clear statement in the office of immigration
many “old” buildings (100-150y) are preserved in Fremantle
Soon after breakfast I signed out from the ship and went ashore. First, I had to wait for a car bringing me those 200m to the gate of the port, because the area is not allowed for pedestrians. After the border control, I didn’t walk long, when a car of the seafarer mission stopped, and the driver asked me if I want to go to town. For him it was clear that I came from the ship, because “no one else walks here.” On the way, he told me about a Pakistani crew that tried to flee from a ship to immigrate. They were caught soon, deported, have a ban to enter Australia ever again and lost their jobs. He dropped me off and showed me the station of a similar organisation that also would bring me back. Now I was more time before meeting Vivian, the youngest sister of Lulu, and I took a look on the Fremantle Prison. There was a sign, telling it is on the heritage list.
Then I saw a second sign, again telling me it is on the heritage list, but the date was different. So, I went back to the first sign and it explained it is the State Heritage List and the next sign was about the National Heritage List.
And when I saw the next sign I was prepared to read more carefully: World Heritage List.
Vivian and I met on the street before we reached the “Grumpy sailor” our original meeting point.
(I had chosen that café for the funny name, but later saw that the address is William Street, like M&M’s home in Sydney!) Vivian had seen me before on photos and I also had the impression I would have seen her before, because she looks so similar to Lulu. ? We sat there for a while and now I know that she is also a trained barista. I wait for the day when she will come to Vienna and Doron and Vivian will exchange knowledge, measure temperature and discuss the quality of milk froth. Outside after a short walk we reached the football stadium. Only yesterday, I had got the idea to ask her to participate in the Bürgschafts-project and she was willing to. She did a great job, the only problem was, that I pressed (again, as you know…) the wrong button and so we had only 2 instead 3 recordings and those crows that I tried so hard to record earlier (See day 271 here and after 6th of June on youtube!) now interfered with their own interpretation.
We went to the old scenic market and Vivian bought me an incredibly tasty honey cake (as I very soon after being back on the ship realized) and when I wanted to buy one for Lulu, Vivian told me that she also brings it to Singapore when she goes home. So, I think I have a good present! When it was time for her to go, we had some funny minutes, because she had forgotten where her car is waiting. In the end it helped to go back to the place we had met on the street, then she could reconstruct the rest.
On my way back, I bought muesli (as if eating that or something else would change anything) and saw a second-hand bookstore. Normally, I just rely on good luck and think I would find a book that says, “please read me!” to me, but it didn’t work. Then I decided to take a “Lonely Planet” about East Africa, although it was from 2006. Maybe, most of the things I want to learn from that book still will not be outdated.
I came to the office of “The mission to seafarers” but no one was around, so I went on.
Puccini is on the other side, 5km walk 
Puccini behind the bridge, not on it 
“Every year (/week), this train takes 101700 (/1956) trucks off our roads”
After half of the way, the car of the mission overtook me, but I saw it to late, because of some trees and the driver couldn’t see me. But I don’t mind walking. Many of the other vehicles that overtook where trucks transporting sheep and pigs to the ship next to Puccini. I wonder where the animals will be brought before they eventually are killed and I wonder how long they had been transported before they arrived at the port, how long they will wait there and how long the ship will go. And I wonder how they will be treated all that time (food, water, space, cleaning). And I wonder if people who share or understand my thoughts, still buy meat.
I left M&M on 14th of June and this farewell had so many steps until now: Melbourne, the city where I had entered Australian soil for the first time on this trip. Then Adelaide, where we had started our big camping trip. And now Fremantle where I for a last time stepped on Australian ground. But even the next days this farewell will not be finished completely, because for a while, CMA CGM Puccini while sail parallel to the Australian Westcoast (But not near enough to see it, I guess).
At the ship the border control officers wanted to come again at 1600 to get the 60AUD, that I must pay at departure. I went down, but they were not there, and I would get a call when they arrive. So, I went up again. At 16:30 they came, and I asked about the tax invoice for my camera. They said they don’t know now how to do that but would come again. I went upstairs. 5min later, I got a call, they are here again. They had found the appropriate form in their car and we could fill it in. Then the needed my credit card for the payback procedure. Of course, I went upstairs to get it. Then everything was finished, and I could go upstairs. After this “workout” (4x those 84 steps now and sometimes the rest of the day) I decided not to feel guilty because I was not in the gym today.
in front of me the gangway to the ship