A Bit of a Wash-Out

We’ve had heavy rain this week: rather a surprise after our long hot dry summer. On the old golf course opposite and all around the stadium, I observed preparations doing on for some mighty event. I’ve never seen so many marquees and stalls go up so quickly, so many fences being erected, so many trucks delivering god knows what. Of course, it will soon be WA Day, a long weekend of celebration. For me, this would mean a lot of unwanted noise.

The showers of rain got heavier; thunderstorms in the night came closer. It blew one of the fences down. Then, on Thursday afternoon, came an announcement that the event had been cancelled. No music blaring from 10.00 am till 9.00 pm. The field was waterlogged, they said, and a danger to the public.

Today, they started dismantling everything. I went out to survey the state of the water logging:

I had to stay on the path, where there were muddy puddles on either side. I imagined the rest of the ground would be even worse, where heavy machinery had made its way across. The people who had worked so hard to get everything ready now had to take it all down again. 

This was a stage, really high, just being dismantled.

Rows of toilets and rubbish bins showed how many visitors would have been expected.



My block is the one on the right, with more portable toilets in front.

At least my feet are warm and cosy in my Arne and Carlos socks. Matching wrist warmers are in progress.

What’s on in Kings Park

It was a beautiful day for a visit to the Botanic Garden in Kings Park. I spent most of the time in the Endangered Species section, which cares for plants from various parts of Western Australia that may not survive in their native habitat.

Granite regions:

Information board juxtaposed with my photos.

Sandplains:

Eucalyptus Macrocarpa

Of course, one of the big attractions is the huge Boab tree which was brought here by road from up north and transplanted in this spot:

I have to say it’s not looking the best, in spite of all the attention it receives, including covering its roots with a black tarpaulin to keep them warm in winter. There are wounds on the other side of the trunk incurred during transportation.








Looking down on the Old Swan Brewery, now offices and restaurants, where JL and his son used to work for a time with Multiplex.

A final warning!

What’s on at Crown

Most days I take a walk down by the river and come back via Crown (just to use their escalator so I don’t have to walk up the hill). For a couple of days, I’ve been seeing a display of huge vehicles in the open area outside:

I asked the guard at the entrance if I could come in and take more photos. He said: You don’t have a lanyard. People have paid $1600 to be here. I said: do I look like someone who is seriously interested in buying one of these vehicles? He replied: You could be a protestor. They come in all shapes and sizes. Some people want to protest about mines and what they do to the environment. I like your hat, by the way!

I googled the website:

Hitachi Energy is Gold and Dinner sponsor at The Electric Mine 2024. Join us at Perth, Australia as we showcase our digital and electrification solutions that help the companies address mining operations and electrification challenges while achieving decarbonisation for meet Net Zero goals.

I saw a bee on a blossom. This is a better pic to end with!

Sunday in Madrid

It was not a very nice day outside and I couldn’t decide what to do. After a month’s travelling I feel I just need to stop! So I stayed in my hotel room and read a book, even though I’m within a stone’s throw of the Prado and Reina Sofia.

I won’t give away the plot if I say this:

Both my surnames (Mellor and Butterworth) are characters in the book. So is a Picasso, fake or otherwise, (and I have one hanging in my spare room at this very moment). Actually it’s a signed print. The book was a good way of spending the morning, and I may read it again on the plane to enjoy more of the funny bits.

In the late afternoon I thought I  should go for a walk. I crossed the dangerously busy road into Atocha station. It was really crowded and not as I remembered it from a few years ago. There is a sort of garden area, but it is getting encroached upon by outlets of various kinds:

I had to ask a security guard for the way out!

Madrid

Only You Atocha is a very classy hotel. After a day from hell travelling, it was a pleasure to arrive and to be given a glass of champagne at Reception. I had dinner at the Spanish time of 9.00 pm in the 7th floor restaurant:

From here is a view over the city with the main Atocha train station in the foreground:

I just had a light meal of pasta with mushrooms:


My room had a nice greeting for me when I stepped inside (a personal message on the TV screen):

It took me a while to figure out how to turn it off! My mind and body were in a frazzled state after the journey. Why? Well first of all, I arrived early at the bus station in Jaen intending to have something to eat. Nothing was open: nada! I had a long trip ahead of me. In my backpack was a dry bread roll and a miniature bottle of Tio Pepe sherry, that’s all! But better than nothing.

Finally, I was on the 15.30 bus to Madrid, with a quick change at La Carolina. Here I managed to procure a take-away beer in a plastic glass. I carried it precariously onto the bus. Ahead of me in the aisle, a woman was stowing a heavy bag on the overhead shelf. She couldn’t quite manage it and it fell back onto me and my beer, spilling half of it (but mostly onto her trousers).

At a motorway service stop of 10 minutes, I really wanted and needed an ice cream. The ice cream fridge was locked and I had to join the refreshments queue to get it opened. I suppose this is to prevent theft. I was afraid the bus might leave without me, till I noticed the female driver having a cigarette so I was safe! Now there was only another 270 kms to go. This explains why I was so frazzled.

Jaen and its castle

Castillo de Santa Catalina is on top of a hill overlooking the town in an impressive position with the most amazing view over the surrounding countryside. It is a  stronghold that has been fought over many times over the years. I took a taxi on the circuitous route up there. Pics follow:

There is a Parador next door, where I had a drink and took some more photos:

View of the castle from my room early this morning:

Granada to Jaen

This is not the week to be travelling around Spain. Because of the May Day public holiday in the middle of the week, many Spaniards are taking the whole week off. I discovered that all the trains on Sunday to Madrid were fully booked and so were the buses. I had to change my plans by leaving Jaen on Saturday even though I had paid for two nights accommodation at hotel Infanta Cristina. I also had to book another night at my hotel in Madrid, which was now charging almost double what I had paid before in advance. We live and learn!

Entering a tunnel.

Nearing Jaen.

Near the Alcazaba

I discovered a little red bus that transports people up the hill and back. What’s more there is a walk that can be done outside the walls, with the Alcazaba on one side and the Generalife on the other. This was a nice late afternoon trip:

The last photo shows the gate that connected the two, but it is no longer in use.

I think that’s about as much I can see of the Alhambra, but I did try!