Während Deutschland morgens Autoscheiben freikratzt, sich durch den Nebel kämpft, erste Schneeflocken zählt und friert, dürfen wir uns endlich mal ganz gepflegt in die Sonne legen – wobei das auch schon wieder nicht mehr möglich ist. Denn irgendwie haben wir hier die 20er Grade ausgelassen und sind direkt auf über 30 gesprungen. Und das, obwohl der Sommer noch nicht mal begonnen hat!

Bevor wir am Donnerstagabend in Adelaide angekommen sind, haben wir noch einen Zwischenstopp in Hahndorf eingelegt, wo die erste deutsche Siedlung Australiens entstand – was bis heute erkennbar ist. Nur frag ich mich, ob sie dort tatsächlich glauben, dass Deutschland nur aus Blasmusik, Brezeln und Lederhosen besteht?! Wir haben es nicht erfahren, denn gehalten hat uns dort wahrlich nichts.

Also ging’s direkt nach Adelaide, wo wir am Strand mit einem hinreißenden Sonnenuntergang begrüßt wurden. Und in den vergangenen Tagen haben wir uns so ganz langsam ein wenig die Stadt angeschaut, sind am Hafen gewesen und in den Botanischen Gärten – möglichst dort, wo wir ein wenig Schatten bekommen haben. Denn die Sonne hier ist wahrlich nicht mit der deutschen zu vergleichen. Und dann lauert ja schließlich auch immer das Ozonloch direkt über uns.

Aber vorhin haben wir uns erst einmal ne riesige Box Schokoeis gekauft, über die wir nachher an einem schattigen Plätzchen herfallen werden – und die wir umso mehr genießen können, weil wir nach dem Einkauf feststellen durften, dass sie uns gar nicht berechnet wurde!

Há alguns meses vinhamos pensando onde passaríamos o Labour Day Long Weekend (feriado prolongado do dia do trabalho).

Pensamos em várias cidades, e  Adelaide. Conversando sobre nossa possível ida com Marlon, que mora em Adelaide, Dalmir entendeu que Marlon e Andréa não estariam na cidade, únicas pessoas que conheciamos por lá. Pensamos em mudar de planos, pois se temos amigos em algum lugar, nada  melhor do que conhecer o local e encontrar conhecidos, especialmente pessoas como os dois.

Uma pausa aqui para apresentar Marlon e Andréa. Os conhecemos no último reveillon (2008/2009). Zuco que os conheceu numa história engraçada, os convidou para passarem a virada do ano em Sydney, estes que por sua vez retornavam de uma longa viagem decidiram vir apesar do cansaço. Chegaram no nosso acampamento-picnic no finalzinho da tarde para complementar o quadro que lá se formava. Um visual maravilhoso, pessoas amigas deliciando-se com os aperitivos e bebidas compartilhados.

Dalmir em sua ávida busca por passagens áereas e com intuito de usar milhagens acumuladas achou que Adelaide seria um excelente negócio, apesar de saber que nossos amigos não estariam. Acertou as passagens. Em uma segunda troca de emails com Marlon, soube que eles haviam decidido ficar. Não poderíamos ter recebido notícia melhor!

Então o roteiro foi se formando, não que tivesse que ser seguido prontamente, as sugestões dadas foram Barossa Valley, Hahndorf, Viktor Harbour, beaches, um certo ponto para vermos a cidade do alto, e claro outros pontos no centro da cidade, como as famosas bolas de metal na Rundle Mall, local conhecido pelas compras, Jardim Botânico etc.

Na semana anterior a viagem ficamos de olho na previsão do tempo, a chuva era algo possível, mas o frio seria inevitável.

Chegando na cidade fomos conhecer a casa deles, onde ficamos, estávamos bem aconchegados, café da manhã delícia, ótima compania da melhor qualidade! Além de os passeios que havíamos programado, Marlon e Andréa nos disseram que iriam nos apresentar aos seus bons amigos e assim aconteceu!

Primeiro fomos apresentados a Ana e ao Damien. Com eles almoçamos, fomos para Barossa Valley e jantamos em Glenelg (fotinhos abaixo). No final da noite fomos buscar o colchão na casa da Ana, que foi amarrado em cima do carro, contando agora penso que deveria ter tirado fotos!  No caminho, apesar de bem amarrado, o colchão começou a empinar!! Dalmir e Marlon chegaram em casa com as mãos congeladas de segurá-lo!

Dormimos, acordamos cedinho, tomamos um café gostoso, com direito a revelações! Marlon mostrou para o Dalmir que croissant com nutella é bom! Qualquer coisa com nutella é bom! Mas bom mesmo é o nutella mais alta que o croissant!!   Então fomos aos passeios.

