City slickers

Imagine the ugliest place in the world. Then blast a nuclear bomb over it. Leave it to brew for a while, then build a town into it.

This is what we discovered when we hit Coober Pedy. Wow. What an incredible place.

Being the only guests with a creepy hotel manager in an underground hotel wasn't enough Texas Chainsaw Massacre for us in this place. No - we decided to make the most of the underground bar.

I don't know whether you get drunk more quickly underground. I know that champagne doesn't bubble on the London Underground because of different pressure. I'm guessing that means the alcohol is stronger underground. Or it could be the fact that creepy Canadian men and strange bartenders liked to give us as much wine as they could for free. The results were interesting to say the least. Annika and I worked behind the bar for a while, I took up chair dancing, and Michele and Annika decided that a 1am ride around town with a strange Canadian was absolutely neccessary in the hunt for Tim Tams.

Luckily we survived though, because the next day was my day to choose the road trip sound track, and I really wanted to inflict the others with some bad renditions of Australian pub rock.

So now we're in Adelaide.

After days of stopping in the middle of the road for a picnic, doing cartwheels in the middle of the highway, dodging camels and emus, and taking too many pictures of strange road signs, we're in a city.

I can put make up on for the first time in ages, and feel mildly human again. I can order cocktails slightly more complex than rum and coke. And it's raining and cold. I love it. (loving the cold thing is probably temporary, I'm sure I'll miss Darwin weather soon).

Ok - off to explore this city, and maybe have a civilised drink in a civilised winery.