Launceston 26 -27 November 2007

A short trip to far away Launceston. First job is to say LONceston not LAWNceston. If we hang around long enough we can say LONNY! Stayed only two days as we are coming back. Immediately LOVED the place! Our friends, Lee and Annette warned us it was our sort of place! The first day was actually hot in the afternoon, ideal to explore the Gorge. We started at the Basin and followed the path along the edge of the gorge on a path created around the 1880’s. We returned on the same route and stopped in at the tea rooms with the peacocks in a green oasis with a few remaining rhododendrons and immensely shady green trees. We actually felt hot! Never for long though!
On Tuesday night we went to a pub to hear a local jazz band. They were jamming with a group from Hobart (southerners!!) but produced a great sound. We were warmly greeted by the local jazz club and introduced on the stage, gave a short thank-you and were presented with a jazz CD – amazing!!
Explored all over Lonny looking at antique shops, museums, art galleries and heritage homes, including the Design Centre in City Park that displays and sells timber furniture that we were in awe of. We could nearly become minimalist after seeing the works and highly recommend the centre.
We loved the large number of heritage homes that are still lived in and maintained with gorgeous gardens. Everone told us that the roses are at their best this year. We were starting to think this must be normal, but thrilled to think we are seeing one of those memorable events. The perfume of roses is usually associated with sweet sickly talcum powder but now we can relate to the inspiration. The perfume hits you in frequent waves wherever you go in varying degrees of heavenly scent! A true scent of musk is also mixed in. Some bushes are so thick in flower you can not see leaves!