March 22

Awoke to sunshine and blue skies, mid 60’s.  Late start that gave us time to readjust packing etc.  Breakfast buffet at the hotel.  Set off for the airport via bus. Melbourne airport is privately owned and operated and is no more efficient or traveler friendly than city run airports.  Flight to Tasmania is about 1 hour on Qantas.  We were on the Timor Sea when in the top end, now we are on the Tasman Sea.  We have visited the coastal range from north to south on the east coast. Starting in the rain forest at Cairns, the Blue Mountains west of Sydney and now the Dandenong mountains west of Melbourne.  The Dutch found Tasmania before the English landed who then created the penal colonies.  Tasman was the Dutchman who first settled.  We fly over the parched land of Victoria and then fly over Phillip Island where we were last night with the penguins.  There are no reefs off this coastline, there is a brief shelf and then it drops off into dark blue deep ocean.  Tasmania appears mountainous covered by trees and parched, needing water here too.  The largest city and capital Hobart (200, half million in the whole state) we are in the state of Tasmania, that has been confusing; it is its own state.  Hobart sits on the Derwent River and a harbor.  Fishing is still a trade but logging is less these days, there are sheep too and some mining.  The Aboriginals are not prevalent or readily recognizable; they have blended in with the Europeans who relentlessly tried to annihilate them.  Although there are comments from Aboriginals in the local paper over land use, so they are still a force here. Tasmania Hobart is the second oldest settlement in Aus, second to Sydney; both began as penal colonies.  The city sits at the foot of Mt Wellington, very pretty.  Battery Point is the oldest section of the city with lovely Victorian bungalows and wrought iron.  Errol Flynn was born here.  The city is a blend of old England and 1960’s arch.  There is building going on here, a pedestrian shopping area with high end shops and department stores.  Lots of flowers and lovely benches.  Our hotel the Hadley is very central to everything. It’s very historic nearly 200 years old.  Very charming with Victorian flare. We are located across the street from a huge sandstone Anglican church of St. Davids  d.  Many old buildings are locally quarried sandstone, carved by convicts who were treated cruelly.  Each block has markings by the individual so their production was monitored. It is high 60’s – 70’s, signs of autumn are in the air.  We walk down the hill to the port and visit the Custom House Hotel. This was where Knights stayed a month ago.  Very old and charming.  They brew their own beer and it is some of the best we have had in Aus; pints under the umbrellas on the street.  We walk over to Salamanca, the old warehouse district. Stone row buildings with tiny boutique shops are original and very charming, could be lifted out of an English or Scottish village.  We find a consignment with wood work and wool products.  Talk with some of the locals and they are very nice.  Walk back to the hotel for early dinner of buffet foods.  The evening is very mild. We take a walk around the shopping district.  Everything closes at 5PM so it’s quiet and relaxing.  Our room is nicely decorated but small so must adjust our movements.  A day out in Port Arthur tomorrow where we will learn about the penal colony and then on to meet a real Tasmanian devil!  Everyone’s luggage is getting heavier and there seems to be more bags as we travel! The exchange rate is still in our favor but not as good as when we first came.  Off to bed.