I traveled to Perth, Australia to join Holland America Line’s Grand World Voyage. The ship departed Ft. Lauderdale, Florida on January 5th, and is sailing around the world on a 115-day journey.
I will join the ship in Fremantle – the port located near Perth – to surprise some client friends who have been aboard for the complete journey.
For 14 days, I hope to get a first-hand taste of this amazing adventure, but first I have a day to explore Perth, the capital city of Western Australia, before I join the ship.
Thanks for following along on my adventure.
A Walk Around Perth, Australia
The Bell Tower is one of the major attractions in downtown Perth. The structure — one of the world’s largest musical instruments — houses the Swan Bells. These were the 12 bells of St Martin-in-the-Fields, from Trafalgar Square in London.
While I didn’t climb the tower, the ringing of the bells was a pleasant sound during my Sunday morning walk around downtown Perth.
The Swan River cuts through the city of Perth, with miles of waterfront trails for walking and biking. Near the Bell Tower is a departure point for scenic river cruises.
Palm trees line the Perth waterfront.
This sculpture is a tribute to Mathew Blagden Hale, the first Bishop of Perth. Bishop Hale founded the Bishop’s School for Boys in 1858, today known as the Hale School.
Shopping abounds in downtown Perth with the Hay and Murray Street malls as well as the upscale King Street. David Jones is a department store –with the same name as my brother-in-law.
Around the world, I find places and things that share the name of my hometown. In Perth, Wellington is a major street cutting through downtown.
Just one block away from Wellington Street, I stumbled upon the Margaret River Chocolate Company store. I like Margaret River wines, so of course, I had to stop in for a visit.
After tasting the dark chocolate chips, I had to purchase two bars for Mr. Jones: Red Grape Dark Chocolate and Chilli Chocolate. Will they last for the next two weeks so that I can deliver the gift?
Stay tuned….as my Grand World Cruise adventure continues…..
Have you visited Perth, Australia? What were your favorite sites? Please share your thoughts in comments below.
You also may be interested in these other posts on my Grand World Adventure”;
- Getting from Kansas City to Perth, Australia
- A Peek Inside the Parmelia Perth Hilton Hotel, Australia
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