2/15/15 Hobart, Tasmania

We got to Tasmania and picked up our rental car at the airport.  We drove about 20 minutes to get to the hotel on the waterfront in Hobart.  Although not the most up-to-date, it is clean and convenient to the waterfront.  Our options were limited for dinner last night as it was Valentine's Day and most of the restaurants were either booked or had a set price menu (very expensive).  The manager of the hotel directed us to a fish and chips place and we had a fine meal.  We came back to the hotel and collapsed as we were all very tired.

We woke up this morning feeling so much better!  We had a lovely breakfast and then headed out to Port Arthur.  The day was a bit dreary with mist and a few sprinkles, but perfect weather for where we were headed.

It was an hour and a half drive along some pretty countryside.  Port Arthur was very interesting.  It was a prison which was used as a punishment station for repeat offenders from all the Australian colonies.  The idea was to use discipline and punishment along with religious and moral instruction and training and education to rehabilitate the men sent there.  Some of them left there as blacksmiths, shoemakers and shipbuilders, while others became broken men.  The facility was quite large (about a hundred acres) with many of the buildings open for viewing.  We got a 40 minute walking tour as an overview and then a 20 minute harbor cruise.  I will try to include some pix.  We drove back to town and Dave took a nap while John, Lana and I did some window shopping.  Unfortunately as today is Sunday, most of the shops were closed.  We came back to the hotel to pick up Dave and went to dinner.  Tomorrow we will drive to Cradle Mountain.  I don't know if there is wifi there so the blog may have to skip a day.