Today seems to be market day in Darwin. There are markets going on all over the place. We opted for the arts and craft market at the Darwin Art Gallery and Museum. To say that this market is popular is quite an understatement. The place was heaving. We had trouble finding a car park and ended up leaving the car on the side of the road quite some way from the actual market site. We both enjoyed ourselves wandering around for an hour or so, looking at what all the stalls had to offer. We were very self-disciplined and did not leave any money behind.
We then found our way to Stokes Hill Wharf. I first visited the wharf twenty years ago, or more, and it has stuck in my memory ever since. I remember having an excellent meal here on a balmy dry season evening. Once we decided to make this present trip, I was determined to come back to the wharf with Bev so that she could experience some of the magic I enjoyed that night. But you know what they say, it never does to try and replicate a truly memorable experience. That was certainly the case here. We had come to the wharf today just to check it out and find a nice place for lunch later in the week (old people like us have difficulty staying awake long enough to go out for dinner!). What a disappointment. The wharf had completely changed. In place of several interesting little cafes and restaurants was now a huge cargo shed full of eateries that looked like the kind of food halls you find in shopping malls, all plastic furniture, plastic food and poor coffee. Oh dear.
However, the day ended on a much higher note. Not surprisingly, the weather today was EXACTLY the same as the weather on every day that we have been here and will be the same for every day until about the middle of October. That is, a minimum temp of 20 degrees, a maximum of 33, not a cloud in the sky and a warm south easterly trade wind blowing over us. So we did what any sensible person would do under these circumstances, we spent the rest of the day lazing by the pool enjoying Gee's and Tee's and munching on Nachos. Tomorrow will be much the same.
Here are some photos of today's activities.
Why not go mad and take a dinner cruise on the Cape Adieu departing Stokes Wharf. Pretty good night out I reckon, and a decent feed as well.
ReplyDeleteThat Stokes Wharf is interesting though, it gives every appearance of having any number of asian cafes and restaurants, but I'm certain that they are all owned by the same enterprise. We had dinner in the restaurant at the end a few times and that was nice, especially when the dolphins come swimming by, and the sharks and heaps of fish.