Markets and magic

As we left Bruny and neared Hobart we tried to find accommodation for this evening- it proved very difficult as many people had been evacuated from east of the city due to the fires there. However eventually we were able to book in the north of Hobart, the only vacant room in the motel, and we spent the morning in Salamanca market purchasing some new clothes ready for New Zealand.

Right on the harbour, it is one of the best markets we have seen over here in Oz, and was extremely busy. Open just on Saturdays, there is a wide variety of goods on sale, including local produce, and several very good book stalls, which I had to resist as I have a number of unread books in the car.

We had booked a show in the Theatre Royal, reputed to be Australia's oldest working theatre. Built in 1833,  it is reminiscent of the old theatres in London, with stalls, circle and the "gods", an upper circle that when I sit up there gives me the willies!

Anyway, we were in row "C" in the stalls today, and as it happened there was no one in rows A & B, so we had the best seats in the house for a "Magic and Illusion" show. 

It was very good, if rather short, one child who volunteered to help very quickly changed his mind when he was asked to place his head in a guillotine!

We have heard from Julia and Graham this evening, they and their animals are ok, as is their house, however much of their land is burned out and will take many years to come back to where it was a few days ago. They have had a hectic couple of days, clearing fire breaks, and calming the animals, but hopefully the worst is over now.