Visiting Fremantle, Australia

There were four happy smiling faces when our plane landed in Perth Australia.  Finally we didn't have to face another flight and we could enjoy sunshine and warmth, while our friends and family were experiencing cold and snow.  Once we made it through immigration and saw all of our luggage, we thought the perfect vacation was about to begin. 

That happy feeling turned to panic as soon as John reached for his wallet to tip the wheelchair assistant. No wallet, no credit card, no debit card!  While filling the immigration card on the airplane, John placed his wallet in the pocket of the back of the seat in front of him.  The wonderful Australians said, no problem, don't worry, we will call the people in the plane and they would retrieve the wallet. John, thinking what would happen if this happened in the USA, had no hope of it being found.  Within 10 minutes John had his wallet back in his pocket.  

We were able to enjoy the thirty minute drive to Fremantle and our driver tried to tell us a little about the area.  Our two bedroom apartment located in the boat harbor was located in such a beautiful area.  Sitting on our balcony and looking over the boats in the harbor was an unbelievable sight to behold.  We only wished we could just sit and enjoy!

It was off to dinner, then time to explore the sights around us, and finally find a grocery store to find food for breakfast.  Fish and chips were recommendations so that's what we had.  Sitting and viewing the harbor at the restaurant made the fish and chips even better.  They were great but the fish and chips in Hailifax England with Pete and Jean were even better!

The day ended with our first death march of the trip....over 15,000 steps.  We found the grocery store and saw some unusual things ...... kangaroo meat.  As we walked back to our apartment we passed many, many breweries, old buildings, and lots of Australians partying!  There was a big weekend concert in the city.  We had a great day and we're able to stay awake until 11:00pm

Today was another great day of sun and warmth.  Our first stop of the day was to get an Uber and head to the Fremantle Prison.  It is the largest convict built structure in Western Australia and the most intact convict establishment in the Southern Hemisphere. Fremantle prison operated continuously as a place of incarceration and punishment for over 136 years. We took a tour "Step inside and do time" with a guide and explored  Fremantle Prison from its convict origin in the 1850's until its closure as a maximum security prison in 1991. We walked back into time through the Main Cell Block and exercise yards to view life as it was inside for convicts and prisoners alike.  With a whipping post, gallows , and solitary confinement cells, Fremantle Prison was a monument to a system of punishment.

Then  it was off to the Fremantle Market. It's amazing to think that when the Fremantle Market Hall first opened, visitors would arrive by horse and cart!

The grand old Victorian building was designed by architects H.J.Eales and Charles Oldham. Sir John Forrest, the Premier of Western Australia, laid the foundation stone on Saturday November 6 1897, with construction finishing in 1898 at a cost of £8268. 
The building functioned as a wholesale food and produce market until the 1950's and would no doubt have been an eclectic mix of fresh produce, reflective of the many migrants who flocked to the Port City of Fremantle. We walked through the building looked at over 100 stalls of merchandise.

There was no time for lunch. We needed an Uber to take us to the Maritime Museum and E Sheds. Since we had no wifi, we couldn't get in touch with Uber.  I wasn't going to give up so I entered a bar and saw three young men drinking beer around noon.  I asked them if the bar had internet.  It didn't but Michael offered to get an Uber for me.  Being a friendly Australian, he refused when I wanted to repay him for setting the Uber up for us.  As he personally walked us to where the Uber was located, we slipped him some money and told him to have a beer for us......but I made him promise not to drink and drive

The Maritime museum was interesting and we enjoyed shopping and looking at the crafts at the E Shed. With tired feet that had already walked 10,000 steps we took an Uber  back to the hotel.  Guess what we did?...We put our feet up and rested for an hour.

Then it was off to the Little Creatures Brewery to have pizza and Kangaroo.  The kangaroo tasted like steak but was tough and chewy. People watching was great at the brewery.  We definitely were the oldest people there, but so many of the young waiters would stop and talk with us.

It was a wonderful day...a busy and exhausting day but we can't wait until tomorrow to tour some more and to board the ship!