Sculpture Saturday this week travels back in time to 1983 and my first trip to Australia. The El Alamein Fountain, designed by Robert Woodward and Phil Taranto, was installed in 1961 as a memorial to soldiers who died during World War II in two battles at El Alamein, Egypt. The sculpture is located on Macleay Street in the Sydney’s Kings Cross neighborhood.

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This is a decolored photo of my print from 1983.

I traveled to Australia on a $50 airline employee ticket obtained at the last minute. The trip was arranged so hastily I had no hotel reservation.

At Sydney’s Kingsford Smith Airport, the traveler’s aid booth solved that problem. When I explained that I wanted a room near the city center that also featured entertainment and night life, the nice lady in the booth suggested a Sheraton Hotel in Kings Cross.

Arriving at the hotel, I was surprised to find that it was in the middle of Sydney’s bustling red light district. There was no cause for concern as the Sheraton was a very nice hotel, and although there were many adult entertainment establishments in the area, Kings Cross seemed to be a safe and reasonably nice neighborhood.

Sculpture Saturday is a challenge hosted by Susan Kelly at No Fixed Plans.

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