Wednesday 4 July
Well here we are, finally_ on the Ghan. We took a taxi right to the station as we had been advised to by the nice man at Central Station. What a good move that turned out to
were dropped off rght at the door of the terminal. Although it seemed like we were getting there early, it wasn't really and we avoided the rush at the end.
After coffee at the station, Mary and Alan took us to our sleeper. Campervan expeditions have us well prepared for this. It is a very tiny space, but every bit of space is reallynwell used. The passage is wiggly liked a snake so that a hand basin is included in each cabin.
Oprah is very excited anda wants the top bunk. I am going to have the bottom bunk cause it is near the window and I will be able to see out the window when the sun comes up.
The train is really long 27 carriages, 3 car trailers and 2 engines. Most of the carriages are gold class. This surprised Mary, but on checking it out, pensioners (aussies only) get a really good discount in gold. Ther are a few platinum cabins as well, but you need a bank loan to go in one of those. We are in red class, with a YHA discount whichis quite worth having as well.
The lounge car is really nice and has lots of comfortable chairsnand tables. The people in cattle class are only allowed in here if they pay extra, and a couple have. Apart from that it is for the use of the red sleeper passengers. You can order meals in the Matilda dining car and take them back to the longe to eat.
Sometimes the train goes really slowly and even stops for long periods of time to let goods trains past as it is pretty much a single track right up the middle of Oz. The pace is slow, smooth and restful.
The big people have drunk quite a lot of wine as there is not a lot else to do.
Friday, 6 July 2012
Tuesday, 3 July 2012
Museums and Cathedrals
Tuesday 3 July
Well there is great frustration here as the tablet seems to have taken over the internet connection and refused to give it up. So Mary, after must frustration has started to write this blog on the tablet.
Tomorrow we all leave to go on the Ghan anyway so there will be no blog for at least four days.
Today we decided to use the tram all day as it was free in the area we wanted to travel in. The first part of the day was spent at the museum looking at the aboriginal section.
From there we wlked to the Anglican cathedral which was well worth the visit.
A stroll back tot he tram and then onto the end of the line. Alan took our photo in the tram but Mary isn 't sure how she is going to get those photos on here. It was all nice and easy when she was using the netbook to write it.
Well there is great frustration here as the tablet seems to have taken over the internet connection and refused to give it up. So Mary, after must frustration has started to write this blog on the tablet.
Tomorrow we all leave to go on the Ghan anyway so there will be no blog for at least four days.
Today we decided to use the tram all day as it was free in the area we wanted to travel in. The first part of the day was spent at the museum looking at the aboriginal section.
From there we wlked to the Anglican cathedral which was well worth the visit.
A stroll back tot he tram and then onto the end of the line. Alan took our photo in the tram but Mary isn 't sure how she is going to get those photos on here. It was all nice and easy when she was using the netbook to write it.
Monday, 2 July 2012
Blue Cows and Weird Trees
Monday July 2nd
Well just as well we don't have to walk as we would be worn out.First stop this morning was the railway station so the big people could find out where this fancy train called The Ghan left from. Well just as well, as it wasn't that station! The friendly man asked them how much luggage they had as it was quite tricky catching a bus or train to the station they needed to go to. He suggested a taxi as it drops you right near the platform you need to be on. So come Wednesday morning, that is what they will do. Phew just as well they checked.
Being over that side of town Alan consulted the map and decided they would walk to the Old Jail. After a very long walk they found it, but there was a fence and at least 12 train tracks separating them from it. They could see it in the distance but there was no way through. Mary had a bit to say about that. So they walked back to the street where the tram runs to Glenelg which is the seaside spot on the coast. After negotiating how to buy a ticket, (part of the journey was free) they sat back for a 30 minute ride through suburbia.
Although it didn't rain it was overcast and quite cold on the jetty.
A walk through the main shopping street required a compulsory stop for the two of us to have our photo taken on this weird and wonderful cow.
It was quite a walk to see this ancient twisted gum tree that appeared in paintings and drawings at the museum. It has been shored up with concrete because of it's age.
Well just as well we don't have to walk as we would be worn out.First stop this morning was the railway station so the big people could find out where this fancy train called The Ghan left from. Well just as well, as it wasn't that station! The friendly man asked them how much luggage they had as it was quite tricky catching a bus or train to the station they needed to go to. He suggested a taxi as it drops you right near the platform you need to be on. So come Wednesday morning, that is what they will do. Phew just as well they checked.
Being over that side of town Alan consulted the map and decided they would walk to the Old Jail. After a very long walk they found it, but there was a fence and at least 12 train tracks separating them from it. They could see it in the distance but there was no way through. Mary had a bit to say about that. So they walked back to the street where the tram runs to Glenelg which is the seaside spot on the coast. After negotiating how to buy a ticket, (part of the journey was free) they sat back for a 30 minute ride through suburbia.
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| The tram arriving in Jetty Street, Glenelg. |
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| A View of Glenelg from the Jetty. |
A walk through the main shopping street required a compulsory stop for the two of us to have our photo taken on this weird and wonderful cow.
