Are we really still in Darwin!

Brian went out early for a walk along Casuarina beach which was just what he needed. A beach at 7 o’clock anywhere else in Australia would have been packed but here just one or two people in the distance. I woke up very achey this morning so we set out to find me a masseuse and were able to get an appointment this afternoon at of all places the casino. As we had some time before then, we headed off to Fannie Bay Gaol. Why is it that whenever we visit any of these sort of places, it’s windy which makes all the doors slam and the buildings creak. Creepy. Fannie Bay Gaol closed in 1976 and Cyclone Tracey did a bit of damage like blowing off the roof of the infirmary. It must have been an odd sort of building as it was here in 1952 they hung two blokes for murdering a taxi driver on permanent gallows that were built especially for them. Yuk. Not really where you would want to go when you were sick. Most of the cell block were made of corrugated iron and had iron mesh walls so all the prisoners could interact with each other. Apparently a successful way for these prisoners to be housed.   

We then went off to the Defence of Darwin Museum. It was refurbished for the 70^th anniversary of the bombing of Darwin held this year. I really don’t like places like this but it was very well presented with lots of artillery, trucks and military relics dotted around the palm filled gardens. Bunkers and control rooms filled with memorabilia and actual equipment used in Darwin at the time and lots of displays. Inside the building, there were static and interactive displays that told stories of everyday people that were caught up in the bombings. An interesting insight of Darwin at the time that tells of the horrors that were inflicted over a long time. I can’t recall ever being taught at school of the extent of the bombings and just how close Australia came to having war here at home. At one stage we were in a room that had a few displays, when a flashing light and siren started, the doors gently closed and we were in the middle of the first bombing raid. It was very cleverly done using still photos that had been enhanced with animations of bombs dropping and exploding, flames everywhere and the voices of the people in the area. It showed the aftermath and extent of the damage and really brought home the reality of the time. The presentation probably only went for 10 or 15 minutes but was an excellent way to end our time there.

I headed off for my massage and had an hour of pain and pommeling but felt much better for it afterwards. We just had to head back to Nightcliff swimming pool for the rest of the afternoon and once again had a lovely swim and lie in the sun. We haven’t had enough seafood while we have been here so decided to head to Stokes Hill Wharf for dinner. A feast of prawns, barramundi and bugs while we were sitting overlooking the water was great. What made it magical was the full moon reflecting on the water while a partial eclipse with Venus was happening and just to top it off, a couple of dolphins started rounding up their own fish dinner just below where we sitting.

Snap of the day