After we finally took off, the actual flight wasn’t all that bad. Less than 8 hours and we were flying over the beautiful coastline approaching Adelaide. The flight path took us right over the city – and we could actually see our apartment building! How cool was that?

Landing a little after 10am (yeah, we’re super late, and super bummed!), Immigration was easy, baggage came pretty quickly and we were in our awesome apartment by 11:30. This will be a great place to spend the next few days. It is spacious and well equipped, with a great view. We changed reservations at the last minute from another place a few blocks away because the hosts weren’t very responsive and we wanted to be able to check in early. We were able to actually book an additional night at this new apartment so we could check in early the next day – and the cost was less than the first apartment with one less night. Win win!

After scouting the place and freshening up, we call Rosanna and Peter and reunite in the lobby of our apartment. So great to see their smiling faces again! This is so exciting! After greetings and hugs, and presents being exchanged (4 great minds!!!) we took off into the streets to catch a bus to Hahndorf, this adorable German village about an hour away. Since Rosanna and Peter are originally from Germany, it just seemed like the thing to do. And bonus – we thought we could pay for the bus with our credit cards, but unforunately not all the buses have those ticket machines yet. We had to go to a convenience store to buy a pre-loaded card. Bummer. But the bus driver took pity on us and let us ride to Hahndorf for free! How sweet was that? He also gave us directions and instructions on where and how to buy the cards we need to get back. So very nince.

In Hahndorf, we walked along the quaint main street perusing all the wine bars, pubs and German food offerings, of course, choosing to have our lunch at  German Arms Hotel. But of course. Where else? We had a lovely time – and far too much food, look at that plate with the cheese covered sausage-pretzel-hot dog that was actually my meal! – on a gorgeous sundrenched patio. The official AAC reunion has begun!

We were enjoying ourselves so much, we really weren’t paying attention to the time and missed the bus back to the city. After buying our requisite bus cards we decided we had a whole hour to kill, so what the heck, we’ll have another drink. Oh darn. Such a hardship. When in wine country after all….

Back in Adelaide we wandered around a bit, getting the lay of the land. Rosanna and Peter pointed out the grocery stores on the mall, and as they headed back to their hotel, we wandered down the pedestrian mall to the store, picking up supplies for the next 4 days. Turned out they had a great package of salt and pepper shrimp that we could cook on the stove top for dinner. That and beer and wine and some bread, and we were perfectly happy sitting out on the balcony, eating our dinner in the blissfully cool evening and watching a stunning sunset.

As jet lag started setting in – 2 hours of sleep definitely catches up to you! – we retired inside to our great little apartment and let sleep carry us away.  Tomorrow, we’ll meet for coffee and a bittersweet farewell.