Perth Australia Oct 17-18 2006

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Pert Australia

Located in the southwest corner of the Australian continent, Perth sits elegantly on the banks of the Swan River. As the capital of Western Australia, Perth is a large spread out city with approximately 90% of the state’s population living in or near the city. Perhaps the most noteworthy feature of the city is the number of parks. They are everywhere and although real estate prices like everywhere else have been on an upward spiral, developers have not ruined the city with large unimaginative condos nor have the city officials sold out by reducing park land or easy access to the banks of the Swan River to the developers. (Bus transportation in the city is free) City officials in Toronto talk about developing the water front, however at the speed they move at it may occur by the time I have great grandchildren. Unfortunately if what Toronto has accomplished todate is an example of what they are capable of; it will not be a thing to be proud of like Chicago, Sydney, Perth or Barcelona’s water fronts. We toured the city but the most relaxing portion of our visit was a boat cruise up the Swan River from Fremantle at the mouth of the Swan to the Indian Ocean back to Perth. I can’t even imagine what the market value would be for some of the houses overlooking the river.

We have had so many rich meals on this trip that when I mentioned that all I wanted was some simple food like a hamburger and chips; a number of others mouths started to water some good old basic food. We were on our own on the evening of the 18th, when we entered a nearby pub low-and-behold the majority of tables were occupied by others from our tour. The first week are back I just want good old basic food. The meals we have had to date have been excellent, equal to the best you would receive in a good restaurant anywhere in Canada which has been too much of a good thing thus making good old home cooking look like a dream come true.

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Photos

Black Swan
When the first europeans explorers arrived in this part of Australia they had never encountered a black swan. The result is that the river that flows by Perth to the Indian Ocean is called the Black Swan river.

Homes along the Black Swan River
The homes along the river are both beautiful and extremely expensive.