Impressions of Darwin

Its still true, you can only ever make a first impression once and as far as first impressions go, in Canada they would call Darwin 'Redneck Country'. Let me try to qualify this. This weekend is V8-racing at Darwin, which could easily have something to do with bringing about this male-dominated, hairy-chested side of town. Not unfriendly, but rather 'loud', in-your-face kind of Rodeo-like energy that’s about. Due to this Racing weekend, there are also quite a few campers at the park who are obviously out-of-towners spending a less expensive night here in their tents. As I don't know what other establishments are charging at Darwin, I can only say that this Park at Hidden Valley is outstanding in one respect, which is that it charges two to four times as much as other camping establishments for a night's stay and comparable services. At most places I have stayed, there is usually an easy kind of cameraderie among campers. There is little evidence of that here, people walk past each other without a 'hello', without a bit of a story about where they come from, where they are going next etc. This is the big-city kind of way, of not taking time to speak with your fellow campers, instead, blank faces as they pass. Feels a lot like the big city I left a few weeks ago.

The guys up at the local Pub are quite friendly though, many wearing Holden caps or some with Ford emblems, its easy to start a conversation and to get to know a little about them. The place is called 'Santa Fe' which kind of sounds really nice, from outside it is made to look just like some of the establishments I had seen in New Mexico, right down to the colours of the building, made to look like adobe, the decorations on the façade with wooden fake roof supports ('vigas') protruding from the walls. Once I get inside it looks just like any pub, even the pokie room at the end and not a single item or fixture that even looks to go with the promise of that 'Santa Fe-look' outside. I feel really let-down. The place had been recommended for their good food. Well, it was really mutton-done-up-as-lamb, the food rather less-than-average. But then, Peter, remember where you are! Probably a case of too high expectations on my side…

I am looking forward to getting out of here tomorrow as I have no further interest in this town and head for Litchfield Park, about 130km south of Darwin.