Tasmania Day 2 & 3 - Port Arthur & Hobart

After spending a fun night in Hobart, the capital of Tasmania, we went to Salamanca Market which ended up looking like every other market in a random city. After the market we went to Port Arthur, which was used as a prison for the worst of the worst like Alcatraz.



But I thought it looked more like a white collar resort prison that would make a great golf course, if not in real life then definitely in Golden Tee:



After another night in Hobart we took a quick cruise around the harbor before flying back:


We lowered our expectations of what we would see or do in Tasmania and ended up having a pretty good time...

Tasmania Day 1 - Animals!

After Ross, we went to an animal park where we saw and learned about some fantastic, and no doubt tasty, animals:

The Tasmanian Devil


Koalas


Lots of free-ranging kangaroos (though here they're hanging out in the shade)


We were even allowed to feed them to fatten them up!

Tasmania Day 1 - Lower your expectations

The trip motto: Lower your expectations. We started by taking an overnight cruise from Melbourne to Tasmania. The cruise was actually more fun than expected:



After arriving, we ate breakfast at a gas station and then went to a cheese factory. Next, we went to the town of Ross, which is apparently known for its bridge built by prisoners:




and its wool:



Very exciting....

Like James Cook at Botany Bay

I arrived in Melbourne this morning and promptly left my mobile phone in a taxi. I don't know if I was angrier about losing the phone or being dropped off in the wrong location with 2 suitcases & my golf clubs. The driver confirmed it was 222 Russell St. as he dropped me off at 100-something Collins St. Later, I had to pay the cab fare from the airport to downtown in order to convince the driver to give the phone back to me! At least I now know what happened to all those criminals the English sent over in the 18th century.