Fomos ao Jardim Botânico que estava florido, santa primavera!! O Ale da Angela recomenda que a todo local que você vá conhecer não deixar de ir aos jardins botânicos, na NZ, segundo ele, as rosas estavam especialmente belas!! Quite gay uh!! Bom, eu também recomendo!! :D

Na sequência fomos ao Rundle Mall, onde presenciamos a Andréa Feliz adquir seu iPhone!! Mas antes disso, passeamos pela feirinha, conhecemos as famosas bolas de metal, os porquinhos, almoçamos e encontramos a Ana e o Damien. Da city fomos para Henley Beach, onde várias noivas estavam sendo fotografadas.

Sem ter certeza do que fazer, Marlon lembrou que havíamos falado de Hahndorf. Marieke nos recomendou esta vila, especialmente por ser uma vila alemã e podermos matar a saudade da nossa terrinha boa (Blumenau), e tendo em mente que a Oktoberfest começava no mesmo final de semana, seguimos para lá.

Hahn é o nome do capitão do návio que levou alemães para Adelaide, Dorf = vila. Vila de Hahn. Ah!! Estava frio, bem friiiio, mas valeu muito o passeio. O local se resume em uma pequena comunidade, com uma rua principal contendo vários restaurantes e comércios.

No caminho para a vila Andréa combinava com outros (4) de seus amigos para nos encontrar. Logo depois de entrarmos em um restaurante eles chegaram e a diversão foi certa!  Dalmir, Marlon e Damien estavam engajados na cerveja, momentos e vários copos mais tarde eu posso jurar que ouvi copos brindando e um “TO ZUCO”!!

Adoramos o local, Adelaide é uma gracinha, conhecemos um pouco mais a Andréa e o Marlon e adoramos! Esperamos voltar! O mais jóia de tudo foram as pessoas que encontramos e posso dizer que até certo ponto devemos isso ao Zuco!

Phew it really has been a while since I update this blog. Lots of things have been keeping me busy, I recently acquired an old (1979) little moped Yamaha QT50 and been busy getting it fixed. Anyway back to the experience with No5

Me and couple of my friends went to this cafe located nearly at the end of the main road. I went in last because I was busy taking pictures of a church situated just across the No5. As soon as I walked in, I was suprised by the look and feel of this 1850 hahndorf cottage, it’s cozy and warm, good lighting (natural and man made) which helps creating a beautiful ambiance.  I ordered a Machiatto while my friends busy selecting the chocolate cakes and truffles (i was resisting not too get any chocolate because I was too full from the BIG german lunch) but like the meme ‘resistance is futile’ and it is so true when it comes to chocolate. Anyway I got my macchiato and damn it was burned and it burned the tip of my tounge F#$*! Then the rest of the orders came out, including hot chocolate, cappucinno etc and my friend said that his hot chocolate is not hot and it was more like warm. The barista were to fancy placing the chocolate dusting with a stencil on each of the drinks . Obviously he cares more about the presentation rather than taste.

Put all the drinks aside, the cakes and truffles were extraordinary and definitely worth your money. They were freshly made and the truffle just melt in your mouth and just amazing chocolate. This place is definitely recommended to cure your sweet tooth but not so much if you need an excellent cuppa.

Gallery

Verdict:
Food: 4
Service: 4
Ambiance: 5

Open 9-5 Thursday – Monday
5 Main Street, Hahndorf SA 5245 – Map
T – 08 8388 1835
E – info@chocolateno5.com.au
W – http://www.chocolateno5.com.au/

We didn’t want this blog to give restaurant or food reviews, but a review of the retail/service industry as a whole. The reason being is this gripe that we both had – the feeling that we Adelaideans always seem to get sub-standard products, including sub-standard service, in comparison with the other eastern states, and certainly with other comparable cities around the world.

I’ve decided to make exception today though, after Tristram took me to The Lane Vineyard cellar door in Hahndorf for lunch on my birthday about 10 days ago. The flavours that we were exposed to through our mains were incredible. Dessert? that was even better. And the wine? I had the best drop of red I’ve had in a while (in my admittedly limited wine experience). Exceptional food and wine aside, the service was impeccable. We were more assisted through our meal rather than waited upon, with friendly meal and wine suggestions and smiles all round, while managing not to be too overbearing for our gen y tastes. And rather than being too intrusive or hovering annoyingly above our plates, it was as if the waiter had slipped away altogether, while we could enjoy our lunch admiring the sloping, green vineyards in the watery, winter sunlight.

–

Julie

Wir schaffen es tatsaechlich, um 06.15 Uhr loszufahren!

Alle spielen mit und kommen gut aus den Betten. Die Kinder haben ein fettes Lob verdient. Gerlinde waechst ueber sich hinaus, ihr faellt Fruehaufstehen besonders schwer.

