12th November 2009

Today we were in Hobart, Australia's second city. The first European colony in Tasmania was founded in 1803 at Risdon Cove but a year later it was decided that a cove about 6 miles below Risdon and on the opposite shore was a better place to settle. This was to become the site of Tasmania's future capital city and began as a village of tents and huts and a population of 262.

It had been our intention to hire a car and explore the immediate area plus Port Arthur (the penal colony) but the cost for a day's hire proved prohibitive and reluctantly we switched to our second choice. This was to explore the city of Hobart on a hop-on..hop-off double decker red bus. This took us through some areas of very expensive property. The route also took us passed the synagogue which was founded in 1845 and is Australia's oldest (and still in use) synagogue. We got off in the city centre where we strolled round the shops and the main shopping mall, before getting back onto the bus to visit the Botanical Gardens. We didn't have nearly enough time here to do the place justice, but what we did see looked lovely. After the tour we walked back to the synagogue to have a closer look. The building is shared by both the Orthodox and Progressive Communities.

Back on the ship and after dinner we went for a drink with 3 of our table companions. The conversation turned to Britain's woes, and if I tell you that one of our companions is a black cab taxi driver from the East End of London, then you can imagine the colourful way in which he described our present government. It's a good job neither of us is easily offended!!!!