On our bus ride out of Alice we stopped for a break at a camel raising station. We got a chance to ride a camel and get up close and personal to them. I can tell you, they stink--but they are very personable.
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This is the view of Alice Springs from Anzac hill. The hills are sacred to the aboriginal people as they provide shelter, water, and are waypoints when treking in the outback. The hills around Alice Springs do not have houses on them for this reason.
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December 7, 2011 We arrived in Alice Springs around 1 pm in the afternoon and were picked up by a tour van. We had booked a town tour as they give a good overview of the town of Alice Springs and it's history--they also dropped us and our luggage off at our hotel (for a reasonable price). We learned alot about the rough 'outback' days of Alice and the arrival of the intercontinental telegraph and the railway. We visited the headquarters of the flying doctors service and the school of the air--both services necessary due to the isolated ranches (called stations). We also met a man named Alec. Alec was in his eighties--he is not sure of his age as they did not keep good records when he was born. Alec is a cross breed--white and aboriginal, and he told our group of the hardships of his youth. When they built the telegraph and the railway the government sent workers out from Adelaide. They told the workers to leave their wives and families behind as the outback was so harsh and hard. The men took in young aboriginal women as housekeepers-- and surprise-- mixed race children poped up. The children were basically ignored and outcast and suffered greatly. Then the government took the kids away from their mothers and put them in government funded orphanages run by different churches. Alec was one of those kids--and this gentle and articulate man told us his story. We will remember Alec as a highlight of our visit to Alice Springs. Aussie word for the day: Swag--a canvas covered bedroll used in the outback.
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Waiting for my ride in the train station at Alice Springs I spied this cute hottie.
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The statue in Alice Springs' train station honors the camels and their Cameleers. The camel carried the materials to build the train rail and the telegraph which opened Australia to the world.
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One of the train cars had a curved hall which was cool...
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