Salamanca Saturday

Saturday in Hobart can only mean one thing – Salamanca Markets!

Beck had absolutely raved about these to me, and to be fair, I wasn’t really expecting much – I personally am not a fan of markets and didn’t really think that there would be anything special about these ones. However I was pleasantly surprised.

Whilst there still was the usual market tat that you can expect at this sort of things, there was such an array of interesting foods to try, that I found that there was plenty to occupy me. Knowing that the markets run from 8.30 – 3pm, I decided to get there early because, as I have discovered, time goes very quickly here on my TTA, and I really wanted to capitalise as much as possible on the full daylight hours. Therefore I arrived at the markets bang on 8.30am.

This was actually a bit silly, as there were still lots of stalls setting up – so even though I had a strategy about how I would walk around the market, I still ended up needing to go back over my steps at the end because new stalls had opened up which I needed to see. No matter, it was very enjoyable anyway.

I should’ve realised there would be lots of nice foods to try before I came to the market – if I had done that, I wouldn’t have had breakfast before I came! But it didn’t really matter – I managed to squeeze it all in. I’m getting a bit worried though about our upcoming cruise – having literally eaten my way across Tasmania, I’m sure my hips are expanding with each waking moment – causing issues for my cruise wear… There will be much pain and suffering I’m sure back at the gym with Andy my personal trainer! If I’ve learned one thing its this – if you gain, you pain!

Anyway, at the market I tried lots of different fudges, cookies, nougat, lollies, tempura mushrooms, dim sums, a wonderful raspberry meringue thing served with cream and coulis, and even dutch donuts (which can I just say were to die for!). I literally ate my way through the market. Soooo yummy. And still soooo much more I could’ve had. Then there was the crafts – wooden objects made of Tasmanian huon pine, knitwear, your standard Indian saris and so on, little knicky knacky noos – lovely. Plus Tasmanian honey, mustards… divine! I was in heaven…

After this, I really needed to do some exercise, so I got out my trusty “100 walks in Tasmania” book, and lo and behold, there was one for Hobart! So I checked out the Georgian buildings in Battery point, wistfully looked in the windows at the lovely Jackman and McRoss café (but being too full of market to partake), enjoyed walking through St Davids park (even reading the gravestones there which have been laid into a walkway there), then heading down to the wharves – again, I don’t see the point of Constitution Dock – then heading past the Art Gallery and National Museum, the Town Hall, Franklin Park and the GPO. I can’t believe how English Hobart is. For that matter, I can’t believe how English Tasmania is – its more English than England! Beautiful Georgian and Victorian architecture, gorgeous farmlands, luscious hillsides – add in a few drystone walls and you’ve got the Yorkshire Dales! I guess that’s why I’m loving Tasmania so much… it is just so beautiful.

Anyway, I found myself now with an afternoon free, having explored the city as much as I could. I therefore decided to make my way up Mt Wellington, seeing as the weather was actually very pleasant, and quite clear. I figured there would be some good views of the city and the harbour from up there.

It was just magnificent - except for the fact that it was practically arctic! Ok, that’s an exaggeration – as there wasn’t any snow – but seriously people, it was freezing! Of course it didn’t help that I had left my beanie in the hostel… lucky I had my gloves, fleece and coat!

Mind you, I did see some complete lunatics up there – like the Maoris who thought it ‘cool’ (literally) to take off their jumpers and take photos just in a singlet top, shorts and thongs! Clearly a few sandwiches short the picnic there!

After this, I debated whether to go to Richmond, or to take on the Huon trail. In the markets I had tentatively booked a tour of Bruny Island tomorrow – so that would mean Sunday night in Hobart still. If that was the case, then I would most likely have to skip the Huon trail – as Sunday would be Bruny Island, therefore Monday, I could achieve Richmond en route to either Strahan or somewhere north. So I decided, on Grandma’s advice, to have a look around the Huon trail. The Huon valley is a very pretty part of Tasmania. Obviously this is where they get the Huon pine from for the timber products they make, but there are also some very beautiful valleys, lakes, rivers and farms in the region. Unfortunately I didn’t have enough time to travel down to Hastings to see the caves and the glow worms, which I would have liked, but still I was pleased with what I saw.

When I arrived back at the hostel the dorm room was full. I met an interesting woman there who had lived for a time in Norway, and then in England, and was now back in Melbourne. She had an English affected Australian accent. She was much like many Aussies that I meet in backpackers – they either fall into the ‘I’m from Australia the greatest country in the world and I’m here to convert everyone else to how fantastic it is’ category, or they’re from the ‘I’m from Australia the greatest country in the world and I’m here to tell you about all the fantastic places I’ve been which are way better than anywhere you’ve been’ category. She was from the latter. I let her, for a time, have her moment of glory – and then I let her have it. Trust me, I’m from the latter too – and having visited some 52 countries of the world, I usually can win this argument. That pretty much well shut her up. That being said though, she had been on a very interesting tour of Tasmania and I managed to glean from her a new suggested itinerary for the next few days. Which of course, when I got up the next morning, I promptly changed!

But I’ve had a brilliant time in Hobart, and am really looking forward to the rest of my TTA.