Shrimp on the Barbie?

We are hiking the major attraction in Launceston, the Cataract Gorge.  It’s a beautiful park with a chairlift to the top and numerous trails.  The Tamar River starts here where two rivers converge carving the gorge over centuries.  We watch wallabies feeding, several with joeys in their pouches, and also peacocks.  What a screech a peacock has!


Our afternoon is free so several of us head to thrift shops.  I’m searching for earrings since I’ve already lost 1 1/2 pairs!  Plus, it would be interesting to find items for my shop.  I should be looking for warmer clothes!


The Victorian Museum has an exhibit on the aboriginal people and culture.  Just like America’s Native Americans, they were very innovative.  I am amazed with the water jugs created with seaweed kelp, filled with sand to create a bowl, and dried. It hardened into a waterproof carrier with sticks and rope attached.


Our guide, John, invites us to his room for a pre-dinner party.  We’ve picked up wine, cheeses, fruit, and treats along the way, and the smorgasbord is delicious!  John has his computer linked to the tv and plays an ongoing medley of music videos we request mostly from the 60’s and 70’s.  I never knew wasabi cheese would be so tasty!


We leave in the AM for Melbourne.  I’ve enjoyed time in Van Diemen land, the original Dutch name for Tasmania.  To the Victorian British, being sent to Van Diemen meant a long arduous journey and a prison sentence.  It is now home to a lovely population of Tassie people, beautiful scenery, adorable animals, and for me, wonderful memories!


Arriving at the airport, the information monitor had flights listed as either “Delayed” or “Relax”!  Wonder what it says with a cancelled flight?


Australians drive on the left and also walk on the left side of the sidewalk.


Australians do not have shrimp; they eat prawns.  There has never been “shrimp on the barbie” here….only in America!


I am back in Melbourne at The Rendezvous Hotel.  We meet the six additional people joining our group, have dinner, and then ice cream!  I’ll remember the ice cream place…blood orange and passion fruit gelato!



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