Tasmania - Built on the backs of convicts!

Well, our Tuesday, your Monday, was full!  First, after the storm yesterday, we wondered if the bay would still be full of slop (rollers, etc)!  Fortunately, that wasn’t the case today.  Nice sun and calm…

At 7:30 we headed to the wharf to catch our group, Pennicott Wilderness Tours.  We were going for a 3 hour cruise along the coast and then on to Port Arthur, where there’s an old Men’s Prison… Heavy into jail tours it seems, but they are a big part of the history of this country.  Truly:  Streets, Bridges, Bricks, Leather work, on the list goes.  And, after all, it was the Penal Colony for Great Britan.

Coastline was gorgeous and water so blue.  We went into sea caves, saw Albatrosses, Seals, even some rock climbers as we rode the waves along.  One poor lady didn’t fare too well and spent the whole time hugging the rail… felt bad for her.

Okay… so got home at 6:30 in the evening… and crashed!  Didn’t even try to do this blog… so I’m completing it now!  Sometimes I feel I get to wordy… so this one is mostly pics!  Had to reduce the quality of the pics to get it to upload...

All suited up for a possibly damp trip... but, it wasn't too bad... as a matter of fact, me, who was behind the captain, next to the side wall, was the only one who got drenched... go figure!

 Our fearless captain who apologized for dousing me with sea water on one turn!!!

Some  crazy rock climbers.... Zoomed in... 

 Albatross taking off... they were about 4-5 feet wide when they're flying!

 Tasman Island with the lighthouse... now totally automatic!  The local Rotary keeps the four homes up but no one lives there, just visitors now and then.

 Port Arthur

 Opened in 1804, closed down late 1800's.  The buildings were mostly destroyed by bush fires, and eventually some vandalism.  It is now part of UNESCO, like many other historic places in the world.  Good thing, otherwise, all this  history might not be told!

 A comfy room, you can see their shelf.  This is only on the ground level that you see this, since all floors collapsed and are gone.

 This was a different building for Solitary Confinement... No talking, only one hour a day allowed out of their room, and when they were out in the yard, they had to be by themselves... no fun.  If there were infringements in their behavior, they would go to another smaller place, where they were kept in the DARK 24/7.  Yuck!!!

 sample room

 The convicts build this church... now, just walls, but beautiful non the less!

 Got back to our room and this group of fun loving folks were getting ready for a night on the town!