29.03.-01.04.2019 # Perth/WA

Since we already received our visas for Australia online in December, the passport control process is relatively quick. However, we don't want to have any trouble with the customs authorities, so we truthfully declared that we have more than 25 packs of cigarettes and equipment that was used in fresh water outside of Australia. This of course leads to a detour at the local customs. After 2-3 brief interrogations by different officers, we end up in an area where we line up with other travelers. Then a handler with two different dogs runs through the line twice at breathtaking speed, and shortly after we are released. The entire customs procedure took less than 10 minutes. Respect, colleagues.

The Sullivans Hotel, where we will be staying, arranged a pickup from the airport for us for 35 AUD. So we are looking for a vehicle from the Perth City Shuttle Service. It appears right away and the driver, a cheerful older Aussie with a big grin, apologizes for being late. When he asks us if we can pay in cash, I confirm but after a short pause I add that we only have 10 dollars. He hesitates briefly and then can't help but laugh because I'm such a funny dude. It's a shame that I can't understand him very well, otherwise we could probably have a chat.

We pick up another passenger from the domestic terminal and then head straight into Perth. Despite rush hour, we arrive at the hotel after about 30 minutes. The Sullivans is located slightly outside of the city center near the Swan River. It takes about 20 minutes to walk to the city at a leisurely pace, or alternatively, you can use one of the free buses and save a quarter of an hour.

The hotel makes a good impression and the staff is extremely helpful. When checking in, we are advised to visit the night market. Today is the last day of a street food festival there. So we go and check it out. However, before we can leave, we have to involve half of the staff because the safe in our room won't open and apparently only a few insiders know exactly how it works.

The actual city center of Perth is very manageable and consists mainly of two or three parallel shopping streets with numerous shops, food courts, restaurants, and pubs. So we have no trouble finding the night market, where we have a hard time deciding what to eat due to the abundance of options from all over the world. After everyone has found something to their liking, we treat ourselves to a beer in a pub.

The next morning, we play tourist and visit the Bell Tower after having coffee at the Island Cafe. For 16 AUD per person, you get a small guided tour with an excursion into the history of bells in general and the local bells in particular. We get Howard as our guide, who makes a real effort to explain everything to us clearly. However, after a while, I have to tune out, probably because my ears are just not designed for this slang. After the tour, we receive an instruction in the art of bell-ringing as well as a certificate after passing the practical part. Now we're part of it.

But that's it for tourist activities. We get SIM cards to be independent of WiFi. I get one for 29.99 AUD, which converts to just under 19 €, and I get 36 GB (!) of data volume for that. That's as much as I have at home for the whole year and I almost have to donate a kidney for that.

The way to the hotel then takes us over the Jacobs Ladder. A popular place for the locals to recharge their fitness. We content ourselves with going down the 242 steps, which is more exhausting than it sounds.

I then use the afternoon to write a blog until I suddenly realize that the slight cough of the past few days suddenly escalates, followed by chills and general fatigue. Great, here we go again. One of my last memories of Australia was the hospital in Cairns.

The next day, we pick up our pre-booked rental car for the next few days. We actually planned to drive to the Pinnacle Desert about 200 km north of Perth. But due to the fever, I'm not really up for it, so I spend most of the day in a horizontal position. In the meantime, Maike goes into town alone and gets me some medicine and fresh fruit. We have dinner delivered to our room. Boris, one of the bartenders, is very concerned about me and brings me a tea with his secret mix.

Tomorrow we want to move to Yallingup by the sea. I hope I'll be fit again by then.