Freemantle Expedition
Trip Start
Jul 17, 2011
1
8
35
Trip End
Aug 18, 2011
Freemantle, Western Australia, Australia
Saturday, July 23, 2011
After a few wrong turns and treks through alleyways, we finally made it to Freemantle. Since it was Saturday, the famous market was open so in Lisa and I went, dragging the kids and Ken behind us. The fresh fruit stands were amazing! (I bought round, sweet pears that were juicy and succulent and tasted better than any pears I've ever had.) The only thing better than the fruit stands were the meat and cheese vendors that actually let you taste their product before you made a purchase. I bought a couple of Australian blues that tasted absolutely divine-so rich that the flavors exploded in my mouth.
After we left the food area, we wandered through the rest of the market where vendors sold their wares and buskers showed off their (sometimes limited) talents. There were baskets made from Australian wood and lotions and potions from various sheep parts. One of my favorite "stores" was the Ugg kiosk, where they had a bit more variety in the style of boots than I had seen elsewhere.
After we had shopped our fill (at least before lunch), we left the markets and headed over to the marina to meet some American friends of Ken and Lisa for lunch. We ate at Cicerello's and had yummy fish and chips. That was topped off with scrumptious gelato and a walk along the pier, where we saw the Australian version of Joe's Crab Shack. There are also some compelling sculptures dedicated to the fisherman heritage of Freemantle.
At this point, we went back to the shops and had fun spending a little more money. (The Australian dollar is stronger than the US dollar right now, so spending a lot of money is NOT an option.) It was nice to just meander through the streets, exploring the town a little bit more. All too soon, it was time to head back to the car and drive home. Quick note: I think I'm finally past the jet lag!!!!
