (Not 10kms distance between the foreshore and the actual water, I was able to cope with the sensation of the sand underfoot and between my toes, quite an achievement for me, yay!), spent the day there with Sharon and her boys, we ate fish & chips, lazed on the grass and went walking through the tidal pools. It was lovely to be able to spend time outdoors without feeling as though you were literally frying under the sun, unlike the heat and humidity at home.
I had jumped aboard a tram to Glenelg to ride there and visit for the day, but I ended up getting off pretty quickly when I saw a beautiful green park ;) I ended up spending a lovely time there in the quiet and forgot all about my tram adventure.
I visited the Museum of SA, went for a ride on the O-bahn bus track and ultimately ended up at the Zoo. well, hello anxiety! It decided to make its presence known at this point in time, I'm assuming because the Zoo was quite crowded, but who can really tell with such a 'chameleonic' disorder such as anxiety, it makes up its own rules.
Wandering the Zoo on my own terms and in my own time was fantastic. Despite teasing from Adelaideans that the Pandas would be asleep, both Wang Wang and Funi were awake and active. Being the only place to see Giant Pandas in Australia, I am now one very happy girl :) I saw many, many animals I haven't seen before, or since, such as Tapirs, Gibbons and Flamingos. In a way it would have been nice to share the experience with family or friends, but I really enjoy doing these things solo.
The rest of my time in SA was spent meeting some great people from facebook, partying too hard and defending myself from one particular "handsy" guy who turned out to be very bad news (Lee: trip ruiner LOL).
At one stage if you'd asked I wouldn't return, not because of the city or the people, but I wouldn't let that one person stop me from visiting again. One day I'll return, I had so much fun catching up with Sharon, how could I not? ;)
Since Adelaide I haven't had the great urge to travel, life got in the way there for a bit. But I'll be back!
