So my small plan today was to walk along the North Terrace Drive and see the Botanic Gardens. The beauty of Adelaide is that the founding fathers determined that there should be a ring of green space all around the city center, so there is parkland surrounding the CBD, and the roads that go along city/parkland divide are all called Terraces. So, a walk to the North Terrace would bring me to the gardens and the zoo and the river Torrens. I first found the University of Adelaide, and a very interesting photo shoot underway in front of Bonython Hall, and there were lots of people all walking in the direction I was heading, most with those folding camp chairs. So I followed along.
And I came to the WOMADelaide Festival. A 4 day event of world music and other inspiring and culturally diverse performances, it is celebrated across 3 public parklands, so not all that crowded and overwhelming I was told. This festival is presented by the WOMADelaide Foundation which is a not for profit that develops long term educational activities and cultural exchange programs through the festival program. I was also told that a day ticket was $150 so given that my musical tastes tend to run towards the US in the 70’s, I decided that the money would not be well spent on me. Even if I did have a camp chair. So I found my way to the Botanic Gardens, which was my goal anyway, and it was possible to hear the music from the festival from many spots in the lovely gardens.
The gardens were not surprisingly full of birds, none more active and entertaining and loud than the rainbow lorikeets bathing in the fountain. There were black billed Ibis fighting in the trees and Aussie magpies hoping for a scrap from lunch. Within, but at the edge of the Garden was the National Wine Center of Australia, and an interesting museum-type display about the wines from this country. The most interesting part of it for me was learning that when the first boat captains landed in Sydney with convicts in 1788, the first thing they did was plant some grape vines they had brought from England! The first vineyard was established in the Hunter Valley, north of Sydney in 1833 by James Busby, who believed that wine is inextricably linked to class, and will serve the wealthy merchants and landowners.
My walk back took to past the Adelaide Fringe Festival! There are venues all over Adelaide, and I stumbled upon the spot where there was food and little theater tents with shows every 45 minutes, and lots of sponsored booze. And a few rides for the kids. having just had a late lunch in the Botanic Gardens with my friend the magpie, I didn’t need to find food or booze but it was very entertaining to walk among the booths and to hear the barkers call for those to had tickets for various 15 minute stand up comedy or musical revue shows.
After a rest (just browsing these festivals is exhausting), I headed out to dinner, and shouldn’t have been, but was surprised by all the activity on the main street which had vehicular traffic stopped for the evening, so all the singers and magicians and other buskers were out in force and every restaurant filled with people. And it appears that chocolate is a big deal in Adelaide, but I can’t find the answer as to why — something in the water, or the Germans settling here? Anyway, there are half dozen chocolate shops along the main stopping district, all selling desserts as well as boxes and individual chocolates to take away. They were all jammed with people, as were the multiple gelato shops.
I will say goodbye to Adelaide tomorrow and head to Perth. And see what there is to see on the far western shores of this island continent.
