TASMANIA

Hobart, Tasmania, Australia

2/17/11 Arrived at this rather non-descript Tasmanian port in the early AM. Our last time here we saw nothing of the downtown as we opted for a tour inland to see the great wildlife (in captivity) such as the Tasmanian Devil, wombats and wallabies. Nothing significant in the city’s skyline, the tallest building being maybe seven stories. Again, the ship offered a shuttle to downtown visitor’s center, a mere five minute bus ride or ten minute walk. We took the shuttle because it was there waiting. After walking around the center of town and visiting our first ever foreign Target store, we stumbled upon our favorite franchise in the world, McDonald’s!

This was not a stand- alone McDonald’s but rather a mall food court type affair. The seating area was tiny and was used in common with several other coffee shop businesses. I had my Ipad with me and was able to catch up on old email. After that we wandered down to the Salamanca waterfront which could only be described as old warehouses refurbished into really expensive restaurants. Fish and chips for $17 and a three course lunch with wine for $30. What we are finding is that with the Australian $ on par with the U.S. $, things are relatively expensive here. We opted for lunch on the ship with a return to McDonald’s in the afternoon with our computers.

Well, I’ve been thrown out of better places (the old Polcari’s in North End comes to mind) but never out of a food court before. We arrived there about 2:30PM and what a difference! The kids had gotten out of school and completely taken over the mall. We were lucky to get a table in the food court and were powering up the computers when a security guard kindly asked us to leave. “No computers allowed in the food court!” Where was he in the morning when half the ship was there typing away on their computers? It obviously had to do with the time of day but Gina had a few choice words for the enforcer before we left. Found a lovely coffee shop down the street, paid $8.00 for two cappuccinos, and received 90 minutes of free, fast computer time.

Port Arthur, Tasmania, Australia

2/18/11 What a fabulous port of call! History, scenic beauty, museums and wildlife. The only negative is that this is a tender port but the ship handles its tender program extremely well. For you landlubbers, a tender is a boat that takes you from the ship to land when the ship is too large to dock.
This is the site of the infamous prison which welcomed 7,000 men between 1830 and 1877. Many of the original buildings remain. The site is settled on a peninsular with a very narrow isthmus connecting it to the mainland. The map reminds me of Boston in the early 1700’s when the only way out of town was through a similar isthmus on Orange Street (now Washington Street) in the South End. A large visitor center provides information on life as it was along with a couple of movies and interactive displays. A very well done endeavor.

The highest point on the isthmus is called Scorpion’s Point and since it was an uphill hike, of course we had to go. As we reached the summit we saw a wallabie rummaging through the bushes. I even managed to get a half-ass picture. Very fortunate to see a nocturnal animal.
After a late lunch on the ship we saw a seal playing in the water outside our cabin window. When we finally set sail, the captain said he was going to go a little off course to show us Point Raoul. The most unusual rock formations I have ever seen. They were vertical in the sense of Gothic church spires but resembled a well used cat scratching post made of clay. Almost like really large stone pipe organs.
A really nice day in a really nice place.

Joe Wagg