The Aviary.. red umbrellas in the city.

In total contrast to yesterdays destination The Aviary bar and restaurant is not in a heritage building in one of Perth's oldest suburbs but right slap bang in the city in the one of the newest additions to the Perth cityscape 140William. The contemporary architecture and eco-friendly design of 140 couldn't be more different from the Victorian elegance of the Peninsula Hotel. Neither could the clientele, the Dome a family friendly, casual environment.. the Aviary attracting the younger, trendier customers. Something for everyone in Perth :) Hope you've had a good weekend, happy Monday, take care and stay safe...

Under the Dome...

Whenever Aimee, P and myself venture out for coffee/brunch together, a two against one situation often develops :) While Aimee and I are always keen to try new venues and new, sometimes vegan menus, if there's a Dome somewhere close by we have 'discussions', P would go there every time! On this occasion, spotting the Dôme café just across the railway line in Maylands, who could resist that splendid heritage edifice! Built in 1906 The Peninsula Hotel, used for a variety of purposes over the years, escaping a close brush with demolition at one point. quelle horreur, is now home to the corporate headquarters of  Dôme Coffee. Above, reflections of the trademark dome ceiling.

 Our City Daily Photo family experienced another blow this week with the tragic passing of a much valued member of our group.. RIP EG, we will miss your fabulous photos and lively wit..

Click here to view all participants of Weekend Reflections

Gateway to the spiritual realms..

'Noongar spirituality lies in the belief of a cultural landscape and the connection between the human and spiritual realms. Everything in our vast landscape has meaning and purpose'.

You might not even notice the Northern Terminus to the Bibbulmun Track when you pass it by on Railway Road in Kalamunda as we did on Wednesday. It was here that we left P six years ago, that's me wishing him happy trails above, to walk the 1,003km scenic route through diverse terrain to reach the port city of Albany six weeks later.. a huge endeavour. If you are a real crazy keen hiker it would be well worth it to see vistas like these below. I loved the photos but I would never have made the distance! I know there are a few avid hikers out there, what do you think, would you give it a whirl? Happy Friday, take care and stay safe...

C.Y. O'Connor.. Mundaring Weir.

WA owes Irish born engineer C.Y. O'Connor a great deal. Not only was he responsible for the construction of Fremantle Harbour but he also devised the scheme for the Goldfields Water Supply Scheme, a project that even today would be an awesome endeavour never mind back in the early 1900's. Below a sculpture of O'Connor looking out over Mundaring Weir.. the lake created by the dam was called Helena River Reservoir now quite rightly named Lake C.Y. O'Connor.  Much maligned by the press of the day O'Connor committed suicide in 1902, less than 12 months before the first pump was switched on.. not surprising that even way back then newspapers had too much power and were guilty on many occasions of getting their facts wrong! Didn't have much time to explore yesterday but will go back for details :) Have a good Thursday, take care and stay safe.. p.s. the Mundaring Weir link is excellent for anyone interested in the construction and working of dams!

How do you get from here to there?

 

24C cloudy with a chance of rain ( it did) more today.. bliss! Couldn't resist this shot in North Perth on Sunday morning. Parked in companionable proximity the two modes of transport above couldn't possibly be more diverse! Then I got to thinking, as I do :) who would be the happiest here? Surely the owner of the distinguished and elegant Jaguar c1961 must live in horreur of this beauty being scratched or bumped, maybe only takes it out for a Sunday drive, while the inclement weather could be tricky for the owner of the delightfully shabby chic old scooter which looks like it could be of a similar vintage, check out that spare tire in the front :) On reflection I think my c2007 Holden Astra will do just fine, I just wish I hadn't chosen black.. a nightmare to keep clean :) Happy Wednesday, take care and stay safe...

Shadows, shapes and sailing ships!

Can't believe it's the first time I've spotted the fantastical sailing ship weather-vane atop the St. Georges Terrace entrance to ye old London Court, how cool is that, j'adore! Will get a better shot when I remember to take my long lens! When looking at this image I was struck by how many angles and shapes there were.. then, as well as having a bit of fun with black, white and spot colour above, I couldn't stop myself inverting, you would have done the same right :) Happy Tuesday, take care and stay safe... 

Woodthorpe's mural.. where's the respect!

Came across the mural here by super talented Perth graphic artist Miles Noel when Aimee and I were in North Perth yesterday morning for breakfast. A skillfully executed representation of the history of the area on the wall of a building that since 1925 has housed a watchmaker, an electrician and Pal & Panther Motorcycles now Motor Cycle Pit Stop. I thought here was a code of honour out there, leave other artists work alone, a code that obviously doesn't apply to taggers.. it was upsetting to see this fine piece of work defaced by senseless tagging. Guess there will always be idiots out there without real talent, I think even I could have managed this tag! Happy Monday, take care and stay safe.. p.s. it wasn't me :) 

Click here to see more Monday Mural's from around the world..

First Contact.. 'more than a sculpture, a legacy'.

