Day 4

Tasmania

I don’t think we ever thought we would be in Australia let alone Tasmania.  We only knew of the Looney Tones character, the Tasmania Devil.  Tasmania is a small island off Australia’s southern coast. It’s also Australia’s smallest state. They have a lovely sense of humor.

Among other things, Tasmania is the finish line for a 661 mile sailboat race.  Believe or Not, some yachts finish in less than two days.  The finish line is in Hobart, Tasmania, the port where our Viking Venus is docked.

Hobart is a lovely port and also a jumping off point for Antartica.  Lots of monuments to that effect are prominent.  However, my favorite was of the original selfie monument which I used to use.

Hobart was another Australian Penal Colony.  Our tour guide talked about the hardships.  His grandmother was a prisoner brought to Hobart who worked for years as an indentured servant.  Children were indentured as well.  

Remember the post about marsupials.  No sweat if you don’t, but the Tasmania Devil is a marsupial and now survives only in Tasmania.  The dingos (wild dogs of Australia) killed them off in Australia so now they only live in ‘Taz’.  There used to be a Tasmania Tiger but they ate sheep and the ranchers and government put significant bounties on their hides.  They too were marsupial - they raised their young in a pouch!  The last one died in 1936.

We learned from our DIL, Sheryl, that the MONA was worth a visit.  Viking did not have it as a tour, so we went on our own (with help).  We took this fast ferry to MONA - Museum of Old and New Art.  I think the name is catchy.  

There is something about the camo of this boat that catches the eye.

There was plenty of seating but Shari thought it appropriate to sit on a sheep.  

The proud owner of the ferries and museum is a former gambler that managed to become very rich.  He decided to build something to enrich others so he created MONA.  All the staff were extremely pleasant and the fees were very modest.  Here he is in case you wonder who he is - David Walsh.

There are too many exhibits to show all of them.  However, there are a few to highlight.  

I would logically guess that if they displayed a pickleball court it would be considered MODERN art.

One of my favorites was ‘the hand’, a video:   

The museum was very unusual and yet fascinating.  If you are lucky enough to visit Tasmania, we strongly recommend that you check it out. 

We have spent four days at sea.  Tomorrow we land in New Zealand and there will be no more ship days.  Lots of tours!

G’day