The weekend before last weekend I spent in Hobart.
I savoured saturday morning at Pollen Tea room in Battery Point.
I strolled along the stalls at Salamanca.
I spent time with our host family by taking the kids on trips to the market and to the bike kitchen.
I tried to conceive that the days in Tassie are numbered.
It took me a week to understand that I am going home soon. It is just know that I start calling this place a home.
“yeah, he lives out in woop woop”
Got it?
On sunday we participated in the first bushwalk organised by the UTAS bushwalking club. We aimed for the Sentinel Range, a mountain ridge between Lake Gordon in the north and Lake Pedder in the south. Both were dammed in 1972 by the Hydroelectric Power Comission, which led to a large increase in size. Hence many dead trees stick out of the water indicating the former shoreline.
The walk itself was a windy path, continually rising through the bush and over larger and smaller rocks. Due to the group size, we took many breaks in between which gave us enough time to inhale the landscape and have a closer look at the fauna and geology. For once I was happy about the breaks too, since I was still recovering from spending saturday in bed with a bad tummy. 😉
The sun made its way through the clouds just as we got closer to the summit. Up on the ridge we enjoyed our well deserved lunch and a beautiful view over both lakes.
Today, on the day after the walk, a bit of sunburn, a bruise and sore legs still remind my of this amazing day!
Below I sprinkled in – actually I’m not that sure about this expression – some photos of work and “homework” (see giant zucchini). I watched the painting lesson while I had breakfast at Salamanca. Mornings at Salamanca Market are just ideal for people watching and I hear some German every time I have a stroll between the stalls.
….and before I forget: Alaaf!
During the last days I got more familiar with everyday life here.
Friday: I had discussion for lunch. How is that possible? Well, people gather in the tea room, one person announces a topic, and off goes the discussion. It’s called lunch since you’re allowed to eat too. Neither could I contribute to today’s topic nor did I understand everyone fully, BUT I could still get a lot out of the discussion! The (simplified) topic: Does the socio demographic background affect voting behaviour? I learned that the Australian Greens – green as in the green party 😉 – polarise. They mainly concentrate on the ecological side of politics and do not offer many ideas on social topics. Still, they are quite powerful compared to other countries but Germany.
Saturday: Again, I spent time in Hobart’s downtown exploring the organic grocery shopping options. They are great but pricy. At Salamanca there was a classic car show of which you can see a few impressions below. In the evening Helge and I gave a little lecture on German history and culture for our host family. Additionaly, we showed them what Cologne looks like with and without Karneval.
Sunday:
Daytime: I cycled to MONA, the Museum of Old and New Art, via the Intercity Cycleway. They cycleway takes you through the suburbs and makes you experience the industrial side of the city. Additionaly, it is on mainly flat terrain, which is a nice alternation in comparison to the hilly city centre. MONA is the most extraordinary place. Riding up the hill where it resides on – there we go, hills again – you get the impression that it is more an estate than a museum. There is a vineyard, free-ranging chicken, a hotel, a bar and an outdoor area where you can picknick. The museum itself is drilled into the hill and you have to go down 3 storeys to the start of the exhibition. To get information about the artwork you use “the O” which is an iPhone that comes whith background information and sometimes even music files or interviews of the artist. The artwork is quite provocative, diversified, and just different. I enjoyed it a lot!
Evening: I finally watched The Sound of Music, a must if you don’t want to miss out on conversations with native English speakers. It’s like Sissy, a cheesy national treasure.
This Saturday we decided to spent in downtown Hobart where there is Salamanca Market every saturday. Adittionally, there was a Navy concert and other “fun” stuff going on because of the Regatta.
The market is just great for buying fresh organic fruit & veg, street food, art and people watching! Climbing up the Kelly Steps you get to another historic part of the city called Battery Point. Up there you find beuatiful old houses looking like “Villa Kunterbunt” and nice little cafés.
Exploring the city by bike is amazing and yet challenging since it involves riding up and down the hills!
The days in pictures:
TASmania 