This housesit has a massage chair in addition to a cat (Ava). And Skylar. Border collies are called Kelpies here. There is the upside and the downside of pet sitting. Ava’s parents do not keep their house as clean as we like, and it was harder to feel comfortable there. But once we cleaned for and hour or so and put a sheet over the couch, it was easier to enjoy the sweetnessFirst day… botanical garden, as is somewhat usual for us I guess. Australian white ibis. I love his lacy tail and sternum.A million rainbow lorikeets in a tree. They did pick a very pretty treeGinkgo trees are common here as well as SE Asia and they are lovely in the fall. we met a nice couple here who said we should try Morialta park if we wanted to see wildlife, especially koalas. First falls hike at Morialta the next dayAnd they were right!People kept telling us they were hard to spot and I was starting to think they were very well camouflaged, but they are pretty easy to find if you ask me. The crook of a gum tree. Having ADHD has many downsides, but I’m a good spotter for it and that makes me happy. I found 8/8 koalas on this hike. One was even awake! They are only awake four hours per day and that is intermittent. Favorite. Next day we hiked in Cleland National Park on a loop trail that went close to Mt Lofty Summit. They have a restaurant there! It isn’t fancy expensive and it isn’t junky and gross. Just good food with a great view. Also, lots of city or National Parks have gas grills you can just walk up and use. None of the BS of reserving your picnic shelter months in advance just to have a table and shelter. You get a well maintained grill with the gas provided!!! Next day Hallett Cove Beach WalkAt sunsetStreet near the university “The Cheese Grater” the ladies crossing the street with us said, it is a research building. I love knowing the colloquial names We came for the exhibit “Broken” aimed at 15-25 yo but interesting for us all. It did take you in some thought experiments. Like how could we make housing for everyone, and denser, but in ways a community agrees to. Some communities have easy access to nature and gardens. Some have services for the elderly. Some have quick commute downtown for work and great restaurants. But government owns it, no building inequity with owning homes, especially not multiple homes in a way that keeps people from being able to have entry level into the market. A commission with people each responsible for advocating for near and short and long term needs, in conversation coming to good solutions for all. What if trees got a vote in how things are run in the world? It was so well done. And so anti capitalist, I can’t imagine it at home. South Australian MuseumThis is another part of my motivation in learning more about the similarities and differences in how our two countries colonized.This greets you prominently as you walk in, but there is no legal framework for negotiation between Aboriginal Australians and the Australian Government.The carving is so intricate. And the idea of a spear thrower is so ingenious. I can’t even imagine 60,000 years of herbal lore. They know so muchI want to learn more about the concept of DreamingWell done smaller museumEvening downtown and they were setting up city sponsored fire pits and street performers. Keep in mind it is winter, people need more encouragement to get out downtown. We had a pleasant cocktail listening to live music. Still a treat post pandemic Next day was sunny again and time for a hike in Belair National Park. Guess what?Koala butt!!!Occasionally there is a waterfall here to the left, but not today. Just a nice gorge. Next day a walk on the beach from the Esplanade to Glenelg.
And I didn’t get my camera out fast enough to capture the nonchalant “going for a run on the beach with your alpaca…“
Athleticism on the stairs. Next day Mount Lofty Botanical Gardens. With a Rhododendron GullyFern gullyKangaroo lounge area
Then back to the summit for lunch. And then I noticed this lady had a pouch hanging a bit low so we watched a while and saw this! Then back to Morialta for a longer hike despite running out of daylight pretty soon. Way in the distance next to the orange rock face is the falls from our first hike here. Ok, I swear there is the nose and left front paw of an echidna in this burrow. Don’t worry if you can’t see it. Zarah couldn’t either, and she was there.Strange only two koalas this trip, but glad we came. Galah birds on the lawn. Light grey back and deep rose chests and underwings. They look amazing when they fly together near sunset with the change from light to dark as the flock turns.Cute part of town by the university. More thrift shopping was done. I love the mix of old and new. Australia wast really being settled until the 1800’s. But the multitude of Victorian buildings is just beautiful. First piece that greets you They purposely hung art about landscape and place from Aboriginal and European Australians to allow compare and contrast, but I forgot to get a good shot of that. It was thoughtfully done. I just love owls. This was hauntingThis diorama was disturbing- a mix of McDonalds characters, nazis, trains, and various hard labors there was no explanation on the placard…This was so so cool to walk through. Shaped as I imagine fascia connecting and pulling all the many directions in the warm red of our blood. The shoes and arms and things I’m just choosing to have be the mundane things that are pulled by the beautiful matrix. I am pretty sure that is not the intended interpretation, but I like it.
My other favorite piece.
Adelaide is a very livable city, twenty minute drive to anything, including several national parks. I do think our relationship was a bit clouded by the house we stayed in being a little edgy for us with cleanliness. Melbourne wins a definite return visit, not as sure here. Unless you promise the alpaca running on the beach again. Next stop Kangaroo Island!
Jessica Wandering 
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