Don't get me wrong, it was a beautiful city (the highlight for sure being Captain Cook's cottage, an aunthentic 19th century experience involving dressing up as the captain and his wife themselves... photos to come soon!) and I'm sure if I had been there for more than a few days it would have been more impressive and we would have been able to see a great deal more sites and get to know the city more. I do hope to go back someday, especially when I am not a starving backpacker and can afford to sample all of the famous Melbourne cuisine (and not stay in a hostel with 700 other backpackers).
We have now been in Perth for about a month, and it's a really great city. It's somewhere that the majority of Australian East-coasters, especially the young ones I know, have never been to, and when I told people I was going to live in Perth for a bit the common reaction seemed to be a blank look, followed by a "whyyyyyy would you go THERE?"
Well what do they know!!! I have loved my experience here!
Perth is really a well-rounded city: It's got a beautiful river, the Swan, plenty of beaches with bath-warm Indian Ocean water, a huge university, and a laid-back feel that you can't find many places on the East Coast. AND the people are wonderful!!!
The initial reason we decided to get off the well-beaten backpacker route of the east coast and head over to Perth is because Montana's stepdad has family here, a few of whom Montana had met before. Her cousins (second cousins, third, whatever, they are family to me now as well!) came to stay with her family in Venice Beach a few years back, so we were welcome to stay with the family in Perth.
I can't explain how wonderful it is to be welcomed into a foreign city with open arms, homemade meals, and a proper bed. Tony's (Montana's step-dad) aunt, three cousins, and most of their children have stayed in the area, and are all extremely close. Maria, the aunt, is a 90-year old firecracker with a sharper memory than I have. She hosts weekly meals at her house for her granddaughters and was more than eager to tell us their family history and how "we" (yes, I include myself as a Mathews now) all fit in.
Anyway, it has been such a pleasant experience having a support network here and people eager to show us around and make sure we are getting on alright. Montana and I did not end up working in Perth since we'll only be here a month in total, but having places to stay with her family has made it alright that we've got no cash flowing in... Hopefully I've still got enough for Asia! But seriously, I am going to miss all of Montana's family so much, already had to say goodbye to a few of them and it was quite sad!
I spent a weekend in Sydney a few weeks ago, and realized how much I miss it!!! It was so wonderful to stay with Jill, see everyone from Coogee, and wander the city. Despite the rain, it was as lively as ever, and I love the hustle and bustle. I would looooove to move back there for graduate school for a few years or something, I don't think I will be able to stay away for long! But no Australian husband as many had feared, so no worries, I will not be moving here for good!
Out for a family picnic by the beach, and going to enjoy these last few days in sunny Perth before off to Darwin for a few days and then ASIA for a month! I can't explain how excited I am for that, but the fact that I am only going to be in Australia for less than a week is actually breaking my heart. Not quite ready to face it yet :/
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