Alice Springs Day 1: Arrival

So there I am, in the domestic terminals of the Sydney airport boarding a plane for a town 1000 miles from any other significant town, in the center of the desert. Pretty cool right?!

Turns out it’s not cool but actually quite hot. 😂When I arrived in Alice Springs, I located the airport shuttle driven by a man in a flat brimmed hat with an accent so Australian I thought perhaps he was doing it on purpose as an attraction. He drove me to my Air BNB. The layout of houses here are so different than anything I am used to.

Like with my previous accommodation, I live with the host couple here. They were both at work when I arrived so I walked into the CBD (Central Business District). It’s not that far away but with such intense heat, even a few meters feels like a lot.

I first went to the mall (air conditioning!!) and bought a wrap (nothing special but I was hungry). Next I went to the visitor center and was given lots of brochures about all there is to do here in the Red Center. There’s a lot to explore and with tomorrow consumed by my tour of Uluru, I had to get started. I stopped at the local library to charge my phone and look around. My host was going to pick me up from the CBD but her work ran late so we arranged I would walk home and take one of her bikes to the Telegraph Station Museum. First though, bought a Outback style hat and I climbed a small hill and got a better view of the town.

I walked back to my host’s house and discovered one bike had a flat tire and the other’s chain had come off. Both weren’t usable so I gave up on the Telegraph Station for that day. Soon my host arrived home anyway and I moved my stuff into my new room.

I talked with my host for a bit while she prepared dinner and soon her husband came home announcing “a real live American in the house”.

I talked with the husband about his work as an art teacher and artist and I told him a bit about my study abroad plans.

Later, we all ate dinner together. For a small price, to pay for the food, they welcome guests to eat with them. We had salad, potatoes, rice, etc. It was lovely and I learned about the culture of Alice Springs, the unfortunate struggles the aboriginal communities are facing and how my hosts ended up living here. They had lived on many reservations in the area before finally landing here.

I finished the Australian movie I was watching and got ready for bed. Tomorrow is a big day. I’m off to Uluru.