G'Day Mate as the Aussie's say.......they seriously do! Yesterday (Friday, Feb. 20) took the train from Perth to Fremantle stopping off at Cottesloe Beach. So I can now say I've swam in the Indian Ocean.

Fremantle is such a cool little town. It is one of Western Australia's most historic cities. Founded on the Indian Ocean in 1829, at the mouth of the Swan River, it was established as a port for the new colony. A wealth of the 19th century buildings have been restored and remain today utilized as bars, restaurants and shops. I hung out on the harbor at a micro brew restaurant overlooking the harbor. Fremantle was under the world's gaze when it hosted the 1987 America's Cup. Australia won the AC in 1983 for the first (and only) time it was not won by the US. America regained the trophy in '87 and it is still a bone of contention for the locals. Listening to them was eerily reminiscent of Chicagoans still talking about the '85 Bears. Hilarious.

The locals are so nice and welcoming and genuinely love that you are visiting their country and more importantly their town. It feels very British here, with a vibe of 'beach bum' and 'no worries' attitude. Of course, that is my three day assessment thus far.