Day firty free in Freo
Tee hee.
Brekkie in the garden of course. Then over to the station (Karrakatta) and a short ride down to Fremantle (Freo). I love the way Australians shorten words and make the language theirs in a special way. I'm going to do a test for you one day!
Fremantle is the chief port in WA and only 19km from Perth. It was founded in 1829 by Captain Fremantle who claimed the whole west coast of "New Holland" in the name of King George IV (bit cheeky don't you think?). They were short of people and labour in the early days and so used prisoners to do a lot of the hard work, in particular putting up the buildings. They did well as there is a wonderful colonial feel to the place and many of the original buildings remain or have been restored. We strolled along the harbour's edge, looking in here and there as the fancy took us. Popped in to a studio where they made sculptures, receiving an apology from one of the workers about the temperature as they'd fired up the kiln ready to do a pouring in an hour or so. There was a gallery upstairs, showing off some really good statues etc in a variety of media. As it was a workshop too, there were lots of works in progress which was interesting in itself. Everyone is really friendly and happy for you to potter about.
The sea is such a beautiful colour, aquamarine might be the nearest I can come up with. So clear too. There are two maritime museums and outside one we looked in awe at a 90m long submarine, up out of the water ready for tours. We also agreed that neither of us could 'do the submarine thing', ie. actually live/work in one. Nearby is the oldest building in WA, the Round House a 12-sided stone structure which was Fremantle's first prison. More history throbbing throughout. By this time we needed refreshment and found the Tea Rooms at the Round House, really quite close by!
We walked into this place, which had seemed rather quiet and came upon a room with a group of men in jolly mood sitting along a table for lunch. They joked about us joining them, we smiled and nodded and made our way by. We ordered our long blacks (coffee!) and scones and sat on the veranda. One of the men from the group came out and offered us some wine. He was extremely polite, welcoming, gently insistent so we submitted and accepted some white. Our scones arrived and after a while our waiter admitted he was holding on the coffee so we could enjoy the wine. Our glasses were replenished and then we were invited to join the group. It would have been churlish not to. The collection of about 12 more senior men was apparently a weekly lunch club called "No Importance Club" or NIC. A loose gathering of business people, networking in a rather convivial fashion. They were indeed leaders of local industry and even further afield. Guests are taken along partly as a test to see if they 'fit' and can be trusted for business purposes. A superb way to get in touch with people or find someone who knows someone. It sounds terribly cliquey but was incredibly friendly. The group has been meeting for some time and the Xmas dinner/do is such that they fill the local Hilton (or whatever) with over 1000 people, raising money for charity at the same time.
It was hilarious. We were introduced to the gathering by the chairman, and then we had to say our piece too. It soon settled into chatting and drinking. There were representatives from the US, Ukraine, Australia and people who had travelled widely. All with fasincating tales to tell. What a thing to stumble across! We were genuinely invited to join them again, but unfortunately, we'll be on our way next Saturday. We've resolved to send them a postcard from our travels. As you can see, Paul and I are well matched!
In a slightly rosy haze we then continued our meander through Fremantle, looking in on more markets, galleries, shops and so on. Eventually we decided another break was in order and settled in the window of a cafe/bar on the Cappuccino Strip, ordered wedges and coffee and enjoyed watching the world go by. The world, on a Saturday afternoon, including two wedding parties! There seems to be something about having some of your photos taken in the middle of the road in the place where we were! Curious.... We were enjoying it so much we had to have seconds of coffee :D
Off home on the train, then a relaxed evening in, slobbing in front of the tv and chatting (of course).
What a day!
Brekkie in the garden of course. Then over to the station (Karrakatta) and a short ride down to Fremantle (Freo). I love the way Australians shorten words and make the language theirs in a special way. I'm going to do a test for you one day!
Fremantle is the chief port in WA and only 19km from Perth. It was founded in 1829 by Captain Fremantle who claimed the whole west coast of "New Holland" in the name of King George IV (bit cheeky don't you think?). They were short of people and labour in the early days and so used prisoners to do a lot of the hard work, in particular putting up the buildings. They did well as there is a wonderful colonial feel to the place and many of the original buildings remain or have been restored. We strolled along the harbour's edge, looking in here and there as the fancy took us. Popped in to a studio where they made sculptures, receiving an apology from one of the workers about the temperature as they'd fired up the kiln ready to do a pouring in an hour or so. There was a gallery upstairs, showing off some really good statues etc in a variety of media. As it was a workshop too, there were lots of works in progress which was interesting in itself. Everyone is really friendly and happy for you to potter about.
The sea is such a beautiful colour, aquamarine might be the nearest I can come up with. So clear too. There are two maritime museums and outside one we looked in awe at a 90m long submarine, up out of the water ready for tours. We also agreed that neither of us could 'do the submarine thing', ie. actually live/work in one. Nearby is the oldest building in WA, the Round House a 12-sided stone structure which was Fremantle's first prison. More history throbbing throughout. By this time we needed refreshment and found the Tea Rooms at the Round House, really quite close by!
We walked into this place, which had seemed rather quiet and came upon a room with a group of men in jolly mood sitting along a table for lunch. They joked about us joining them, we smiled and nodded and made our way by. We ordered our long blacks (coffee!) and scones and sat on the veranda. One of the men from the group came out and offered us some wine. He was extremely polite, welcoming, gently insistent so we submitted and accepted some white. Our scones arrived and after a while our waiter admitted he was holding on the coffee so we could enjoy the wine. Our glasses were replenished and then we were invited to join the group. It would have been churlish not to. The collection of about 12 more senior men was apparently a weekly lunch club called "No Importance Club" or NIC. A loose gathering of business people, networking in a rather convivial fashion. They were indeed leaders of local industry and even further afield. Guests are taken along partly as a test to see if they 'fit' and can be trusted for business purposes. A superb way to get in touch with people or find someone who knows someone. It sounds terribly cliquey but was incredibly friendly. The group has been meeting for some time and the Xmas dinner/do is such that they fill the local Hilton (or whatever) with over 1000 people, raising money for charity at the same time.
It was hilarious. We were introduced to the gathering by the chairman, and then we had to say our piece too. It soon settled into chatting and drinking. There were representatives from the US, Ukraine, Australia and people who had travelled widely. All with fasincating tales to tell. What a thing to stumble across! We were genuinely invited to join them again, but unfortunately, we'll be on our way next Saturday. We've resolved to send them a postcard from our travels. As you can see, Paul and I are well matched!
In a slightly rosy haze we then continued our meander through Fremantle, looking in on more markets, galleries, shops and so on. Eventually we decided another break was in order and settled in the window of a cafe/bar on the Cappuccino Strip, ordered wedges and coffee and enjoyed watching the world go by. The world, on a Saturday afternoon, including two wedding parties! There seems to be something about having some of your photos taken in the middle of the road in the place where we were! Curious.... We were enjoying it so much we had to have seconds of coffee :D
Off home on the train, then a relaxed evening in, slobbing in front of the tv and chatting (of course).
What a day!
posted by womble at
11/26/2006 02:36:00 pm
2 Comments:
it sounds wonderful
By
b-z, at November 26, 2006 10:25 am
We did that here too! Slobbed in front of the TV... chatting, with red wine... which ended up on your carpet. It's gone now of course. Handy tin of Vanish under the sink you have there..
;o)
By
Cath Delaney, at November 28, 2006 2:56 am
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