TASMANIA

                                           An Island State

      From Texas to the land down under is a long trip. Australia is also about the size of the United States so when you make the trip think in terms of at least three weeks. I made two trips, five years apart, seeing different sections of the country each time with the North Island in New Zealand on one trip and the South Island on the other trip. Needless to say I have lots and lots of stories about those trips, many of which I’ve already posted.

     Our accommodations were different on each trip. The first time we stayed in 5-star hotels with never a whim lacking. But my favorite accommodations were the second trip when we stayed in small boutique/ B & B hotels. Although no complaints with the large hotels I just prefer the small friendly facilities.

     In Tasmania our boutique hotel had a widow’s walk which I’d never been on, although I’ve seen many on old Victorian homes. Our hotel, a stately mansion, was located on a hill in the heart of historic Battery Point. A short flight of stairs led up to the widow’s walk which was much larger than I thought it might be. The room was totally enclosed with glass windows and glass ceiling. There was a wonderful view of the entire city of Hobart and the harbor.  With the sun shining in everywhere the room was comfortably warm.

     Our hotel was an easy walk from Salamanca, the restored old waterfront. A series of aged warm sandstone warehouses line the uncrowded waterfront. The buildings, built in 1930, once stored apples, corn, and wheat for export. At one time there was a jam factory in one of the building.  Now the area houses trendy restaurants, sidewalk cafes, stores, and art studios.

      At the Salamanca Café we had lemmington for dessert---a lemon sponge cake covered with chocolate dough and coconut.  I thought it was a little dry, but ok. It certainly did not fall into the category to die for.

       There is much reclaimed land at Hobart’s harbor, and it took convicts 60 years to reclaim it all.

      Apples grow well in Tasmania, and many of the 250 varieties are exported to Japan.

       One end of the island is covered with heavily grown jungle/rain forest which is basically unexplored and  unpenetrable and certainly no tourist area.

      Hobart has a lot of history and a gorgeous botanical garden where walked many of the paths before sitting to watch colorful birds fly around. I particularly enjoyed the spectacular flora. It is a very walkable city. Hobart, capital of Tasmania, is Australia’s second oldest city. Tasmania is the country’s only island state.