Day 8 - Fremantle.

Another crazy hot day but that wasn’t going to stop us! As it was a weekend the markets were on in Fremantle, a place just south of Perth which is about 40mins by train from where Michael lives, so that is where we spent our Sunday. The public transport in Perth is on top form, if only it was like this everywhere else in the UK!

We decided to take the ‘Fremantle Tram Tour’ around the city as it wasn’t too expensive, a good excuse to get some shade and we had a very informative driver! The bus took us from the train station to the town hall, the markets, the prison, the harbour and a few other places. We went on one round trip then got off at the harbour to have some fish and chips from the No.1 shop in Western Australia – Cicerello’s! It was pretty tasty and definitely filled me up for most of the day. From here we walked around the markets where yet again I didn’t buy anything! (I’m getting good at this.)

Our next and final stop was the Fremantle Prison. This prison operated until 1991 with the last hanging in 1948… or was it 68? I can’t quite remember but it was pretty recently. What I do know is that 41 people were hanged and only 1 was a woman. When they knew they were going to close the prison the inmates were given paint and were allowed to paint on the walls which is partly still there 13 years later. It was weird to walk around and think that this place was in action not so long ago as most things you end up seeing are ’80 years ago…’ or some time length which is way before I was born. 

We got to go on 2 tours with our ticket, both very informative and thoroughly enjoyable. We were taught all about what happens day to day and how people tried to escape and whether they succeeded or failed. Both tour guides said they get quite a few exinmates come back just to have a look at places they may have never seen and where they spent quite a few years of their lives.

Before getting the train home we popped into Little Creatures brewery for a drink and then stopped in Leederville where we bought some frozen yogurt for dinner from Tutti Fruittis! I can live on water and frozen yogurt/ice cream can’t I?

Day 7 - Joondalup, Hillary's and 44 Degrees!

This weekend was set to be a scorcher all over Australia and today’s temperature in Perth and the surrounding areas was about 44C degrees! This crazy heat makes it to hot to function and definitely not a good idea to be outside. We chilled indoors for most of the morning and then ventured to Lakeside shopping centre in Joondalup as it is inside and air-conditioned! From here I had another iced tea (told you I’d end up buying them!) and the first Australian pie of my adventure. If you have never had a pie from here, you are truly missing out. I’m going to say it’s about 80% filling and 20% pastry which is how a pie should be if it’s any good. I don’t really know what makes them so good but damn are they the best in the world!! Anyway… enough about pies. Unfortunately I didn’t buy anything but I guess I can’t buy something every time I go shopping otherwise I won’t be able to carry it all.

That evening Michael crashed out pretty early, so his mum and I went down to Hillary’s Boat Harbour for dinner, which was very nice.  Hillary’s is a small harbor with shallow waters for children and families to swim in, along with an array of shops and restaurants. After dinner we walked along North Beach, watched the sunset and on our journey back to the car we stopped and had a look at the art gallery in the Marmion Angling and Aquatic Club.