The second port in Australia was the small city of Hobart on the island of Tasmania. We disembarked at 9:30 after breakfast and took a free shuttle bus into the center of town, where they dropped us off at the tourist information office.
So once again the doomed glasses gave us a mission. This time it wasn’t my fault, but one of the plastic nosepieces had broken and needed repair. The tourist office directed us to an optician where we dropped off the glasses and picked them up after our stop at the Post Office where we mailed some postcards.
We walked around the newer pedestrian mall, strolled through a park with a monument and statue, sat in a square with modern restaurants and shops watching storm clouds gather and pass without our getting rained on. As we walked back to the shuttle bus, a young businessman in a nice car pulled alongside us and started a conversation. We couldn’t imagine what he could be intending to try to sell us. To our surprise, he only wanted to talk with people from the QE2 about the ship. He was fascinated by her. He arrived in Hobart at 6 a.m. to watch her sail in to the port. What a love between Aussies and the QE2. We told him what a grand ship she still is and he told us how fortunate we are to be onboard and how envious he was. He said he had purchased a lottery ticket just to win enough for the voyage, but it wasn’t a winner. Aussie, Aussie, Aussie – Oy, Oy, Oy!
We returned on the shuttle bus to the ship in time to be in the Grand Lounge for the Hobart Police Pipeband. There were several musicians dressed in kilts playing bagpipes, big drums and snare drums. What a show and a farewell to Hobart and Tasmania.
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3 comments:
Did you see any Tasmanian Devils? Or any koala bears? Or monkys? I miss you. Aden
Hi Sharon and Jerry
I am actually reading your Hobart posting on the same day you made it -- even though your March 9 is a day ahead of our March 9. Today is beginning of Daylight Savings Time. I always find that a disorienting day.
I had to catch up with all of your Australia postings. Last week was LSTA grant time and I never got to the fun things - like keeping up with your trip. It sounds like the crowds to greet and send off QE2 in Australia -- put our Ft Lauderdale crew to shame. It is great fun to watch the big ships sail.
I look forward to your stories from the next port of call. Have fun.
Jeannette
Hi Sharon and Jerry,
Not really sure if my postings are reaching you but thought I would try again. We are really enjoying reading about your travels and were particularly glad to hear you enjoyed Australia and the people there. Melanie, our oldest daughter, just married a young man from there and we think he's delightful. All is well here in Delray (miss you in yoga though)~ take care, Peggy
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