Happy Australia Day!
We were so glad to wake up to clean air this morning! The wind had changed direction so we didn't have to deal with our lungs being choked at long last. Today is Saturday, so it is Salamanca Markets day in Hobart. Now, let's be clear. I'm not a markets person to the point where I actively avoid them. I dislike the over priced junk most of the stalls sell and would rather stay clear of the crowds. However.... The Salamanca Markets are a totally different level!
These markets are huge! Located on the historic Princess wharf outside the original Salamanca Market buildings, the stall tents seem to go on forever.
There are loads of people (unfortunately), but the contents of the rows for stalls is of a much higher quality. During this tour, we have found the fresh produce to be exceptional and that markets have that in spades!
You can buy almost anything there, from hand crafted art pieces....
...to flowers.
And from chocolate, cheese and honey........
.... to crochet hooks and knitting needles.
And from lavendar products....
... to Gin. And everything else in between. It was very impressive.
Also, among the stalls, were various types of entertainers. Some, pretty average, and some, like Cary Lewincamp (above), were really very talented.
There are more permanent shops in the Market building and with them, art pieces, eateries and playgound features.
There was a limit to mine & Harry's tolerance, so we left Kerri & mum to keep doing market things while we set off to Constitution Docks to check out the boats & anything else we could find.
The docks are home to the full spectrum of boats, from the smallest run-abouts and fishing boats...
To Cruise ships. Some of the more interesting ones follow...
We are booked on the The Spirit of Hobart (in the same scheme as the ferries in Devenport) for a harbour cruise tomorrow.
One of the pilot boats that servie the harbour.
This enormous trimarran ferry was bound for Italy having been built in Tasmania.
A float plane docked near the cruise ship.
Tug boats.
And seal sculptures. No shortage of things to see.
Just before lunchtime, we set off out the back of the Salamanca dock buildings and up Kelly's Steps (above) which lead up to Battery point.
I'm not sure what we thought we'd find on Battery Point, but we didn't find it. There were lots of heritage cottages but nothing overly interesting like a canon or some sort of military post.
Harry did manage to meet a new friend.
