Australia:
Well, we are in love with this country/continent. After the passage from New Zealand to Hobart, Tasmania the weather cleared and revealed one of the most beautiful spots we have ever seen. The history of Hobart began a bit rough as a prison colony founded in 1803. There were about 178 prisoners at first with 25 officers to guard them and the some officers had brought their wives and a few children plus some government officials. The prisoners were sent from England, Scotland and Ireland. The labor
was hard and many bridges and roads built by these prisoners still stand today. The average prison term was seven years and then released prisoners became tradesmen, laborers and domestic help for the wealthiest settlers. Now, 200 years later it is quite a badge of distinction to trace one’s family back to the prisoners. As a matter of fact, one comedian on board when asked by the Australian immigration authorities if he had a criminal record replied “Do ye still need one to get in?”
Hobart is not only the nation’s southernmost major city it is also the smallest with fewer than 200,000 “Tassies” living here. The ships approach by a series of islands and peninsulas jutting into the bay and the mountains stretching to the sky is spectacular.

We toured by bus the city and then drove through the countryside to the tiny community of Richmond. Beautiful Georgian buildings built of Sandstone are a reminder of the days when Tasmania was a convict detention center and military post as indeed was all of Tasmania. Australia’s oldest jail is in the center of town and at town’s edge there is the oldest bridge in the country that spans the Coal river and is still in continuous use today. All built by prisoners! Speaking of coal, Tasmania is almost 90% energy sufficient by hydro-electric and wind power. They are way ahead of us in energy conservation as is the rest of Australia and they are quite proud of it.
Finally we visited Bonorong Wildlife Park to see wombats, koalas, kangeroos everywhere and the infamous “Tasmanian Devil”. The devil is extremely endangered with a recent type of facial growth illness that is spreadable within the species and results in death. Australia is working very hard against time for a cure but I didn’t detect mush optimism but let’s hope..


Till next time and our Sydney adventures..