Hobart is a town of just over 200,000 on the south side of the island. The total population of Tasmania is about 500,000 and most folks live in coastal towns somewhere around the island. Like the rest of Australia much of it's recent (200-300 year) history is based around the penal colonies that were established and used mainly by the British.
The city of Hobart was amazing! First of all the weather was once again near perfect with sunny skies and highs near 70. Now if you think I'm making up the weather, I'm not we've just been really lucky. Today is a sea day as we churn towards New Zealand and we're not so lucky. We actually left Hobart a few hours early to try to get ahead of a big storm. Not sure if we're ahead of it or not but all day it's been cloudy/rainy and we've had winds blowing around 50 mph with seas that are running 15 feet or so. Not exactly cruising weather but thankfully neither of us have been bothered by the "motion of the ocean" even though there has been plenty of it. According to the Captains Report conditions should start improving after mid-night which is still a little over six hours a way.
We were fortunate to been in Hobart on a Saturday when the Salamanca Market was taking place. This outdoor market is the largest in all of Australia. You can buy all types of crafts, fresh fruits and produce and much more along a 3-4 block section of Salamanca Place which is a street that is closed for the big event. With all that fresh/healthy stuff available we did what most folks were doing and indulged in some of the less healthy options, milk shake and doughnuts. At least the doughnuts were fruit doughnuts!
We also enjoyed taking a bus to the top of Mount Wellington which although it isn't terribly high at 1270 meters offers great views of the city, harbor and the surrounding countryside. Our driver was an older guy named Jerry who offered great narration along the way and like most Aussies he had some great little quips, I particularly liked how he called it Tazzy and not Tasmania.
We spent the afternoon taking a ferry to "the MONA" which is an amazing new building complete with a winery and restaurant that also houses their modern art gallery.
MONA stands for Museum of Old and New Art but it could be code for something along the lines of "Palace of Porn and Bizzare Stuff"! I've never really been a fan of or understood modern art and I'm not really sure anyone does but this gallery was further out there than any I had wandered into previously! Sure, there were a few pretty cool displays but most were beyond my grasp of appreciation, especially the 58 porcelain and clay models of women's vaginas displayed along one wall! Not sure what the artist was trying to express but I just know I was moving towards the end of the display in a similar fashion as the cartoon version of the Tasmanian Devil!
As if the display itself wasn't enough, the gift shop was selling bar soap models of the it. Now there's a conversation piece for the guest bathroom....if only we had a house! I could ramble on and really take this subject into the gutter but I think I'll quit before going any further downhill.
In spite of the art gallery trauma Hobart was everything we were imagining and more.....I've found a new favorite place in a country I enjoy visiting so much. We're already looking forward to going back to Hobart and Tasmania......not the MONA!
https://mona.net.au/
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| Hobart Waterfront |
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| Halloween Night on the Noordam-I knew that bald spot would come in handy sometime! |
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| Halloween Fun |
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| Pumpkin Carving Contest by the Culinary Arts Team on the Ship |
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| From the Top of Mount Wellington! |
