Just off the plane and my friend Bev and I were off to see the famous Salamanca Market. Over 300 stallholders sell fresh and gourmet produce, arts, crafts and handiwork crafts from all over Tasmania, interstate and overseas.  

Retail therapy just before Christmas is always a dangerous thing……yes we joint purchased this gaudy but gorgeous hat (left of the black one with red circle!) to wear in winter …I’m loaning it when I go to Antartica!)
Dinner with friend Peter at a lovely Turkish restaurant, Anatolia. Followed by a few whiskies at the Lark Distillery in town.
Bev and I caught up with him the next day in Cygnet, a beautiful little hamlet south of Hobart in the Huon Valley, with apple, cherry and berry orchards lining the hills.

It’s hippy heaven, attracting musicians, artists and those seeking alternate lifestyles, including our Pete.

He was our tour guide around the area for the day.

Took the ferry to visit the Museum of Old and New Art (MONA).

Splendid way to approach such a lovely art gallery…and the inside was breathtaking with its natural sandstone walls, installations and artwork…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And we couldn’t go past afternoon tea at Daci and Daci…glorious cakes….

Being intrepid adventurers, we left early the following morning to do a Bruny Island boat cruise on the south east coast…lovely craggy cliffs, seals, dolphins ….and we outran a serious storm, getting off the boat just minutes before it bucketed down!!!

 

Next……the Freycinet Peninsula on the north east coast, with its pea green and blue thundering ocean, white beaches, orange lichen covered beach rocks and awesome hill formations (the Hazards being the most memorable!).

We stayed at a lovely beach house right on Dolphin Sands in Swansea, and virtually had our own beach within 100m of the house. Some glorious sunrises and sunsets were experienced.

A few delicious offerings from local wineries – Freycinet vineyards 2013 Savignon blanc and Milton winery’s 2013 Grewurztraminer!! We took a few bottles home.

It was a short but very relaxing and fun holiday with a dear friend.