Hobart

 Hobart

Last night we celebrated my birthday in the main restaurant. We had our usual great meal and wine. Tasty!

The entertainment in the Stardust theatre was a well known magician ( at least in Australia) named Matt Terrant. Yesterday was his first ever day performing on a cruise ship. He was REALLY GOOD. His card tricks and reading minds were wonderful. 

We were awake fairly early today (0630) and after breakfast (and some reading time in the room) we soon sailed into the port of Hobart at 0930. 

The day was overcast and not very warm

My impressions of coming in is how this city reminds me (a small bit) of coming into Vancouver, although the mountains are very small and not as pretty as Vancouver. 

We started our city walk not too far from the pier at a Saturday only market called Salamanca Market. It is rated as one of the great things to do here ( and we are here on a Saturday). This market is one where MANY merchants put up equal size tents and then sell their merchandise ( most of which appeared to be locally made). I was surprised to see a half dozen distilleries selling their product there ( mostly Gins).

At the end of the  market tents I noticed a little sign pointing to “Battery Point” and its historic town Center ( only 5 minutes walk). This place turned out to be the highlight of our day. What an unexpected pleasure!

This area was full of beautiful homes built in the early to mid 1800’s. So beautiful to walk around and look. 

We came to a beautiful Georgian style house that was now a museum. This place was so interesting. 

The lady at the entrance was super informative and very enthusiastic and when she stated that Sir John Franklin had been the lieutenant governor here and that his wife’s piano had been moved into the house some years ago I had to get a

Franklin and his wife had been in this house quite a bit as the original owner had been a successful sea captain ( who later suffered financial problems). He was a big part of the establishment. The house had both male and female convict servants with the females living in the house and the males living out on the stables. All the furniture, paintings and decoration was specific to the 1850’s. 

We continued walking the area and near the end we sat down at a bakery for something to drink and a piece of square. 

We walked into the downtown, spent our remaining coins and headed back to the ship.