Welcome to Perth - Western Australia

Welcome to Western Australia's capital city! Perth is located on the southwestern Australian coast and is home to about 80% of the state's population. I had the privilege of spending some time in Perth and loved every minute.

The pedestrian friendly city was perfect for someone like me. I soaked up the incredible weather all 5 days - clear skies and 25 degrees Celsius (77 F) daily. I stayed near Hay St. and Murray St. in the heart of Perth, where cafes, pubs, shops, and culture are buzzing. Street performers entertain the passersby and cafe customers who fill the streets. One such entertainer, Percy Buttons, was a famous street performer from the 1920s-50s. The city erected a bronze statue (seen here) to commemorate his life and talents. I couldn't miss the opportunity to pose with such a beloved performer.

Perth seemed like such a relaxing place to me - maybe because I was on vacation. There was something about the weather and the scenery that made me feel fresh and comfortable. The city is situated on a river that runs the few kilometers from city to sea. The water is cool and blue and really adds to the scenery of Perth. The city is very clean. It has well organized transportation services such as the ferry and train systems. Many locals use these services to come into and go out of downtown Perth. The surrounding suburbs appear quiet and very family friendly. The suburban areas I visited - Fremantle, Cottesloe, South Perth, and Subiaco - are located on or toward the coastline. All the areas looked like great places to live. Each area seemed to have it's own identity, but none were far from the big city.

I had an eventful trip. I spent a wonderful day on Cottesloe Beach. I attended an Australian Rules Football match (called "footie" by the locals) at Subiaco Oval. I visited the Perth Zoo and had close encounters with a few of Australia's famous creatures. A friend and I spent an evening "pub hopping" and got a taste of the British, Irish, Belgian, and Aussie pubs in Perth. I visited historic Fremantle and toured some of the sites there. My last day, I took the ferry from Fremantle to the exotic Rottnest Island and spent the day snorkeling and exploring. The time in Perth was memorable for me and I highly recommend a holiday there. I'll be sharing my activities in Perth over the next several days!