Tasmania Part 4

That's the one problem with long vacations in exotic places - so much to document! Hobart and surrounds were delightful. The view from the top (fastest weather changes EVER, you're literally up in the clouds) was breathtaking. We were lucky to be within walking distance of the famous Salamanca Markets on Saturday - seemingly endless streets chock full of goodies.

The picture doesn't quite capture the unbelievable detail and artistry these seed mosaics have. It was unbelievable.

  I parked the kids with a snowcone when they were "done" and I finished strolling through. (Darren had a flu-ish day spent in bed.) Such an awesome collection of crafts, food and stunning handiwork.

I wished I could buy it all.

Practically broke the stroller with all the fresh produce I got (then tried to creatively cram into our hotel mini-fridge :)

Another day was spent at Port Arthur, the most famous Tasmanian convict compound with fabulous audio tours of the well preserved grounds. Sad, interesting stories of an ugly but fascinating experience. We were blessed with such grand weather to make the day less dreary.

The Penitentiary

 It is so strange to think there were boys as young as Will sent off to these remote work camps. Despite the gorgeous seaside views seen here, I can only imagine the life they were forced to carve out of the wilderness each day.

The Solitary Prison was particularly fascinating. Little cells with the utmost care taken to keep inmates from seeing or talking to one another. Even in the "chapel" they had segregated standing cubbies.

 

 Near Port Arthur on the Tasman Peninsula were some fantastic cliff views and the cute "Doo Town" where every home and building had proudly clever signage like, "Didgeree-Doo" "Doo Drop In" "Wee Doo" "Just Doo It" etc. So funny and random (an oft-expressed sentiment throughout the trip, actually.)

Tasmania is made up of so many little towns scattered about, with each one proudly touting their claim to fame. It could be a one road town without a stoplight and still boast with much fan-fare and advertising, "the biggest/longest/oldest ___________ in the southern hemisphere." I loved it.

 The Devil's Kitchen overlook... Darren got some sweet pics while hanging off the edge of the cliff on the wrong side of the safety fence to collect Summer shoe she'd casually kicked off through the chains and onto the ledge. I had to walk away and not watch while he defied death. It was doing weird things to my stomach.

The famed Tessellated Pavement was a cool stretch too. These are naturally occurring geometrical markings in the different levels of sedimentary rock. Some raised, some sunken - they're formed by a combination of mineral build up and "sand and wave action" (read more about it here.)

Finally, one last "isle-ception" adventure to Bruny Island down at the southern tip. The day was full of gorgeous, winding drives with hillside grazing pastures to the right and sun-kissed scenic coastline to the left. We thoroughly enjoyed the fruits of the season with the companion delights of fresh berry icecream, yummy fudge and cheese. And even got in a bit of 4WD on the beach.

Across the road from this berry farm delight, we discovered the lovely Adventure Bay. Definitely a place we'd want to spend a week enjoying. In a word, picturesque.

Rivulets running in, tide pools teeming with starfish and tiny shells, eucalyptus flanking the beach, rock formations caught in the afternoon sun...

The tiny strip of land connecting north and south Bruny was trippy: penguin nooks every 5 feet and markedly different water levels and sea colors on each side.

These are car window, iphone shots, entirely unedited and they still blow me away.

But just so I don't paint it as all perfection, there was the vomiting, rain/mud/felled trees to botch our off-roading, a few wrong turns and a frantic race back to the ferry (with Summer somehow pooping on the carpet of the car = nice) but still one of our favorite days.


Lastly, a couple of Hobart memories we mustn't forget: Will's ice-cream cone man, fish'n'chips on the pier at sunset, and the kids' sweet notes to the hotel cleaning ladies (they couldn't believe someone came in to make up our room every day.)