EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT ADELAIDE

Have you ever been to Adelaide?  Will be the first time for me.  Ship arrived this morning, and we have a four hour tour planned.

Now why would anyone want to visit Adelaide?

• It is the capital city of South Australia.

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  Founded in 1836 and named in honor of Queen Adelaide.  Never heard of her, for she was the wife of King William IV from 1830  to 1837, a very late marriage.
• Is known as one of Australia's most livable city, ranked by The Economist as #3 to #1 Auckland and #2 Osaka.
• Rupert Murdock (yes, the guy who owns Fox News), considers Adelaide to be his spiritual home.
• Has 51% of the installed capacity of wind generators in the country,
• Expanding battery powered storage of electricity with Tesla.

Some interesting facts about Adelaide:

• Is the only capital city not settled by convicts, making the locals extremely smug.
• Nicknamed the 20- minute city because everything is 20 minutes away.
• With 1.3 million people, about the same as Hawaii.
• Home to the largest display of Aboriginal Artifacts.
• 
  IS THE OPAL CAPITAL of Australia.  
• Attractive sale prices.  
• The world's largest and most valuable opal, 7.5 pounds, Olympic Australis, was discovered here in 1956.
• Australia supplies 95% of world supply, and 80% comes from here.

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  Their Royal Adelaide Hospital cost $1.8 billion, and is the largest building in Australia.
• Was the first city to give women access to vote and in recognizing indigenous land and racial rights.

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  Is said to be the country's most revered wine region.  Barossa Valley, with vines dating back 170 years.  But, sorry, did not recognize even one winery.
• 
  Kangaroo Island, close by, have seen 80 shipwrecks.
• Famous for coffee.

• 
  Known as the food bowl of the country.
• City bikes are free to use.
• It's a UNESCO City of Music.
• Adelaide's Botanic Gardens are spectacular.

Notice my not showing any breakfast photos.  That's because I've skipped this meal.  Yesterday, though, I had two lunches, pasta with champagne and white wine, then tacos with margarita.  In two separate restaurant areas.  I think I might be gaining some weight.

Dinner was equally decadent.

Bruce Mathiske returned, so we went to see him again.  He is to Australia  and the guitar as Jake Shimaburo is to the uke in Hawai.

We today will leave the ship for the first time, for a tour to the Cleland Wildlife Park.  Koala cuddles and reptile interactions.

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