Fish and Chips in Fremantle!

Today we decided we would go and spend some time in Fremantle again, but not before going to find the nearest medical centre to try and have a doctor look at Rach's foot infection (after advice from two pharmacists), aided by some very rough directions from the hostel receptionist.

After the walk of 30 minutes or so in to Cottesloe, we reached the town centre and quickly found Cottesloe Medical Centre. The doctor's surgery was based within a small and modern shopping-mall type building full of different medical practices specializing in allsorts of different areas. Some of the many amenities included physiotherapy, counseling, an immunization clinic and of course the doctors surgery and pharmacy.

After negotiating our way up the swanky escalator and into the reception area, we were told we would have to make an appointment and come back tomorrow. There would also be a consultation fee (not cheap!). So the appointment was set for 8.45am on Wednesday, and now it was time to head back to the picturesque town of Fremantle.

Rather than walk for several hours to get there, this time we decided to do the sensible thing and take the bus, a journey that took around 10 minutes. After arriving in Fremantle Bus Station we decided that our first port of call would be the harbor that we had heard so much about, with its famous restaurants, chic cocktail bars and no doubt some coffee bars - coffee seems to be the fuel of Fremantle.

So we headed off in what we thought would be the correct direction for the harbor. Once again, we ignored a sign that said FISHING BOAT HARBOUR thinking we would know the best way to get there - plus it was a chance to explore. The first main road we walked down passed an old fire station that had been renovated in to an Indian Restaurant and a Hostel, a very cool place to stay, but somewhere that was fully booked when we enquired several months back.

When we reached the junction at the end of the road, and considered ignoring some more signs in a beeline for the closed markets, shipping port and one of many railway crossings, we then decided it would be best to just follow the signs.
After a couple of minutes walking, taking in a beautiful park and another small railway crossing, we reached the harbor. It was as nice as described in the books, leaflets and videos, with a small collection of fishing boats that no doubt served the several local eateries in the area daily with their fresh seafood. We took a few minutes to have a breather and a (soft) drink next to the water at a quiet bar and then had a look at a silver monument on a small jetty adjacent to the bar, the monument paying tribute to all the fishermen and their families that had served the town of Fremantle.

We walked around the small gaggle of restaurants and decided we would return in the evening to get some award-winning fish and chips at Cicerello's.
We headed back into town and walked up the 'Cappucino Strip', the unofficial name given the road lined with coffee bars that is apparently famous in Western Australia. We took the opportunity to explore some of the side streets that boasted some buildings that had barely changed in years, while also going in some of the local shops. We were hoping to visit Didgeridoo Breath for a free lesson on how to play the historic Aussie instrument, but it was closed and so we opted instead to look into some of the other gift shops.

In between times, Rich had been suffering with occasional shooting pains in his knee for the last couple of days, so he decided he best make an appointment at the doctors too just incase it was anything serious (the pharmacist had refused to rule out blood clots!). As Rach had her appointment card from earlier in the day, we used a payphone to call the doctors again. Rich made an appointment with the same doctor for 9.15am, and was told during the phone call that the reason for the consultation fee was that the surgery was private - hence the lavish medical services on offer in the medical centre! Thanks receptionist! After consulting the travel insurance and finding out we would get the money back we decided we wouldn't cancel the appointment in the hope of having both our problems sorted by the next day.

Before we knew it, things were booked and it was time to head back to the harbor for our eagerly anticipated Fish and Chips! With the wind getting up and the sun hiding behind clouds by now, we decided to eat inside alongside two huge tropical fish tanks. Our fish and chips was served in chip shop paper and we are pleased to say it met the expectations we had! Luckily, we had decided to only get one portion between us as it came with loads of chips and two pieces of fish anyway, so it was plenty! So-much-so, we didn't have any room left for the mouth-watering desserts. Once we'd finished, it was time to head back to the hostel and some much needed sleep before our early start for the doctors tomorrow!

We'll let you know how it goes.

Cya soon
Rich and Rach
xxxx