Red Moon

flyingmonk

February 22

Hobart, Tasmania

The first I noticed was the silence. It's strikingly quiet in Hobart. I was on streets lined up with houses and I could not hear a whisper. It seemed that everybody was sleeping.

Hobart like all Tasmania seems the epitome of chill. It seemed like a remote realm undiscovered by tourism in spite of relatively numerous independent travelers and hikers. This lack of tourists stems probably from the lack of accommodation offered in some of the destination, like Cradle Mountain where is hard to get a reservation of any kind, so a bunk bed in Discovery Park is the go-to for many hikers. There are very few tourist buses that you encounter on the way. The roads are mostly paved, all in very good condition. On any dirt road a regular car would pass with no issues.

The relaxed atmosphere extends to restaurants that close their kitchen around 7:30pm and chances to remain not fed for the day are tangible if you arrive late. I learned this early schedule the hard way; my first nights I had to beg in shock for a dish of whatever they had left if I was even a bit late after the kitchen closed. And that may have meant 7:35pm. However you still have a beer of other drinks late. Store and tourist places are closing around 4pm and everybody seems to enjoy this life style and chill with friends or at home, minding their own business because tomorrow is another day. But this gives a pleasant vibe to the people who are cheerful and extremely polite, always welcoming you with a smile.

In the morning cafes open early and lots of locals hang out having breakfast and chatting while others walk Hobart's streets going to work. But few restaurants, if any in Tasmania countryside offer breakfast. In Hobart, the restaurants stay open a bit later but is still better to have dinner early to play safe.

Red Moon over Hobart, Tasmania

This was my last night in Hobart. I came in Tasmania planning a fast trip of several days and after two weeks I was regretting that I had to leave. My pensive mood was shared by a red moon that rose over the city, an obvious but not much celebrated event, noticed mainly by the tourists who were hanging out late in the harbor.