Day 4: Off to Hahndorf

This is a charming village near Adelaide that celebrates its original German settlers' heritage. The buildings are quaint and the pubs are the real deal (they all are, but these really are!). We were told not to miss the leather shop. Good thing someone told us, or we would have missed the leather shop. Well, we would have noticed Crocodile Dundee out front line dancing (see photo), but we would have walked right on by the shop. It was definitely the real deal. It was one of these places that you have to go slowly and read all the little notes and sayings posted on the raw rafters low overhead. Belts, vests, coats, hats, knife sheaths, tee shirts, paper money from every country imaginable, indescribable containers for things I'm sure I don't even know about, tumbler cozies, more belts, wallets, purses, on and on and on. Oh, and out in the back, just dirt floor with a rabbits pen along the back where the roof line comes down and meets the ground. Didn't purchase anything there, but enjoyed the adventure!

We ended the afternoon out with German pastries and coffee. We didn't have tools to set down at four for "Foursies," but we did put our forks down and hit the road back to the neighborhood!

We learned that "Foursies" turns into "eleven-sies" in this neighborhood! Australians know how to enjoy their cocktail hour, let's just say that much. We met up with Bruce and Drew again, thanking them for rescuing the rotting food, water system, and stovetop. It was nothing, they said. "We're neighbors!" We met their wives and the other couples nearby. They all built their houses up on this hill 30 - 35 years ago, have raised their kids together, and now are able to visit and help each other more since retirement and empty nesting. It is a lovely group of people, very generous, very genuine, and very hilarious.

Soon pizza arrived at the door, so the evening continued on. Chris pulled Diana and myself aside to show us her quilting projects. Bruce pulled Pat aside and took him to the garage to show him his pride and joy: a red 1968 Mustang with a left side steering wheel! He let Pat sit in it, which apparently some of the other guys have never been allowed to do! Lastly, Bruce heard that we needed to leave the house for our 6 a.m. flight Monday at 4:30 a.m. and insisted that he be the one to take us. Wow.