Unser Hotel liegt guenstig zur Abfahrt. Im Grunde sind wir direkt auf dem Freeway Richtung Melbourne

Wahrscheinlich sind wir deshalb so schnell, weil das Hotel so schlecht war.

Hellhoerig, laute Klimanlagen, schlechte und abgewohnte Raeume, keine richtige Kueche, ganz schlechte Matratzen, nervige polternde und bruellende Nachbarn, unsere schlechteste Unterkunft waehrend dieses Urlaubs.

Schnell kommt Hahndorf in Sichtweite, und so machen wir einen kurzen Abstecher. Hahndorf ist ein Ort in der Naehe von Adelaide, der zum einen fuer seinen Weinanbau beruehmt ist, zum anderen stark deutschstaemmig ist.

Natuerlich ist alles zu und verschlafen. Es sieht aus wie irgendwo in der Mitte von Deutschland. Fachwerkhaeuser und wunderschoene huegelige Landschaft. 

Wir fahren bis Tintinara, dort trinken wir einen Kaffee bzw. einen Kakao, ab da faehrt Gerlinde weiter.

Den ersten Ort hinter der Grenze, Kavina, nutzen wir zum Tanken. Der Tank war restlos leer, ich tanke 73 Liter nach. Das war knapp…

In Horsham machen wir eine tolle Mittagspause auf einem Picknickplatz mitten im Ort an der Strasse und herrlich ruhig. Passt eigentlich gar nicht zusammen, war aber so!

Einen letzten Halt machen wir kurz vor Beaufort, die Rueckfahrt klappt reibungslos.

Von der West Gate Bridge aus sehen wir ein riesiges Kreuzfahrtschiff, also nix wie hin zum Station Pier.

Tatsaechlich sind sogar 2 Kreuzfahrtschiffe, Die Diamond Princess und die Volendam.

Die Diamond Princess ist ein Riese gegenueber der Volendam!

So fahren wir also die Beach Road zurueck, finden das Haus in einwandfreiem Zustand vor, kaufen noch schnell ein und machen einen ruhigen Abend.

Das war doch mal ein schoener Urlaub!!!

Nach einer erholsamen Nacht in unserem großen Camper, fuhren wir nach Glenelg, einem kleinem Vorort von Adelaide. Da es regnete fiel unsere Besichtigung des schönen Standvorortes eher kurz aus. Danach furen wir nach Hahndorf, „The oldest German town in Australia“. Hier machten wir Mittag in einem Restaurant mit traditionell deutschem Essen: Bei Bock-, Wiener-, und Weißwurst mit einer Bretzel, Sauerkraut und guter deutscher Volkmusik haben wir uns richtig heimisch gefühlt. Endlich konnte Jochen auch wieder sein lang ersehntes Hefe-Weizen trinken!

Auf der weiteren Reise Richtung Melbourne machten wir zufälligerweise Halt in „Old Tailem Town“, einer Museumsstadt mit über 100 alten Gebäuden, die aus ganz Australien hierher geholt wurden. Hier kann man sehen wie eine alte Pionier-Stadt insgesamt und deren Häuser von innen eingerichtet waren. Es wurden sogar schon mehrere Filme mit sehr bekannten Schauspielern in dieser Kulisse gedreht.

]]> http://iamlillian.wordpress.com/2008/11/28/pick-ya-own-strawberries/ Fri, 28 Nov 2008 12:33:26 +0000 iamlillian http://iamlillian.wordpress.com/2008/11/28/pick-ya-own-strawberries/

Big fat juicy red straw♥berries ready to be picked & ‘eaten straight away…kekeke’ ~ woohoo!

@ Beerenberg Strawberry Farm

Thou It was cloudy and a few light showers this afternoon, Thank God for the ‘Fruitful’ time we had  The weather was cool enough to keep the flies off 

spotted this little boy in superman suit in the Beerenberg shop =P

When I blogged about Australian beer last week, I neglected to mention the excellent beer brewed by a micro-brewery in the hills behind Adelaide, which we visited in 2006.

It’s near Hahndorf, a village which was established by German settlers in the 19^th Century, and has the reputation of being ‘more German than Germany’. It’s best known as the home of the painter Sir Hans Heysen, and a lot of the place is given over to art galleries … we came away with two prints for the sitting room wall.

On the outskirts of the village stands ‘Grumpy’s Brewhaus’ … a brewery and bar in an old farm house, with the name writ large on the corrugated iron roof. We called in; I wanted some souvenirs … beer mats, a few bottles of ‘Grumpy’s’, whatever.

Unfortunately, all they had was tasting notes (although, according to their website, you can now buy baseball caps) and they only sold their beer by the barrel. The only other way the beer was going to leave was inside me! And, I couldn’t have too much; Mr. Hertz and the South Australian Police might have taken exception.

