Hobart

18Nov

With MONA closed on Tuesdays - wouldn't you know it - we bussed it into town and did the obligatory wander around the harbourfront and Constitution Dock where the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race ends. A bit later we joined a guided tour of the national Trust property of the Penitentiary Chapel and the old Criminal Courts, relics of Hobart's colonial and convict period. All very interesting with the history, most of which we had no clue about, interestingly told by the NT volunteer guide.

MONA

19Nov

Just a stroll away from the campsite, is MONA, the Museum of Old and New Art. This place gets raves reviews, is a must-see etc etc so I was really looking forward to it. But perhaps too much hype does the place a disservice - I expected more and better. The building, most of which is underground, is fantastic which extraordinary walls of the natural surrounding sandstone reminding one of the massive monuments in Egypt. The old and new art are often together, sometimes juxtaposed, sometimes complementary. I wish there had been more of the old. Some of the new was really extraordinary, some of it, though, quite weird and discomfort-making.

And then to end the day - joy… the computer is fixed and really for collection. So here I am now finally able to catch up!