All That Taz – First Day in Hobart
Hobart was a kind of place that opened up your mind. We arrived into ample sunshine and a blue sky that spread wide and far above us. The city was vast, and as the second oldest city of Australia, retained much of its antique character. Yet it was not like Launceston, which was compact and inward. In Hobart, the city stretched and reached toward a large pier area off of the sea. We felt the gentle breezes as we walked along. Hobart surely was more cosmopolitan.
The Montacute Boutique Bunkhouse was our first stop in Hobart. It was known for its cleanliness, great location and hospitality. Our trip from Launceston to Hobart was easy and comfortable. The shuttle dropped us off close to Elizabeth Street, then we made our way to Montacute, upwards on a rather steep street.
Lunch was at the Retro Café. My aunt ordered a hamburger. The meat patty was inch-thick. I ordered a veggie burger. My mother ordered a curry, but she did not like her food. I thought the Retro Café was good.
After lunch we made our way to the Ferry Pier on Brooke Street. We were looking to visit the MONA, which was located off the coast on an island, but the last ferry would leave us too little time to see the exhibits there. We made a quick decision to visit the Royal Botanical Garden.
The Japanese and French Courts at the Royal Botanical Garden showed the significant effort it took to manicure the landscape. But I was particularly keen to see the Antarctica Greenhouse, possibly the only such display in all of Australia, if not the world. The Greenhouse maintained a subzero temperature. We saw mostly green, low-laying growth, at the most some short shrubs. There were not too many species of floral on display, and it was not surprising to us. We enjoyed the greenhouse very much. We then visited the conservatory with an amazing display of orchids. They were in all color spectrum and shapes. My mother was very pleased.
Dusk hour was quickly approaching and we must find our way back to the city. At the main entrance we saw some visitors embarking on their return journey on foot. By that time all of us could not stomach a long walk, but the last tour bus has also departed. There was no choice but to head back to the public bus stop. We had to rush across a very busy freeway and it was dangerous. However, we did find the public bus and the driver told us to get on—for a free ride! We were very glad.
I had originally planned on Flippers’ Fish n’ Chips for dinner, but other tourists voted for a cheaper joint further down the pier. It seemed to have been owned by some Asian people. The sun was setting, and we felt the nighttime chill upon us. The sea gulls were eyeing our food, so we quickly finished. Before we headed back to the Montacute, we savored the serenity of sunset at the pier.
The first day at Hobart worked out well.
