and I listen to your architectural tongues

Driving from our home to many places beyond town- or North of us involve passing this fountain.  The fountain is in the middle of a roundabout, on what serves as a highway here.  It is below the level of the street so really what you can see is the fountain from that top circle, or platform.  I have never bothered to go through the tunnels underneath.  The only time I have been out of my car in this area has been on skates or my bike.  

There were a couple of art pieces for Dark Mofo in the tunnels so we parked in town and walked this way to Dark Park. Dark Park is the free installation area.  Each year they take over one of the large sheds and open area which is maybe part of the docks normally.  There is a bar, food trucks, and the installations. 

After going to the Venice Biennale I have viewed Dark Mofo to have the same sort of set up, with art dispersed through the city.  Of course, it is smaller here so they have rightly added in music, performance and movies as well.

The fountain is lit red because that seems to be the theme via Dark Mofo, many businesses light up their stores or create a red themed window as what I assume is a sort of city wide support because many people (myself included) are happy with the impact of MONA and their festivals on our town.

I like the chance to walk around town with other people.  I am usually alone and town has some really interesting architecture and history.

Here are some other photos:

The day was so grey that I thought I had never noticed that the cross of this church was cut through the stone.  But my gf of course pointed out that it was only an optical illusion.

I have always thought the above building looks like it belongs in Edinburgh, Scotland.  

I love that there are a few of these buildings that look like factories from another time area also still in town.  There are a few new large, modern buildings getting crammed in.  Both I think are housing or some type of expansion for the University.  I feel that expanding University can only be for the good, but so far I am underwhelmed by how the buildings look.

 

"...Your life is so lonely like a child without a toy. -Then a miracle-a boy..."

I survived through more pouring rain and navigating the bus system from my home to town.  I have been feeling my age through the current prices of things.  $4 to ride bus one way?  $2.55 to post a Christmas card?

My first taxable income in 1983 was $2.45 an hour, student wage.  I still have pay slips.  This fact makes me feel as if I have truly lived through the start of a new century.  

I went into a couple of churches between bus stops.  I think it is strange that in a foreign city I will almost always go into a church, but I forget to at home.

Although in Seattle I did make a point of it, but in Seattle there were author readings and symphony performances that you could attend.  I have never seen anything listed in Hobart to go too. 

I tried to put up our Christmas decorations while Zok was on tour, but I only managed the mantle piece and putting up wreath of bells on our front door.

As usual, the weather at this time of year is very unstable, pouring rain one day, cloudy and 70 degrees the next.  It truly turns to summer after Christmas or even the New Year.  But, the sun rises around 5 a.m. and sets about 9 p.m. which leaves little room for Christmas lights and decorations.

I always feel as if I am putting up lights in the middle of summertime like some lonely, lost person who has no one to tell her that it is not Christmas yet.

Plus of course the garden is going crazy with all the rain- so where I should be is out in the garden which again is not in my mind, associated with Christmas.

 

"...And as soon as that packet was out on the sea, `Twas devilish hard treatment of every degree..."

Sadly, Hobart is not big on public transportation. So, although

I like to think of myself as a person who is always a tourist in her hometown, I miss a lot of the quieter aspects of Hobart's charms.

  Hobart was settled before much of the mainland.  Therefore "First" is often attached to a place.

Walking from my mechanics shop to my yoga class (about a twenty minute walk). I realized how much of interesting architecture I usually just breeze by.

There was the "first" Jewish Synagogue consecrated in 1845. (How I love proper words).

A 'historic engineering marker' the world's oldest McNaught Beam Engine.

The fire brigade (which I do always admire).

The Mission to Seamen Hobart Station (1915-1956)

and of course The Drunken Admiral which is next door to the Yoga Studio I go too.  There is a plaque talking about the buildings 'colourful history' my favorite involves the time period Hobart was doing its best to lure 'widows and other females of good character' with high wages and prospects of marriage.

This was during the time the island was prospering, convicts finished with their time were transitioning into the citizens that built a society that would stay on the island.

Really, every few buildings there was a really interesting one.  

 When I stepped back and looked at the whole area, yes I could just focus on the ugly, smelly fast food chips place, or the car lot.

But would I? If I was a tourist, looking to be pleased?  

Perhaps, I can credit Yoga but I was definitely feeling that one's mood can be directed in a positive way.