We have arrived in Darwin and are staying in some very salubrious accommodation. Capitanos is it’s name. Right on Mitchell Street one block back from the Esplanade, although a short walk to the main part of town and a somewhat longer walk down to the Waterfront and docks. The accommodation is an upgraded and recently renovated old backpackers establishment. We have our own room and facilities, the pool overlooks a side alley and a construction site. Bargain Car Rentals and their car lot is next door as is the Entertainment Centre. Inside we have a double bed beside a double bunk. Their is a kitchenette, but no wine glasses. So glass tumblers it is! The shower nozzle wont stay up. There is no room servicing. We are here for six nights.

Looks good!

The double bunks almost block the TV

Some nearby artwork, a special top end locust.

Now the owners of this little establishment are really taking advantage of the absolute lack of accommodation in Darwin at the moment. Daylight robbery for this place but no other choice. Got it by sheer luck, it seems every ‘man and his dog’ has come to Darwin.

We are here for the start of our Ghan rail journey down to Adelaide, we had secured one of the last remaining cabins on the train. We have not been to Darwin and decided to come for a few days before the train trip to see the local sights and sites. The trip had been a late decision following having to call off our van trip to the Kimberleys and the Gibb River Road due to the need to undertake some repairs to the van. The problems were discovered at the last minute but needing nearly two months to fix because of parts availability and delays.

It has just been on eighteen months since our last plane flight together, although Homealone went over to the US to see Mitchell and Piper in November 2019 just prior to COVID striking leaving Allthego home alone. There were two new things experienced on the flight up to Darwin from Brisbane.

All masked up, four or so hours till landing

The parmie at Lizards

The first is mask wearing on the plane, quite a sight with all the crew and passengers masked up. Socially distancing on the way to and from the loos. You are permitted to take them off while eating the late breakfast culinary delicacies.

The second experience was in the Brisbane airport security check in process. Allthego set off the alarm with his new knee replacement and had an extended pat down and scan. This was a first and we will need to allow a little more time in the future for this process.

So after our taxi ride from Darwin Airport we settled into Capitanos and went off for a wander around town, including some shopping at the local Coles to stock up with some breakfast foods and a couple of light fast dinners for the eat in occasions. Tried out the near by Lizards Sports Bar and had some rather large traditional parmies for dinner! They were pretty big, not bad but not the best parmies we have had.

Tomorrow we start in earnest to see the town!