It was a fresh summer morning in Tassie when we arrived on the 23rd of December. Felicity and Di from Tourism Tasmania greeted us in Devonport and lead us to Anvers Confectionery Tasting Center (renowned Belgian chocolatier) for some breaky. We chatted over steamy delicious hot choco about our upcoming adventures and asked the experts opinion on what could not be missed. We all got on so well that Di with her Tasmanian hospitality invited us back to her house to work on our blogs and get ourselves sorted. Our bond with Di grew stronger as she showed us around her fully functioning herb garden, made us some toasties and pointed out spots on the map that only the locals know about.
Seeing as though it was Christmas Eve Eve and there was no rush for Dara and I to get down to Hobart because everything would be closed for the Holidays the next two days, Di opened her doors to us once again and invited us to park Geoff at her beach house in Hawley Beach near Port Sorell. When we heard there would be Holiday festivities already in action we jumped at the chance to be a part of a real Tassie Christmas.
Geoff pulled us up Sankey Street mid party and about 40 neighbors, family, and friends turned and waved welcoming us in. The barbie was fired up, the drinks were flowing and one household was preparing for their Christmas song float presentation. Dara and I each were handed a Wallaby Patty and a beer as we sat back and watched each families' Christmas song performed. When all were complete the party turned to us and said we weren't getting away without performing a song of our own. So, for the first time live Dara and I performed our rap, "Van-Tastic Voyage", about traveling around town in Geoff the Van.
The next day was Christmas Eve and we spent most of the day enjoying the perfect weather on the breath-taking beach, eating too many cookies and decorating the beach house. We were reluctant to leave our new friends when the time came but we've made plans to meet back at Hawley Beach for Australia Day at the end of January on our way out of Tasmania. It was time to move ahead to Hobart where we already had plans to meet some new friends for a drink.
Ian is from Tasmania and runs a website, Travellr, where people ask questions about places they are traveling to and answer other's questions about the places they know best. He is in Sydney at the moment but has been a great connector for Dara and I to the fabulous people of this Island.
We met Peter and his brother for a few drinks on Christmas Eve and as Tasmanian Hospitality would have it were invited to their house for their family Christmas dinner. It was a scenic drive along the Southern Outlet in the mountains around Hobart to the guys' place and a feast of seafood freshly caught from Peter himself.
Dara and I have only been in Tasmania for three days and have already lost count of the amount of friends we've made, we are overwhelmed by the generosity. The people in Tasmania are some of the most welcoming, fun, laid-back, happy people on the planet and we feel so lucky to have the opportunity to be here. Check out the video.
Happy Holidays Everyone!!
