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Published: April 7th 2008
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Just realised, that if i actually DID do one of these every day, I would do nearly a hundred, thats a lot of reading! but no fear, as of sunday, i have no idea how regular these will be, we shall soon find out!
Today I decided to go to Fremantle, or "Freo". Not fremo as i called it by mistake! It is just the other side of the river from Perth City, and i got there on two trains changing at Perth. Got to fremantle at about half 11 and followed a walking tour mapped out in a free leaflet. This first took me around the port area, seeing the Shed 3 Market (no stalls today though), the motor museum and then the maritime museum. The building its in is amazing, really cool architecture. Got in as a student, soo pleased i bought that student card in the UK as it has already saved me a nice amount of money. For those wondering, i qualify as I have a confirmed place at uni!!
Spent about an hour in the museum, checking out everything from racing yaughts to submarines, native canoes to whaling ships. Was really interesting, and had
some cool boats on display, including some actually hung from the ceiling, which i must admit, is slight unnerving at times! From there I walked out along the edge of the port to try and get a good picture of the entire building, though sadly the angle of the headland, and things in the way meant it wasnt that great. I did however sit down here to eat my roll and apple, with a good view out to Rottnest, and inwards towards Perth City.
My next stop on the tour was round house. This is a small, and obviously circular gaol, on top of what i think is a man made hill. The whole thing was made from stone and it looked really cool, hope my pictures do it some credit, looked even better when the sun came out from behind the cloud (which it did on and off all day). I made my way along towards the boat harbour, walking along the boardwalk plus numerous very cool bars and restuaraunts, if only I was allowing myself to eat out more (but its unnecessary to be honest!). Leaving the harbour, I turned in land and up fremantle high street.
The place is very picturesqe (no idea how to spell it!) with trees lining the roads, and again lots of cute little cafes etc. Stopped by the town hall and visitors centre, where i planned a trip to see the pinnacles and go sand boarding on thursday.
My longest stop on my tour was the fremantle prison. It has been shut since 1991, but they conduct regular tours of the place which i went on, again using my student card, woohay! The tour lasted just over an hour and was really interesting. We were shown round as if we were inmates, so we started where they would enter, shower, change and get given uniforms etc. Then got taken through the outer yard to the cell blocks. Here we got to see cells from present day all the way back to when it was first built by the convicts sent over from the UK. It was really interesting to see and hear how they lived, and to see the Yard where they spent most of their day out in the heat, amusing themselves with cards etc and if lucky, basketball. I must add at this stage that the reason it
was shut is because it was soo far behind modern prisons, where lets face it, they sometimes get it better than some people on the outside!
The final stop in the prison tour was the execution room. A very sombering room, with a big trap door that gave way to hang the person. We were talked through the whole process from when the inmate wakes up on their last day, it was really sad to be honest. People may argue criminal should be punished, but do we ever have the right to take away their life?! Oh, before i move on from the prison tour, the guide was an old irishman who was very funny and did a great job!
Leaving the prison i paid a quick visit to the fremantle history and art museum, before i headed back to the station to head on home. On the train we had ticket inspectors. They usually just check you as you enter the platform, though only a glance. Whereas today they seemed to be having a crack down, thankfully i was all paid up so no big deal! Got home just before 6, to have a dip in the
pool to cool off. Whilst getting out, Dougie comes running out, "your mums on the phone", i thought he said his mum, so was very pleased to hear my mum on the end of the phone, thanks for ringing!! I then sorted spag bol. for the boys, before the usualy evening of chilling out! Tomorrow i am going to head further down the coast, South of Perth, to Rockingham and Mandurah.
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Tory
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I'm loving your blog Dom! It's such easy and exciting reading...makes me want to join you! Continuing to pray for you that your fun continues and safe journies ahead :) xx