Alice Springs

What an experience it has been to be in Alice Springs for 3 evenings. The name is gorgeous, the town not so much so.

Wandering downtown to check the place out felt empty, there weren't many people around in the shops and a lot of places seem to have closed down. It made Stockinbingal feel like a busy place. Discovered were the "locals" were on the way home, down by the Todd River.

It's Alice Springs meets the Eiffel Tower security - in Paris when I visited a few years ago they had the military walking around with massive guns and police to watch guard, in Alice Springs there is a cop at the front door of the grog shop to deter any trouble. My favourite though was Alice Springs meets the UK - in the 2 malls you have to pay 50c to use the toilet. More than happy to pay to be guaranteed a clean toilet (that was 50c for all day not just the once, bargain).

Today we ventured out on the bikes to the original Telegraph Station that was set up to coordinate the construction of over 3,000kms of communication technology between Darwin and Adelaide back in 1872. Followed by a steep climb up to Anzac Hill that gave us a 360c view of the town that is surrounded by the MacDonnell Ranges. The ranges look pretty special on the outskirts of town.

There is a great lot of history to the town that makes it what it is, but it is hard to find the beauty of the place in a 3 day stop over. Like all places though quite often it isn't until you have immersed yourself in the community do you see it's true qualities. Worth a visit should you get a chance. A town where anything goes.