And So I Don't Forget...

Queenstown and Strahan, Tasmania

Early morning selfies. Look at that little face, delighted in seeing herself on the screen. 

We stayed two nights in Queenstown, in an AirBnB house. It was a good place, apart from sagging couches, broken shower and the open fire that just couldn't keep the house warm over the freezing nights. So, we all ended up in bed together.

Three in the bed and the little one said... ;) 

Queenstown and surrounds are mining towns, with a landscape so different from elsewhere in Tasmania. Barren. Pocked.

Strahan, where we headed for the day, is tiny. We thought to have lunch at the pub, only to discover it's just open for dinner at this time of year. Pies at the bakery were good though. :)

The town's main attraction is a cruise up the Gordon River but with the boat having already left for the day early that morning (we weren't really planning on it anyway) we took a private cruise around the bay instead.   

Little miss felt very relaxed in the lovely sunshine. I fed her, she slept, everything but a nappy change on the boat. 

They are salmon pots in the distance there, with birds flocking around the feeding barge. Each pot will generate $2 million profit with each harvest. Big business. Curiously, due to regulations you can't buy the salmon or ocean trout locally, only post-processed at the supermarket. 

This was actually her 5th boat ride!

A beautiful sunset over a beautiful wilderness.

We headed into that wilderness the next day, but I'll leave those photos for next time. :)

Hobart

The three days we had in Hobart worked out perfectly to include a Saturday morning at the Salamanca Market. All 3 of us enjoyed browsing the stalls in the beautiful sunshine and purchases included Tasmanian devil hand puppet, the cutest little ugg boots and jam doughnuts.  

We spent a morning at MONA, the Museum of Old and New Art. Catching the ferry across the water was a relaxing way to arrive (particularly when little miss slept the whole time both directions) and the art inside certainly captures your attention.   

Honey Badger Dessert Cafe. On a cold autumn day. this was the perfect spot to stop for a hot chocolate and a brownie. Yum! And being conveniently located to Nant distillery meant I could sneak in a second visit the next day while Mike was having a whiskey tasting.  

At about 4pm on our last day in Hobart we headed up the top of Mount Wellington which overlooks the city. It was a little chilly so we all rugged up, including our little abominable snow girl. The views were phenomenal!   

With darkness starting to fall we headed back down the mountain but decided to pull over at the first car park to enjoy the view a little longer. When it started raining we headed back up the mountain and, sure enough, it was snowing! We left little miss in the car and stepped outside into the falling snow. Snow is very exciting for us Melbournians. ;)

East Coast Tasmania

Milly's first bushwalk, or more accurately bush carry. Just a short 20 minute walk in Douglas-Apsley National Park, to a pretty average lake. 

Milly's first look at the ocean. (She was asleep every time at Anglesea.) I wonder what she thought, seeing something so vast and different for the first time. This beach was out the back of our accomodation at Swansea and would be an awesome location in warmer weather. 

Freycinet National Park. Beautiful views, an incredible location, but the worst weather by far of our trip. 

We ventured out for one 20 minute stroller-friendly walk, rugged up against the rain, before retreating to the lodge restaurant for some lunch. 

 Wet, miserable and yet still stunningly beautiful. We'll definitely be back. 

Launceston and the Tamar Valley

After catching the Spirit of Tasmania Monday evening, Mike, Milly and I have been exploring Tasmania. Our first stop - Launceston and the Tamar Valley.

We had no real plan (life with a 3 month old made making hotel reservations seem like a major accomplishment) and just drove and stopped wherever seemed interesting.

Moores Hill Winery - our first (delicious) cheese platter of the trip.

Grindelwald Swiss Village - an odd little place.

A 50 minute boat cruise of Launceston on the coldest day of the year so far. We had the boat to ourselves.

Josef Chromy Tasmania - our second day of the trip and second cheese plate. More wine purchased here too.

Selfies with Mum, photobombing with Dad.

It's certainly been a different experience travelling with our little miss - our luggage requirements have increased exponentially! - but we all seem to be enjoying ourselves so far.

Milan

One final stop, and an evening wandering in the city, before home.

Manarola, Cinque Terre

We've reached the last days of our trip now; just two more nights in Manarola before we begin the trek for home with a night in Milan and one on the plane (hopefully as the flight connection may be a little tight).
Cinque Terre is an amazing place - 5 little villages perched on the edge of cliffs, that I've been hearing about, and wanting to visit, for years. The views are stunning and we're just reading, eating and taking it easy.

Portofino

The rain cleared - first daytime rain of the trip and it poured for hours as we drove twisty roads through tiny farming villages - just in time for a lunchtime visit to Portofino.

December Daily 2015 Planning

I may be in Italy, but I didn't miss the release of Ali Edwards' December Daily kits!
This year I'm planning on making a 5x7 inch mini album to document the Christmas season. Covers from chipboard, binder rings and pages cut to size before the month begins. It sounds fairly simple and achievable, but I have a tendency to make things more complicated than necessary. Finishing any time before mid February I'll call a success. ;)
Although I don't NEED any new Christmas supplies, new products help me feel inspired and creative. (Don't think I bought anything new last Christmas and ended up feeling quite bored looking through the same product again and again.)
So, I have preordered the One Little Bird December Daily Mini Kit, designed by Peppermint Granberg. I'll cut some of the 6x8 pages down to 5x7 page bases and the cards can be smaller insert pages or added to 5x7 pages. I will look to buying a few more embellishments to add - the mini kit is a little light on in that regard for my style - but I know it will provide plenty for the album base and (public declaration for accountability) I don't need the December Daily main kit or even another mini kit.
Somehow, Christmas seems right around the corner and I'm really not ready for that!
Are you planning a December Daily project this Christmas?

Lago di Braies

Mike requested his photo credit due for this one. :)

Passe Pordoi

Those little dots at the bottom of the first photo, our car is one of them.
There a mighty views everywhere here in the Dolomites, but the cable car ride up Passe Pordoi to 2952 metres gave us the mightiest of them all. In 360 degrees. Just incredible.