Monks, Music & Mystery
Not so good weather wise today. Perth was hit by a rain storm and it was very wet and windy all day.
Fortunately we spent most of the day two hours north of Perth visiting New Norcia - Australia's only Monastic town, which was founded in 1846 by Dom Rosendo Salvado, a Benedictine monk as an aboriginal mission.
We visited the Museum and Art Gallery. We had timed our visit just right - 20 years ago a number of paintings had been stolen and all bar one had been recovered. Unfortunately they had been cut out of their frames and were in a terrible state and it is only now that they have been restored and the exhibition opened yesterday.
After checking out the Museum, Art Gallery and Gift Shop (which sells the bread and cakes baked inthe Monastery's own bakery, the wine they produce and the olive oil they produce) we took a guided tour of the various buildings associated with the monastery - including the prayer rooms used by the remaining Benedictine monks and the male and female colleges they established for aboriginal children (now closed).
After our visit to New Norcia, we then endeavoured to find our way to the Pecan Farm. This was easy said then done. However, we eventually find the place with five minutes to spare (it closed at 5 pm) only to discover that it wasn't open today anyway.
Very disappointed we made way beack to the town centre of Toodyay to see if it was possible to purchase any of the products in the local shops. However, it seems that almost everywhere in Toodyay closes at 5 pm.
However, salvation was at hand when we spotted the Licks and Lollies cafe still open, so we took some refreshment there before heading back home.
Tomorrow, all being well weather wise, we are making a trip to Rottnest Island - so it looks like there's no letting up in our final days here in Australia.
Posted 15/08/06 9.45 pm
Fortunately we spent most of the day two hours north of Perth visiting New Norcia - Australia's only Monastic town, which was founded in 1846 by Dom Rosendo Salvado, a Benedictine monk as an aboriginal mission.
We visited the Museum and Art Gallery. We had timed our visit just right - 20 years ago a number of paintings had been stolen and all bar one had been recovered. Unfortunately they had been cut out of their frames and were in a terrible state and it is only now that they have been restored and the exhibition opened yesterday.
After checking out the Museum, Art Gallery and Gift Shop (which sells the bread and cakes baked inthe Monastery's own bakery, the wine they produce and the olive oil they produce) we took a guided tour of the various buildings associated with the monastery - including the prayer rooms used by the remaining Benedictine monks and the male and female colleges they established for aboriginal children (now closed).
After our visit to New Norcia, we then endeavoured to find our way to the Pecan Farm. This was easy said then done. However, we eventually find the place with five minutes to spare (it closed at 5 pm) only to discover that it wasn't open today anyway.
Very disappointed we made way beack to the town centre of Toodyay to see if it was possible to purchase any of the products in the local shops. However, it seems that almost everywhere in Toodyay closes at 5 pm.
However, salvation was at hand when we spotted the Licks and Lollies cafe still open, so we took some refreshment there before heading back home.
Tomorrow, all being well weather wise, we are making a trip to Rottnest Island - so it looks like there's no letting up in our final days here in Australia.
Posted 15/08/06 9.45 pm
posted by The Pink Hat @ 2:34 pm
1 Comments:
At 2:13 am,
The Pink Hat said…
Surely you haven't forgotten my human's experience at Heathrow a couple of years ago - trying to get to Dublin - already?
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