28th March 2012 - Hobart

Apart from setting the alarm an hour late (that's what you get when you try to concentrate at 12.30am!) I somehow managed to wake up (thanks to hubby) with a half hour to spare.  Who'd have thought I could do shower, hair AND make-up in 30 minutes and still make the 6.00am flight!

Landing in Hobart and venturing down the stairs onto the tarmac, we are confronted with a very quaint, little airport with enough space for one aircraft at a time.  A 30 minute taxi ride into the city ($42) and we arrive at Henry Jones Art Hotel, which is the old IXL jam factory, full of unbelievable history and extraordinary art works. Room not ready so we head over to the Salamanca area and lunch at "Smolt".  Not the seafood restaurant we were promised but very good nevertheless.

Taxi ride to the Cascade Brewery where we meet up with "Louisa's Walk", an interactive, historic walk.  The actors talk us through the journey of 'Louisa" who has been deported to Van Dieman's Land for seven years for stealing a loaf of bread to feed her three sons  The tour encompasses the Women's Factory where all the  convict women were sent to serve their time under incredible duress.  A very interesting tour.

Finally back at the hotel we check out our room then head down to the bar.  After work and the place is buzzing!  Lots of conversation with random strangers then we head across to Mures - an iconic seafood restaurant just across from the hotel.

Hobart is lovely......a surprisingly quaint city with a wonderfully relaxed ambience.