Monday, October 30, 2006

Another leisurely morning in Hobart, 40 degrees and cloudy, with more corn flakes and coffee for breakfast. I wrote all 20 postcards I bought at the market in one sitting. It was certainly a good idea for those pre-addressed labels. We were then off with Alf to petrol. He goes to a local gas station that looks like something out of my childhood (or a retro commercial) and they still pump it for you. Had a nice chat with the lad that works there. I think Alf may have taught him and his brothers also. It seems they are stunt drivers and pilots in their spare time. I gave him one of my homemade voodoo dolls to ward off the evil spirits. I'm not sure he knew what it was. Petrol cost $58.00 for Alf's little Toyota. It's something like $1.73 a liter - quite expensive.
On to the News Agent to buy stamps and mail postcards. It cost $1Australian each. And I'll need to buy more in Sydney and New Zealand. But I love going into these little stores. They sell a wide variety of items in such a small space - newspapers, stamps, food items, souvenirs. They're quaint little places and full of information also.
We got lost on the way to the first venue but happened to pass by Errol Flynn's old high school. Alf is a verible encyclopedia of information. Also passed by the Cadbury chocolate factory but we won't be visiting - darn! (I think it's one of these places they try to avoid - too much of a tourist thing - everyone goes there!) We finally found the Aurora House - a rehab school and work station for disabled people. They run a tea room and catering service and sell all sorts of crafts. It was an amazing eyeopener. They made me cry and I gave them ten Red Stick pencils and a "threads of friendship" spool (this perhaps to copy and sell in their shop). They were very appreciative. The woman who started the place was our guide and hostess. She has two developmentally disabled adult children and realized there wasn't much for them after their formal public schooling which ends for most of them around the age of 18. So she started this Aurora House where they can come and make crafts or learn to cook or wait tables in their tea room. She has won many prestigious awards for her work including the Queen's highest honor. She was very nice. After touring the "factory" (where I was in 7th Heaven with all the crafting going on) we walked down the street to their Tea Room housed in an old historic church. The waiters were all dressed in white shirts and black pants and seemed a little nervous but anxious to please. They seated us and we took over the whole restaurant. They brought out mugs of soup, then sandwiches and quiche followed by tea and scones. It was very good and all made by the "clients" with the help of a few teachers. I purchased some notecards and traditional Tasmanian cookies to help support their efforts. We came away from this place with a full stomach and a full heart!
When we left there, Alf took us to the Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens. Quite a place - very large. It's spring here so lots of flowers are in bloom and everything was so green and beautiful. They have many "habitats" including a cactus shed, a fern room, a Japanese garden and an Antarctic Garden (which was freezing cold!!!) to name a few. We enjoyed walking around as the weather was quite pleasant. One of Maggie and Alf's daughters worked here for many years and subsequently was married in these gardens. It must have been beautiful!
We came home for a short rest and then the changing of the clothes to attend a reception and welcome with the Lord Mayor of Hobart, Rob Valentine. He is a quite affable fellow, average in height, weight and appearance but with a winning smile and personality. Alf says he only appears in public dressed all in black and it was certainly so this evening as he was wearing black pants, shirt, jacket and tie. He didn't look evil though, just smartly appointed. They say he does appear frequently in his "official" garb which would include black robes and a white wig. I guess since we were Americans, he didn't have to wear that. The reception was very well done. He greeted each of us individually upon arrival and then his staff started serving drinks - beer, wine, liquor or orange juice. I had an Australian beer with the Lord Mayor for Mark. The hor deurves started then - sushi, prawn crepes, spring rolls, quiche and several other items. He spoke and welcomed us to their wonderful city. Carole Corkern, our exchange director, presented hime with a proclamation from our own Mayor/President Kip Holden, a key to the city of Baton Rouge, a RedStick pencil and pins from both Baton Rouge and Louisiana along with an official Louisiana Mud Painting. He then introduced some of the Aldermen in attendance who had doubled as waiters and waitresses, much to our surprise. We all chatted, eating and drinking some more and then someone asked to see the Grand Ballroom. We went up the elegant marble staircase under the largest crystal chandelier I've seen so far, passed some fantastic and historical artwork and into the GRAND BALLROOM! It was a huge room, almost like a gym, with large floor to ceiling windows and a beautiful wooden floor. Several chandeliers lit the interior. It had a raised stage at one end and a large pipe organ there. It reminded me, on a much larger scale of course, of the ballrooms most of the old plantations had with elaborate artwork, windows and chandeliers. Very nice and somewhat ornate.
When the reception was over, several couple went across the street to Muire's Seafood for fish and chips. It was very good also. Wil and I had the "blue eye tarrina", a fish Maggie recommended. Someone said it supposedly was only discovered about 12 years ago, deep in the ocean. It was very good. We had wonderful ice cream for dessert and then home - me to the bathroom and Wil to watch TV. I've still got the runs - Gess that's better than the other way around.
And oh yeah, Maggie didn't go on our adventure today and while we were gone, she did all our laundry. Here's some catch up things while I have the time and energy: Their house is located on a steep incline and everytime we go to and from somewhere, the car bottom would scrape on the curb. It never happens when it's just the two of them but you put us fat Americans in there and oh, my! Wil and I have to exit the car at the head of the driveway and walk the rest of the way home. I've only seen one fat Tasmanian and she was off in the distance so I don't know if she was truly Tasmanian. They are all fit as a fiddle but they certainly love to eat. It's very hilly here and you see people walking everywhere. That must be the reason they're so fit.
We had dinner as I've said on Sunday night at Horst and Dolores house. It was lovely. He is a German immigrant and architect by trade. Upon his retirement, he starting painting renditions of some of the buildings around here. I admired them as they are very well done and almost photographic quality - architecturally correct. Seems he has started selling them and we'll be bringing one home with us!
I thought I might have overpacked but so far I've used almost everything I've packed with the exception of the reading books and crafts. I had hoped to knit scarves for my next stop in Sydney (Pam, Faith and Gloria) while here but that may not happen. They keep you so busy there's not much time for anything else. And that's a good thing!
And with that, I'm off to dreamland after another wonderful day Down Under!