There’s quite a range of beers on offer. Some are based on German beers; some on British and some on American pre-prohibition brews. Or, their ‘Goldrush’; a steam lager much favoured by German migrants during the California Gold Rush.

Restricted to half a pint, I chose the beer with the lowest ABV … ‘Red Baron’, at 3.4%. It’s said to be based on the Scottish McEwen’s ‘Eighty Shilling’ … and that’s long been one of my favourites!

Grumpy’s is at www.grumpys.com.au

Contributed by Kevin & Natasha de Lacy
On a sunny, breezy, but not too cold day in February, I met with Tanya & Alex at one of Adelaide’s southern beaches. The location was perfect: Dunes, expanses of flat sand, and of course, the only water South Australia has in plentiful supply!

‘It’s OK,’ said Tanya, ‘I just want this shoot to be completely different to the wedding…’.

It was different alright. Instead of the city centre and the botanic gardens, we were at the beach in bare feet. We took it easy on the dress (which had been dry-cleaned and mended!!) to start with. Then, after some shots in and on the sand, into the drink they went.

The Southern ocean is not a warm one. Tanya & Alex were suffering for art here. They were great sports, and enjoyed the shoot – icy water and all!

Lion & Blue’s website

Ah, the wonders a good night’s sleep will do for you.  I woke up early enough this morning to sit at our large window and watch the sun rise over the city.  Incredible.  I wish I would have thought to take pictures.  I ended up sitting there for another hour watching the city slowly wake up.  The only thing missing was a good cup of coffee.

My wife was a little disappointed I didn’t wake her up to see the sun rise, but when she’s sleeping I’m reluctant to wake her.  She’s much more of a night owl than an early bird; and since she sometimes has to keep odd hours at work, she treasures the times she actually gets a full night of sleep.

When we were both up and ready to go, we ran to catch the 9am bus to Hahndorf, but we didn’t make it in time.  We decided to try the next bus leaving for Hahndorf, but that bus left from a different stop.  It was a short hike to the other end of Victoria Square where we caught the 9:25am bus and settled in for the 30-minute ride to Hahndorf.

Once the bus was outside the city, the scenery was amazing: driving through the gorgeous rolling hills covered with trees was in stark contrast to austere beauty of the Alice Springs area.

We arrived at Hahndorf in short order; it wasn’t quite what we expected.  As is our wont, we had envisioned a charming little medieval German village plucked right out of Bavaria.  It was nice little village, but it really didn’t have much of a German feel to it.

There were a few interesting little shops, but since they didn’t open until 11am, we spent about an hour just wandering up and the down the main street.  When the shops opened, the next hour or so was spent browsing around and snacking on cinnamon and sugar roasted almonds.  I could eat a bag of those for a meal.

Slightly disappointed with the morning, we got on a bus back to the city then jumped on a train to another part of the city: time to see the leadlight guy.  It took us a bit of effort to track down his shop.  Actually, it was more like an Abbott and Costello bit.  First we went to the address we had for the shop.  It was deserted.  The only thing remaining was a piece of paper taped in a window with the new address.  Great, so we have the address.  How the fuck do we get there?  We walked around for a while looking for the address, and at one point even started back for the train (which involved squeezing through a hole in a fence and committing god-only-knows-how-many acts of trespassing).

Eventually, and surprisingly, we located the new shop; which, it turned out, was only a few blocks down the street from the old one.  Now, why the fuck didn’t he just put that on the paper he taped in the window?!

The problem now was that the shop was closed.  Damn it.  We did not go through all this hassle just to turn around empty-handed, besides, he told us he’d be here!  The next 30 minutes were spent hunting down a pay phone so we could call him.  Just as we were dialing his number, he drove up to the shop.

Nelson, the shop owner, was very nice and showed us around his shop.  It wasn’t much of a showroom; it was a working furniture restoration shop and that was the focus.  He had a lot of fantastic cabinets, some of which were finished (and already spoken-for).  We found a really nice three-door cabinet that we put our name on.  And somehow we ended up with our names on a single-door cabinet, as well, even though we didn’t want it.

Once he has finished restoring them, he will e-mail us pictures of the cabinets along with price quotes.  Something fun to look forward to once our vacation is over.

We headed back down town when we were done (had to sprint to catch the train) and did a little more shopping.  When our feet could finally take no more, we set out to find an Italian restaurant that was recommended by a guy my wife works with.  Due to our previous difficulties locating restaurants, we were surprised when we actually found Marcellina’s without any trouble.  It was heaven to sit and relax for a while, eat some damn good pizza, and have a few beers.

Before catching some shut-eye back the hotel, we packed up our stuff and went over the maps for tomorrow’s drive to Kangaroo Island.

And no crappy movies tonight.

(Related photos on Flickr.)