Baker's Base: Panania

I took a look at where on the map I'd been this year and noticed a distinct lack of Southwest Sydney. The Southwest has been a little covidy lately, so I didn't want to go too far out. Here's one that's sort of on the edge.

Panania

Despite its relative distance from the city, Panania is only a thirty minute train ride from Central, due to the wonders of an express train skipping all of the "where?" suburbs such as Narwee or Turrella. 

By now we've seen enough pictures of the stations of Sydney, so I hopped out onto the street, southward.

After you walk past the charming Panania welcome mural,

the station exits out onto Panania's commercial centre. 

Surprisingly, this place has a real country town feel, with all of the expected services such as a place which develops photos, 

your newsagent and chicken shop,

butcher, barber and fishmonger,

not to mention sweet shop and bakery. 

Less common though is this fairly grand church which gives me retro cinema vibes.

Across the road from the shops, I found out that I was lucky enough to visit Panania while Panania Markets were on in front of the local library,

(and cool ping pong table). 

In these times though, entering required waiting in line and a contract tracing sign in. The markets seemed to cover the kind of knick-knacks you find in just about every local market, so I decided to just continue on through the shops. 

Where I found a bakery,

and another bakery. Pananians sure do like their bread. 

When in Rome. 

This was a curry pie from Panania Bakery (aka bakery 3/3 on my visit). It did everything that a curry pie should do: be hot, be flaky, and be tasty. Considering it was cheap enough to pay in coins (I want to say $3.50), I really couldn't ask for anything more. 

Having exhausted the things to do in Panania CBD, I turned off, heading south into the residential streets. 

So how do Pananians live?

Apparently, in smaller, older, but well-maintained houses. 

Yes, there are some newer double-story numbers,

but they seem to be the minority, with most houses sticking to the basics.

The well kept footpaths, smattering of trees, and mixture of vintage and re-built make suburban Panania perfectly pleasant. 

What else is there to say?

Soon, my voyage took me past Picnic Point bowling club - entire unnotable apart from its foreshadowing of my next suburb. 

That suburb begun after one more street of unassuming suburbia. 

Panania: Old school Australia.