PERTH (FREMANTLE)

DAY 85 – PERTH   (FREMANTLE)                                                                 Sunday, 25^th September

Woke up to brilliant sunshine again today which was great for our day in Fremantle.  We made it down there in time for 8:30am Mass at St. Patrick’s Basilica, celebrated by David’s old boss, Fr. Paddy Moroney, who then took us out for coffee afterwards on the “Cappucino Strip” which is a gorgeous strip of coffee shops and CLEARLY the place to be on a Sunday morning.  The kids all think these Oblate priests are the best!  So far, they have been given pizza, coke, ice creams and now milkshakes!  I think they want to take them home with us!!

With a statue of some of the many child immigrants who came through the Port of Fremantle

With the famous "winged keel" of Australia II

At the Maritime Museum with huge ships arriving in the background

With the "crew" of Australia II

We walked up to the Fremantle Markets and gave the kids each $10 to spend.  They were in heaven but of course with such important decisions to make it took a long time to get through the market with their precious cargo!!

We went down to the wharf to see the Maritime Museum of WA which was reasonably new and really well done.  They had exhibits on diving over the last century, and lots of information on animals found in the waters of WA, and the docks of Fremantle.  But far and away the most exciting exhibit was the Australia II yacht and the famous winged keel.

We caught up with some friends of Anne-Marie and Christopher’s who live just outside Fremantle and got back to the van around 6:30 for some dinner and bed.  Another late night chatting away over a lovely WA red with Hokey for the adults however!!