Adelaide and Australian-speak

February 17, 2015

Now that we have been in Australia for a while I am learning to “speak” the language. In addition to “g-day” we have found a couple of other things that seem unique to Australia. Our guide on the 13^th kept saying “yah” a lot, kind of like the Canadians say “hey.” For example, “We’re entering the Barrosa Valley, yah. Notice the many acres of vineyards, yah.” Another I noticed yesterday in Adelaide was, instead of “you’re welcome” some say “no worries.” We also heard that phrase used instead of “sure” or “happy to…”

Downtown Adelaide was quite lively yesterday. In addition to many of us cruisers, there are lots of cricket fans in town for some matches of the World Cup of Cricket. On Sunday India and Pakistan played – the game lasted 7 hours! We are getting a piecemeal education into the rules of cricket, but still don’t really understand it. But it sure is popular down under.

Rundle Mall, downtown Adelaide, is really a pedestrian-only street with lots of shops, restaurants, street performers, and some fun public art. Note these little piggies:

We were better shoppers than tourists, so I have very few insights into the personality of the city. I did talk with a clerk at a convenience store whose son is going to the US next month and visit the home cities of NBA teams between LA and NYC. I told her to tell him to take warm clothes.

We are at sea today celebrating our 36^th wedding anniversary with a big Mardi Gras party on the top deck! Nice coincidence, yah? We also pick up another 1 ½ hours tonight, narrowing the time difference to about 13 hours.

Addendum to 2/13 blog. At the wildlife preserve we also saw a Kookaburra – there was singing! ;-)

 And here are a few photos from the Barossa Valley wineries that were not available for up-load yesterday: Top to bottom, Meissen collection at Barossa Chateau, the cellar at Chateau 1847, and the entrance to the Chateau 1847.