Australia Day (26 January) proudly celebrated with matching cap and flag at Adelaide's Henley Beach.
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
South Australia Holiday
Australia Day (26 January) proudly celebrated with matching cap and flag at Adelaide's Henley Beach.
Monday, January 25, 2010
Adelaide Adventures: South Australia Revisted
Dee Farrell currently lives and works in Australia, Canada and the US, as the weather suits. She is currently on assignment in South Australia, home of some of the best known grape growing regions downunder.
Kept thinking of my brother Joe, a Wednesday night marathon cyclist back in Indianapolis. This past Wednesday, I caught a glimpse of his idol, Lance Armstrong, who put together a team to ride in the Down Under Tour in South Australia.
I rode into Adelaide (on a motorscooter not racing bike) for the long weekend, not realizing the bike tour would wind all through the wine region and around downtown. It was exciting to watch close up and personal as well as on the nightly news.
My former business name was DeeTours DownUnder, so love the race moniker...The Tour Down Under.
Previously, I had personal guided trips to Adelaide Hills, McLaren Vale and the Barossa Valley. This trip, my goal was Clare Valley, home of some notable reislings and world-class shiraz. Thanks to my Bacchus Wine Society (Denver) mate Barry, I had a great day visiting some of his local favorites...Mt Serum (09 Nebbiolo), Monarch ($100/case shiraz special), Sevenhills ($5 wine skin), Stonebridge (pizza and wheat beer), Neagles Rock (08 Shiraz).
Wine touring down under - superb!
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
I knew I was an Aussie!
I just happened to be at Brighton-Le-Sands beach today, across Botany Bay from where I live with the noise and pollution of international air carriers coming and going at an alarming rate.
I was reflecting on the first settlers, and the hard life those convicts and military rulers had from landing day. Between 18 and 20 January 1788, no less than 12 ships landed at Botany Bay. Having left merry old England chocker block full of provisions and prisoners, they sailed on 13 May, via Rio de Janerio then Capetown, before arriving in what is now Sydney, Australia.
Amongst the First Fleet was a shop called Scarborough, with my ancestor Philip Farrell. Don't know what his crime was, or his fate after arriving downunder at the penal colony, but my gut says he survived - like many an Irish compadre/criminal sent down from England.
About the Scarborough:
Being a large 430 tons, the Scarborough carried 208 male convicts. She was built at Scarborough in1782. The Scarborough sailed back to England and returned to Port Jackson in the Second fleet. Apart from the 'Sirius' and 'Supply', she was the only other ship from the first fleet to return. She was skippered by Master Kohn Marshall.
Hmmm, do you think the Immigration Bureau would heed my bid to become a permanent resident via bloodline?
Proudly American by birth, Australian by choice!
Friday, December 25, 2009
My 2009: Fours Seasons Around the Globe
Dee Farrell currently lives and works in Australia, Canada and the US, as the weather suits. Her skirting the weather took her from New York City in one of the coldest Winters on record to Florida for one of the most hot and humid Summers ever in Fort Lauderdale.
In August, she was ticketed for Vancouver in time for a colourful Canadian Maple Leaf Fall, but by September she was unexpectedly back in Sydney for Spring time and a green instead of white Christmas.
Have suitcase, will travel.
My year in photo review includes New York, Pennsylvania, South Florida, The Conch Republic (Key West), New South Wales (Sydney), Tasmania (Hobart), Queensland (Surfers Paradise), and a new island destination for me - New Caledonia. (A French Territory in the South Pacific).
--DeeTouring Dee
Saturday, December 5, 2009
Thursday, December 3, 2009
24 hours in an offshore, French-accented hideaway
New Caledonia. Who knew?
When forced to depart OZ for 24 hours to stay in line with silly, antiquated migration rules, I chose somewhere new. Not New Zealand like last time, but New Caledonia for the first time.
Turned out to be an old place, inhabited by former French criminals and Kanak tribal people with advanced architectural design skills.
The capital city Noumea appealed to this Island Nomadbecause it is rather cosmopolitan in a charming way, not third world like some Sydney neighborhoods! I liked it because it was not crowded with tourists, the beaches were pristine, and snorkeling magical.
What more could a food and wine buff want more than 5 days of waterfront Cuisine Francaise and vin rouge from Bourdeaux, Rhone and Alsace regions where my grandparents toiled in the wine making industry a century ago.
PS I liked it so much, I spent 124 hours away, not a day. My flight on Aircalin's new 777 was one of the best in terms of comfort that I can remember. Pity the flight was only 2.5 hours long! I highly recommend the airline and the destination for ex-pats, honeymooners, and women wanderers. --Deetouring Dee
Saturday, November 21, 2009
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