We can now reveal all as to why we timed the visit to Australia when we did. We have SEEN Father Christmas 6 weeks early in the Grand Christmas Pageant in Adelaide.
We were lucky enough to see him along with 335,000 other South Australians in 30 degree heat at the end of a parade lasting over an hour and a half (This might explain the difficulty in booking a hotel room in Adelaide).
The annual event seems to be something of a hidden treasure even though this was its 79th year.
Some facts and figures:
There were 68 floats varying from nursery rhymes to an elephant (an antique) to penguins (new this year) and Fergus the North Pole Fire Engine.
10 bands with a number being pipe bands
12 dance groups (all female!)
250 clowns
AND FATHER CHRISTMAS making his way to the Magic Cave at David Jones store. He will be in residence for the next 43 sleeps until the big day.
The whole event is sponsored by the Credit Union and draws huge crowds, some had been setting up since 04:00 to secure the best spots. Nearly all the children dress up with the Christmas theme in mind, many wearing reindeer antlers, Santa hats, and several with painted faces. Lots of people with red balloons, a significant number had joined in the world record attempt at 9.00 am of 30,000 people wearing red noses all at one time. Unfortunately a rare later start meant we were not included (that would have been something to report!)
One woman we spoke to was attending her first pageant having seen it every year on the television. She had flown in yesterday specifically to experience the event with her 2 sons (aged 9 and 19). She also said that the pageant marked the start of Christmas and she felt she could now put up her tree!
Overall we spent 1.5 hours in the direct sun and began to wilt at the end. A local informed us how lucky we were with the weather this year as last year the temperature was 40 degrees and the streets were relatively sparse with spectators compared to the norm.
We then followed the crowds towards the mall, where we stopped to take in the street entertainers. Excellent quality.
Around 2.00 pm lunch became a priority, so we made our way to Central Market to find you can buy anything. We found fresh bread, Australian Brie and feta cheese, pineapple, tomatoes, apples along with a knife and two spoons. Healthy eating at last. Though I think tomorrow we will be forced to eat chips at McDonalds for the free wifi.
Catching the free tram to the railway station we walked to the nearest park (Adelaide is surrounded by parks) to have our healthy lunch following which we walked to the Adelaide Oval cricket ground. Although closed we did manage a view of the grounds through the gates.
Nearby is St. Peter's Cathedral built in 1876, not only was this a beautiful building with some particularly attractive windows but the structure offered us some sanctuary from the heat which by this time was starting to wear us both down.
Navigating across the parks we also had a chance to walk through the Botanical Gardens. It would seem to be THE wedding venue for Adelaide with 5 weddings taking place during our visit and another 3 were scheduled for the following day. The gardens boast the oldest avenue of Morton Bay Figs in Australia (larger than life and felt as though you were walking on the film set of a Dinosaur movie) and glasshouses that housed Amazonian Water Lily (they only flower at night).
On returning to the hotel in the late afternoon we realised how debilitating it had been to stand in the sun for an extended period then pound the streets. Nicola opted to recover by watching Happy Feet on tv (how ironic).