My parents taught me never make a judgment until I know the facts, I'm hoping you will too. Although at first I did have my reservations about First Contact a new sculpture facing in from the Swan River at Elizabeth Quay after reading the significance of the work to the Noongar people, who were here long before we stepped foot on their lands, I saw it in a new light. Created from an original painting by respected Noongar artist 72 year young Laura Nannup, First Contact 'is inspired by the Noongar people’s first visions of European settlers, whose distant sailing ships looking like floating birds bearing the white-faced spirits of their ancestors'. You can see the artist, who never dreamed her vision would become a three dimensional reality here, (skip 28seconds in).. it's never too late to realize your dreams oui! If you look closely you'll see the city reflected in the mid-section. Hope you're having a fab weekend, take care and stay safe...

Visit James to see more weekend eflections from around the world

Chanteuse extraordinaire encore..

I've always said dynamite comes in small packages, being slightly height challenged at 159cm it's become a bit of a mantra :) Petit singer/song writer/actress and so much more Michaela Burger

is dynamite in black velvet in Exposing Edith. Performed with multi talented guitarist Greg Wain the Fringe World cabaret show takes us on a journey through the highs and lows of Paris's iconic chanteuse Edith Piaf's life. Oh la what a life she had, much of it a mystery even today. As if the lighting wasn't difficile enough, Michaela's show closing, standing ovation rendition of  Non, je ne regrette rien brought tears to my eyes.. in a good way :) I took too many photos to put on the blog but I would love you to have a look at my album from the show here. Happy Friday, take care and stay safe...

Chanteuse extraordinaire...

A little teaser today as I got home late last night but I will say that if anyone in Perth is reading this, and I like to think there are, it's a long way to come from Versailles or the US :) but if you are in Perth you really should make an effort to see Exposing Edith (details of where and when).. one word, incroyable! Two of the many shots I took show the highs and lows that was Edith Piaf's life. More tomorrow, happy Thursday, take care and stay safe...

Fremantle encore et fini.. until the next time!

A few last shots from our trip to Fremantle last week. Above the view of High Street looking down from the Round House built in 1830 and the oldest building still standing in WA. High Street is lined with heritage buildings therefore a favourite of mine.. I've lost count of the number of shots I've taken of the blue fishing boats below in fisherman's wharf they are so photogenically impossible to resist :)

The sculpture below, The Jetty, a collaboration between Fremantle sculptors Greg James and Jon Tarry commemorating the early fishermen who worked hard in dangerous conditions, is a huge draw-card for visitors to the harbour..  

 

If you look between the green lighthouse and the signpost you will see the first glimpse of the colossal container ship coming around the corner here... it's actually just another gratuitous lighthouse shot :)

... and to finish, testing the fire hoses off shore.. at least that's my theory and I'm sticking to it :) I'm off to a Fringe World show tonight, "Exposing Edith' .. looking forward to it very much, tell you all about it tomorrow. Have a good Wednesday, take care and stay safe...

Rowing in circles!

You might remember the mesmerizing styling of Welsh born Perth based artist Robert Jenkins seen here in Leederville. This mural in Mount Lawley is a brilliant way to disguise an ugly utility area don't you think! If you have 39 seconds to spare :) take a look at this time lapse video showing the design process from start to fini, incroyable! So worth a look, for most of us a wall that size would be far too daunting. Hope your week is off to a good start, happy Tuesday, take care and stay safe...p.s. I have a confession to make, there was no treading on the mill today :) too b____y hot!

See more fabulous murals from around the world here.

Adventures on the high sea...

Since 1986 'over 40,000 young people have benefited from a life-changing ocean adventure aboard the Leeuwin II'. The original Leeuwin, Dutch for 'lioness', a three masted 'barquentine', was a Dutch galleon that back in the 1600's discovered and mapped some of the southwest corner of Australia. The Leeuwin II, launched in 1986 is WA's own tall ship and Australia's largest sail training tall ship.. beautiful isn't she! Check her journey's here. Maybe it's about time I had an adventure too, if only there wasn't all that deep water :) Would you do it? Happy Monday, take care and stay safe...

Cooling off!

No better way to begin a 40C day! Taken at 6.30am.. the reflections below are of the hibiscus bushes along the top edge of the garden. Especially refreshing after...

... 30 minutes on the treadmill, my dependable exercise buddy :) alternated with coffee, pastry and newspaper, life's too short to be obsessive right! I'd love to know how you start your day? Happy Sunday, take care and stay safe...

Visit James to see Weekend Reflections from around the world...

 

Coming into harbour..

While taking shots of the lighthouses in yesterday's post the ginormous 'apartment block' sized container ship came into port from Gage Roads. It's a shocker of a shot above, hand held long lens and all that :) but I wanted to show the two tugs shooting out to guide this monster in. Pretty amazing to see the comparatively small tugs taking control, a bit like herding a very big cow! Spot the red lighthouse on the North Mole, I was on the South Mole...

A quizzical look from the seagull as I lean out to take the last shot of the container ship disappearing into the distance.. well I guess it's seen it all before :) That's the WA Maritime Museum to the right below.. Bon weekend, take care and stay safe...