Adelaide and Train Ticket Wisdom

February 27th

I've spent the afternoon staring out at the kite surfers on the ocean, writing away, drinking tea and eating fresh figs, while the boys are off doing sound check for their show tonight.
We've been staying at Michael's mum's, a gorgeous house right on the water. Each day has started out with a morning swim. I haven't eaten this well for almost two months.

The consensus: I must have been very good at some point in my life.

***

Tristan and I made the 8-hour drive from Melbourne to Adelaide on Wednesday. It was cool and rainy when we left in the morning, but within no time on the road, it was blisteringly hot. No air
-conditioning. We both changed clothing when we stopped at the South Australia border. And then again when we made it to Adelaide.

But other than the heat, it was a great journey.
And I got to do a good portion of the driving, first time on the left-side, which wasn't nearly as problematic as shifting with my left-hand (finding 2nd was surprisingly tricky the first couple times).
Tristan was highly amused each time I hit the windshield wipers instead of the turning indicator -- I was too, for that matter.

***

Whenever I mentioned that I was headed to Adelaide, people seemed horrified, without exception. At first, I assumed they were being overly dramatic. After all, I know some very cool people from Adelaide. It's the capital of South Australia, and hosts tons of festivals, including a massive fringe (which is what brings me here).

But again and again, people out-rightly said, "Don't go to Adelaide."

***

We stopped briefly at Mount Lofty for a panoramic view of Adelaide. Looked just as a city should.
By the time Tristan and I got into the city [Canadian "into the city," not Australian "downtown"], it was late enough that we headed directly to Michael's mum's place -- which is about 30 minutes outside of the CBD [Central Business District, synonymous with in the city], ditched our stuff, changed again, and met the boys at a pub near the house.

When we woke up the next morning, we walked through the backyard, across the street, and into the ocean for a swim. And by this point I'm thinking, how bad could Adelaide possibly be?

Over coffee -- I had a short black, which is a single espresso and expect to be bouncing off the walls for the next 4 hours -- the boys give me rough directions for getting to and around the city. Naturally, my map of Adelaide is safely tucked away with the rest of my things in Melbourne.

They drop me off at the train station, wish me luck, and tell me to call if I got stuck. [Did I mention that I lurv that I finally have a mobile?! It's true.]

***

I'm now on the train, marveling at the fortune-cookie inspired proverbs printed on the back of my ticket:

1) To find friendship, offer friendship
2) You'll never get rid of a bad temper by losing it.

If the transit tickets are any indication, good or bad, Adelaide is certainly it's own place.