Perth, Australia

2/11/2006

Fremantle – Perth

Perth is the capital of the state of Western Australia. It is larger then Alaska and Texas put together. Fremantle is the twin city and you cannot tell where either begins or ends. This place is far more industrial and business oriented then the other cities. There are about 2 million people in these cities and about three and one half million in the entire state. The harbor has far more container ships then the other harbors. There also seemed to be far too many high rise buildings in the downtown for the number of people. The architecture is much like that of the larger US cities. As in all the other cities we have been to in Australia, everything is very clean and well kept up. It was much warmer here then Albany. The harbor area was strictly business. This was not an area for fancy homes.

This is the biggest day of the year for Western Australia. It is the day of the Melbourne cup horse race. This is their Super Bowl, World Series, and Kentucky Derby rolled into one. We had tickets reserved and a tent luncheon arranged complements of Radisson. This was to take place in the afternoon.

In the morning we took a tour around the town. The place was far more business looking then the other cities and not nearly as hilly. They had only one fairly tall hill and that was a park and lookout. There were very large well cared for parks all over the city. The people we came into contact with, everywhere we have been in the Country, have been friendly. This is not New York.

By the time the tour was supposed to take us to the horse races, it was very hot. Naturally the tents were not air conditioned. After the fiascos on the last two Radisson arranged outings we decided we did not need this. We knew lunch was good at the ship and we were not much into horse racing so we opted to be taken back to the ship. Our other choice would have been to be dropped downtown. Most of the stores and businesses were closed for the races anyhow. Some people we talked to later said they had a good time and some we knew said it was hot, full of mosquitoes that ate them, and they left.

This was our last stop in Australia. This is a great country with great people. If there was no United States, I think this is where I would live. Bobbi agrees except she says she wouldn’t be able to drive here due to their driving on the left sde. Hmmmmm. Maybe I will move.

Wrong Side Drive Sherm Out.

(Posted on behalf of Sherman Rootberg)