Welcome To Da Island

The last day in Melbourne was spent searching for a new netbook to replace my tragic loss, and getting high above Melbourne itself. We took an elevator to the eighty eighth floor of the Eureka Tower, where the observation deck (the highest in the Southern Hemisphere) gives amazing views of urban Melbourne. It was a good thing we waiting until that day, because it turned out to be the nicest in terms of weather and visibility.

The next day we had a hard landing in Hobart. Hard due to the crazy wind shear that was throwing our plane around the runway like it had no business being there. And so started the legacy of the weather in Hobart. It definitely isn't the highlight of this city so far; The first two days were windy and rainy. However, it was nice today and is supposed to be really nice tomorrow, but locals tell is it truly is a four season day around here.

I was pleasantly pleased with Hobart. I had expectations of a quiet, low key city, but the city surpassed that. For all you who have been to British Columbia, Canada, it is like a cross between Nelson and Vancouver, combining old colonial architecture and vibrancy with a modern seaside city full of culture.



Mainly we've been walking around, checking out the streets of the city. It really is a beautiful place; the old stone architecture and the shop lined streets give it the feel of a small town in a big city. The people seem to fit that stigma, too. We've met a few that seem very nice and have that isolated, townie attitude; old school and content with their surroundings. I haven't picked up a clique feeling from them yet, which makes me happy. There are tons of small cafes and restaurants here, many of them built into old, converted brick and stone homes. Tomorrow we head to Port Arthur to see the sight of the original penal colony, where convicts were brought from Britain over two hundred years ago.