We have had shocking rain and strong winds here and I’m very tired of it. We finally had a break for a day so I decided I needed a little project. I grabbed my camera, jumped onto the bus to town and photographed a bit of Tasmania as if I was new to town.
The bus dropped me near the general post office in the middle of town.
I then crossed the street and walked through Franklin Square in my 10 min walk to the waterfront.
I got distracted by the Daci and Daci cafe that has the best pastries and decided to sit outdoors. I had a lovely Pain Chocolat Croissant and ate it before thinking of photographing it. 😀
Then I finished my walk down the street to see one of the two new Bass Strait ferries that will one day transport people between Tasmania and the mainland. Our wonderful government bought two of these boats before working out they don’t fit the port in Tasmania so are now rebuilding the port which could take two years before the ships can be used. Yup! That’s all I’ll say.
Off to historic Salamanca. A long street of sandstone buildings with cafes and shops. The buildings are from the 1800s.
Of course I had to stop and admire this lovely dog. He was incredibly laid back.
Next a peek into the Hobart Book Shop. I don’t get to it often as parking is a nuisance and I only drop in when on foot. Besides Fullers is my go to book shop.
Then I looked at the selection of 2026 calendars in the basket out front.
I always stop and look at these statues by an artist I don’t remember but these guys appear in several countries in various positions.
There is a games and puzzle shop that tracks people of all ages. It used to be called Platos then they may have changed hands or names but it is now called Socrates. This is their Halloween window. Yes, Australia is following America with more Halloween activities than in the past.
Next we have the laundry mat cafe. Sit outside while washing and tumble drying your clothes inside. I haven’t sat there for quite awhile butthe coffee was always good.
I decided to walk a circle from Salamanca Square that is behind the old buildings to the front of the buildings. I sat outdoors at long time running cafe called Retro. It is a good place to sit and people watch. My waiter was happy for a photo but I told him to look away and please don’t pose.
Then onto Norman and Dann, a premiere chocolate shop. They have many coffee beans too and other wonderful little food stuffs. I bought a small container of dark chocolate/chai powder to try at home. It looks quite decadent. I chatted to the woman running the shop and left when a bunch of “Other” tourists arrived.
Time to head home so a short cut across Parliament House lawns was in order. I stopped briefly to see a small meeting of a Greens Member of Parliament and some anti salmon farming protestors. Our salmon in Tasmania are crowded in pens off shore and are full of disease and anti biotics. Change is needed and many work on that change. Again our government is blind to what the people want. Sound familiar. Even the chefs in the restaurants in this tourist district won’t put salmon on the menu at the moment.
But never mind – I’m relaxing today. I’ve had a brilliant spring day and needed to get the bus home. Here I am back at Franklin Square at the stop.
Home Sweet Home. The bus stop is half a block from our front door.
As I write this now, there is yet another severe weather warning out for us and more rain. Typical Tassie spring weather. When you think there is no land mass between us and Antarctica to the south and South Africa to the west you can see why our weather gets so wild and wooly at times.
Have a good week and let me know something fun you’ve done or are planning this week.
Travellin' Penguin 