Day 1, Cottesloe Beach

My first night here, I went to bed at 6:30 p.m. and did not open my eyes again until 6:30 a.m. the next day.  I woke refreshed and ready to go though!  On today's agenda:  the beach, so I hopped on a bus and headed out.  I was told I had to see Cottesloe beach. It took half an hour to get from my apartment, or unit as it is called Down Under, to the beach.  I took a bus, then the train, as Cottesloe beach is in a suburb of Perth.  I arrived there around noon, and got a bite to eat before staking out my patch of sand.  The beach front was full of surf shops, pubs, fish 'n' chips, gelato parlors, and restaurants.  I ate lunch at Amber Jacks, my first fish 'n' chips ever. 

 Now, I've only been to the beach once before in my life, so this was pretty meaningful for me.  The Indian Ocean was captivating; the water was warm enough to swim in, the waves were tolerable, the wind felt good while lying on the beach, and the sand was warm between my toes. 

The beach was filled with people of all ages, from groups of teenagers to families and older couples.  You get the sense that coming to the beach is part of a daily routine for these people, which sounds like it'd be the perfect solution to a crappy day.  Also while there, I noticed that every old man, and I mean every (no exaggeration) had a speedo on.  So, I suffer, you suffer:  

 

Leaving the beach I got a glimpse of beach front property.  My dream home is a two-story house with wrap around porches on both levels (my Forrest Gump house), guess I'll just move to Cottesloe Beach, Ambassador's Row: