SALAMANCA MARKETS, HOBART, TASMANIABustling stalls amongst beautiful buildings

Last day in Tasmania and we are running a tiny bit late to get out of the house. Rob is pacing up and down like a caged animal. I make a feeble attempt at activity by putting couple of bags in the hall, but the girls still have mulch to discuss. No, that's not a typo. Its all about gardens around here. Anyhow, we set off for Salamanca markets - its a Saturday morning so Hobart's famous and historic Salamanca place is full to bursting with stalls of every description. Beautiful fresh Tasmanian produce (the sausage stall is overwhelming - over 100 sausages of various varieties sizzling on giant grills under a marquee, the cloying smell of three tons of frying onions pervading our clothes, nostrils and and every other place. We still smell like a sausage sizzle when we board the plane two hours later). Delightful. The markets are like markets the world over - organised chaos, shoulder-to-shoulder crowds, stalls of fine produce and stalls of fine craft, stalls of dreadful food and stalls of absolute crap; amazingly talented buskers and down at heel performers who have nothing remotely resembling talent. Just as it should be. But it has a special atmosphere, this market. Bordered by a sweeping row of beautiful, historic buildings it is very easy to forget that this is Australia and not some bustling European city.  We had a great time there, albeit a short one, before heading out to the airport and winging our way west once again. We'll be back.

BIKER, SALAMANCA MARKETS, HOBARTGet the feeling he's been to Anzac Day a couple of times? BANJO BUSKER, SALAMANCA MARKETS HOBART

SLIDE GUITARIST, SALAMANCA MARKETS, HOBART"I'm a sucker for slide guitar" - Rob Walls. Yep, me too. He was good.

BALLOON MAN, SALAMANCA MARKETS, HOBARTMad as a hatter. STALL HOLDER LOSES HER HEAD, SALAMANCA MARKETS HOBARTHmmm....

BUMBLEBEE DRUMMER SALAMANCA MARKETS HOBARTHe was a bloody good drummer, too!