I suppose we could be almost anywhere but we are, in fact, in Hobart. The caravan has stayed in Deloraine and we have booked ourselves into the Mercure Hotel, in the Hobart CBD. We decided that the weather forecast being somewhat bleak, we would leave the caravan at home and splash out on a warm and comfortable base within walking distance of shops, theatres and restaurants.
Booking of the accommodation was made through wotif.com. Too much choice, of course, so we opted for the mystery hotel at $86 per night and a claim of 4 stars. It has worked out well for us, though 4 stars might be just a little ambitious.
Who invented valet parking? What a useless ‘benefit’ to be offered to the unsuspecting client. At the Mercure, that is the only alternative, unless you are happy to park in the street and feed the meters all day. Valet parking means a smiling person in a suit takes your keys and drives off in your car to an unspecified location. If you have left something in the glovebox, you have to ask the ‘valet’ to get it for you because it is forbidden for a client to enter the garage.
We tend to travel in an ad hoc way. Yes, we have suitcases like other travelers, but we also have the laptop, several shirts hanging in the back, spare shoes in the boot, and jackets, and a basket of fruit in case we need a snack, and Marilyn’s dressing gown is too big for the suitcase, and the camera is in the pocket in the door, and so on. We just leave everything in the car and collect it when we need it. The expectation at the Mercure is that you take everything with you because it is a great deal of trouble to get access to your car while it is in the garage.
It was impossible for us to gather up everything we might need so it was inevitable that there would be something that we had to ask for. It was a small blue box of makeup which she had left in the front console, and a pair of shoes. Should have been easy but the poor man came back with a plastic tub full of stuff, including the First Aid kit – everything except the makeup.
It was a total inconvenience and we were charged $8.95 per day for the ‘service’. Just as well it wasn’t $9 ‘cause I wouldn’t have paid.
One positive was their offer of three ‘extras’ for a cost of $49. It sounds like a con, but we were able to choose a $30 discount on extra charges, a bottle of wine, a cheese and fruit platter and to have our car washed and vacuumed. Has to be a bargain.
Hobart is looking good. The street flower boxes have been planted with Winter Kale which makes a nice showing at a pretty grim time of the year. It was cold and wet and the notorious cold wind blew through the Mall. All the sales are on and we spent some time scouring the Outdoor shops for the sort of clothes we need for traveling. I bought some lightweight washable trousers and Marilyn got a windproof vest and some easy-care shirts. These can be shoved into a suitcase, or a cupboard in the caravan and won’t need ironing.
One of the things we had noted when we chose to come to Hobart was that the Lumina Festival was on, and the Shakespeare Festival. Sadly, the days we were there was the quiet time, apart from a showing of Kenneth Branagh’s film of Henry V. Not a highlight, by any means. Although it is a great film, it’s a little dated now and we can see it on video anytime.
However, we re-discovered the State Theatre. When we lived in Hobart in the 70s and 80s, the State Theatre was a shabby little place which showed art movies and classics. There was just one small room with traditional cracked vinyl-covered seats which folded up when you stood up. It was run by enthusiasts, especially Adrian Jacobson, whose father had run it before him. Adrian was a teacher at Friends School and would slip out in his breaks to get prepared for the evening’s showing.
Something has happened while we’ve been away. The old theatre has been transformed. There are now six separate theatres, with between 30 and 150 seats each. The seats are classy and comfortable (one theatre has 2-seater leather lounges). At any time you have a choice of 6 movies, with the first screening at 11am and the final one at 9.15pm. The foyer is now a café where you can get a meal, or coffee or wine anytime. It’s OK to take coffee or wine into the theatre.
We saw four movies while we were there, though there were thirteen to choose from on this week’s bill. It’s hard to say which movie we enjoyed most as they all have something to recommend them. Watch out for Me and Orson Welles, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, The Ghostwriter, and South Solitary. The last is an Australian story set in 1927 on an island in Bass Strait. Miranda Otto goes there with her uncle who has been appointed Light Keeper. It’s a beautiful film, with superb scenery and outstanding performances.
I particularly liked The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo as I recently read the Stieg Larsson trilogy. We missed the film when it was shown in Launceston and I was interested to see how Lisbeth Salander would be portrayed. She was wonderful and I’m glad they didn’t soften her awkward personality and make her too attractive. We can’t wait now for the second movie in the series. The Girl who Played with Fire will start at the State on September 29th. They expect it to stay on the bill for months, and Marilyn and I will make sure we are there to see it.
We head back to Launceston tomorrow, for the last-minute organization for the trip to Manila. I had a call today from the National Seniors Travel, asking for the final payment for our trip to Nepal. I’d forgotten that it was due so that’s a bit less we have to spend in the Philippines.
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