Visit to the Speigeltent

For years I have had a thing for the Speigeltent, (a wonderful venue which moves from place to place for festivals that has the feel of a 1930's Parisian nightclub) dying to photograph its interior. I saw it once at the Sydney Festival but when I approached the person in charge, my request to enter and photograph the interior was turned down :-(

When I heard it was coming to Hobart for the 10 Days on the Island Festival I was determined to get a look inside. This time I booked 2 tickets to a show so I could soak up the atmosphere. Yesterday we wandered past it and I went over to photograph the outside (alas I only had my iphone) and got talking to a lady who was in charge. She invited me inside and I had the opportunity to check out the beautiful interior.

So without the crowd I was able to see it in all its glory, beveled mirrors and exquisite ornate woodwork. The entire building was build without the use of nails. Everything just slots together. There is a team of men that travel the world putting it together and dismantling ready for it to move on. They must be very good at jigsaw puzzles.

The ceiling was draped on fabric.

Lead light windows adorned right round the building.

These Art Nouveau style pictures decorated the front of the tent.

The show we saw tonight was called Cantina and it was magnificent. Its a cross between 30s cabaret, burleque and circus. Unfortunately we were not permitted to photograph during the show so I found these pics on Google.

This poor guy was trampled all over by the woman in high heel shoes. Painful to say the least!!! :-0

Yesterday we wandered through St Davids park on our way back yesterday and I found my ancestors names on a plaque there as they were first fleeters and some of the original white settlers of Tasmania.

And wandering through the Salamanca market I was interested to see this unusual stringed instrument.

Day Tripping to Sommers Bay

First stop was the lovely Marion Bay.

Excuse the fuzziness of this photo but this sea eagle was so high up and its the best my little camera could do.

Not a soul to spoil the view.

A creek that runs parallel with the beach, making getting onto the beach a bit of a trek if you don't want to get your feet wet.

Especially when there are dead prawns in the water and goodness knows what else.

Finally got to Sommer Bay and this chap was wading looking for lunch.

The tide going out made interesting patterns in the sand.

Waiting for to be taken out into the bay.

One of the more interesting shacks.

Unknown fruit which looked pretty. These were growing wild in the bush.

Old boat which has been turned into a kid's play thing, parked in the backyard of a shack.

Rickety jetty, complete with birds. See the trees in the distance that are still black from when the bush-fires went through last year.

Back  to Dunalley on the way home. This is the canal which makes a short cut for yachts traveling to and from Hobart, therefore avoiding the Tasman Peninsula. I am standing on the bridge which opens to allow the yachts to go through.

Barnacles on the piers. The water was a lovely colour.

Just hanging out to dry.

The Dunalley Fish Market which makes the best fish and chips. This place is 15 minutes from my home. There is a seal that lives outside this building as the owner feeds it with fish waste meaning he is well fed and never has to go anywhere far for a feed. I have put picture of him on here last year. Today he wasn't in sight from the bridge. He usually lives down near the jetty.

Odd things you see on the edges of dams down this way.

And next to the dam was this cutie.

This is where we had lunch today. The Dunalley Pub, which was the centre of everything after the bush-fires last year, had wiped out 65 houses, the local school and police station. They fed people, accommodated several in caravans and tents in the paddock next door. 

A sculpture in the carpark at the pub.

A Walk In the Clouds

I was busting to get out for a long walk, so I organised to go with 2 fellow photographers, Steve and Rosemary to Wellington Park and do the Sphinx Rock track. It was a good excuse to take some photos and walk the dog as its about a 1 hour hike. The day started out raining and Steve rang to ask what if I still wanted to go. I declined due to the weather BUT after thinking about it for 30 minutes I'd changed my mind, just because the dog needed a long walk. I went to meet up with them and traveled to Hobart, up to Mt Wellington. As we got closer, it was becoming foggier and when we got out of the car, the air smelled like a mix of eucalyptus and spices. Very nice. The dog was keen to go so I grabbed my camera and off we went. This is what we saw today.

A beautiful end to a rainy day.

And a dog who is plum tuckered out.