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| We are not really sure what this is all about. Guess we are on the horns of a dilemma. |
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| The Old Gum Tree where in 1838 they proclaimed the State of South Australia. |
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| And some interesting graffiti...street art? |
Sunday, 1 July 2012
Goodbye Sydney Hello Adelaide
Saturday June 30th
Today we had to get up and organized and off to the airport. This was a big day for Oprah as she had never been out Sydney. For me, BerLin it was nothing, just a short flight.
The station was just across the road, so it was an easy walk with bags to get the train to the airport. It is as quick trip,but they charge you dearly for it. You actually need your ticket from the train to be able to get into the airport if you choose to go by train.
At the airport you have to do a self check in. Only your bags get checked by a real person. This is so they can weigh them and charge you heaps if you go over the 15kg allowance. But these people are wise to this game and have a set of hand scales. Everything can be moved around to keep the weights right.
Caught a local bus to town and somehow managed to work out where to get off.
After getting settled walked to the Central market where they were selling all the fruit off at bargain prices.
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| Good Bye Sunny Sydney |
Today we had to get up and organized and off to the airport. This was a big day for Oprah as she had never been out Sydney. For me, BerLin it was nothing, just a short flight.
The station was just across the road, so it was an easy walk with bags to get the train to the airport. It is as quick trip,but they charge you dearly for it. You actually need your ticket from the train to be able to get into the airport if you choose to go by train.
At the airport you have to do a self check in. Only your bags get checked by a real person. This is so they can weigh them and charge you heaps if you go over the 15kg allowance. But these people are wise to this game and have a set of hand scales. Everything can be moved around to keep the weights right.
Caught a local bus to town and somehow managed to work out where to get off.
After getting settled walked to the Central market where they were selling all the fruit off at bargain prices.
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| Hello Rainy Adelaide |
A Wet Day in Adelaide
Sunday July 1
Wow the weather can't make up its mind today. One minute it will be sunny and the next it is raining. Mary and Alan said they were taking us to the beach today, but as we were waiting for the tram it starting spitting then pouring. Not really beach weather. So we snuggled up in the back pack while they looked around some shops. We had fun playing where's Wally? There was a man in raincoat and he had a Tigers scarf and hat on. He kept appearing in different parts of the town. He was always standing still with his hands in his pockets. We never saw him move but we kept spotting him in different places.
They finally found the way to Ayre House. Seems the NZ Historic Places Trust card lets you get in to this one for free. a really kind lady gave them a guided tour of the house. It was grand. Only part of it is run by the Historic Places,the rest has been turned into a function Centre. The woman suggested a visit to the Art Gallery that was further along the road so this filled the rest of a wet afternoon.
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| Who let the pigs out? |
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| This was spotted in the mall "The Slide" |
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| Ayre House |
Saturday, 30 June 2012
Going to the Zoo Zoo Zoo
Friday 29th June
The temperature was expected to get up
to 21 today and it looked nice outside so the big people decided to
take us to the zoo for the day.
A friendly bus driver asked us where we
wanted to go and they said circular Quay. He said he actually went
close to there so to get on. When we got down near that end of town
he turned around and asked if anyone else wanted to go where he
was meant to be going and they all said no, they wanted to go to
Circular quay. He said well that makes it easy and promptly took us
all to Circular Quay. Only Down under! Mary says that would never happen in London. BerLin says it would never happen in Germany, but Oprah says...You're in Sydney now mate.
The harbour looked beautiful and it
was a lovely trip across to Taronga Park Zoo. After a quick ride up
in the cable car we were at the top gate of the zoo and we spent the
day walking back down the hill.
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| Well this as close as we got to a koala. |
The animals are all really easy to see
and have as natural habitats as possible.
Alan took some wonderful photos.Don't mess with any of these guys! Notice we are not in any of these pics.
Alan took some wonderful photos.Don't mess with any of these guys! Notice we are not in any of these pics.
Out and About in Sydney
Thursday June 28th
Just for fun, Mary decided to give us a
ride on the monorail today. It is going to be ripped out of Sydney
this time next year, so they decided to have a ride around the city
on it. It looks really ugly in the street with it's rail in front of
lovely heritage buildings but it is a really fast way to get around
the city and the view is amazing.
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| Here we are having a ride on the monorail. |
The day pass included the light rail as
well so after one circuit on the monorail so we got off and
transferred to the tram. It was jam packed and it looked unlikely
they would get a seat. But when it got the Star City stop everyone
suddenly left and went into the Casino.
Nothing much at the end of the line, so
we stayed on and went back to Glebe and had a walk around.
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| Star City Casino. We were not allowed toraid our piggy banks to go in here! |
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| Prymount |
On the way back they got out at the
Casino and went to the theatre and booked tickets to An Officer and
a Gentleman, (the musical) for Friday night.
The evening was spent catching up with
Mary's cousin Liz. After drinks on level 47 of the round building
in Australia Square we went to Liz's apartment for dinner. Magnificent view over the harbour but it was dark so it was just
lights.
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| Liz, Mary, Oprah and Ber Lin |
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