Day 10 – Salamaca Markets and Richmond Visit

Darren:

Today we go our separate ways.   After getting ready, I drop Justine and the Kids in at the Salamanca Markets.  I’d love* to go, but I need to go and find a new jockey wheel, parking in this part of town is a pain, and spending all that time on my foot would not be a good thing (*sarcasm)!!!

Liam:

Hello, to our many (not really) readers, this is Liam filling in for dad since he didn’t go to the Salamanca markets. He dropped us off about 200m away from the market, and left us to fend for ourselves. There was a queue to get in, which didn’t take long, but it was confusing if it was the queue to get in, or for one of the many, many food stands. We finally get past the line and take a second to absorb the crowd and the around 300 stalls in the market. We begin explore the stalls finding everything from clothes, food, gin (so many gin stalls) and sheer crap from China or things from garage sales. At one end, there was someone who found all the junk they could and tried to put it together in what I can only describe as “conceptual art”. A little further down we try some fudge, and it was absolutely beautiful (5 / 5). I was tempted to get some more, but we hadn’t had lunch and there were plenty of other stalls to get food from. Mum found an art stall and found a stunning painting of some magpies and couldn’t not take one (I think we’ve found her weakness). More stalls. Clothes, food, gin, scarfs, gin, lollies (yum), gin. There were too many to even list, so I’ll describe some of the more memorable ones

• There was an art stall that wasn’t too memorable, except for a kid screaming at the top of his lungs about a video game, drawing what you would expect a four-year-old to draw if you give him a 20-pack of Texta’s and a few hours. The thing that caught my eye was the fact that they were being sold for $15 each.
• A sweets stall where we spent about five minutes looking at, and where we bought a giant Tassie-shaped freckle as a surprise for dad (don’t tell him)
• A jewelry stall that had beautiful rings and bracelets. I was tempted to get one that looked like The One Ring, but I didn’t think it was worth it. Caitlin on the other hand got a bracelet and a ring. Personally, I wouldn’t blow 25 big ones like that, but you do you.
• Another fudge stall. This one was amazing. I think the other stuff was better, but this was better value. Me, Mum and Caitlin got ginger, coffee 🤢, and salted caramel respectively. (4.5 / 5)
• A ginger beer stall where they were selling homemade stuff. Why not try something different? We got one to share in case we didn’t like it. Turns out we did not. Nobody liked it. We didn’t even try a second sip (which is strange for Caitlin). If I had to describe it, I would say it tasted fermented. For 17 years (0.5 / 5). We threw it out at the first bin we saw, then to wash the taste out of our mouths we went to ->
• A poffertjes stand (I had to look up the spelling of that one), where we got a plate of ten to share. They were ready surprisingly quickly, and tasted great.
• A stall with lots and lots and lots of different things made out of wood. It smelt amazing

We wander around to look at the rest of the stalls, and finally agree to get some lunch. We saw lots of people eating potato spirals on sticks, so we decide to wait in line to get some. They were nice, but they were hella greasy, and the flavoring was very patchy. I started to feel sick, so I threw a third of it out. I might get it again if I got to put on the seasoning. (3 / 5). We then left and dad picked us up at around 1…

Darren:

Just after 1, I pick them up and we decide to head north east and visit Richmond.  I’d like to go to Ross, but I just don’t think we’ll fit it in this trip.   Richmond is about 30 or so KM from Hobart, but it will only be 15 back to the van park.

We arrive in the very busy little village, parking in the main street will not be an option, but we find a council carpark in a street behind.   As we’re at the north end of town we walk the few 100mtrs to the bridge.   There are tons of people around, I guess all to be expected on easter weekend.   We realise it will be the bridge’s 200^th anniversary next year, and she’s looking pretty good for 199 years old.

Back through town and I can’t help but stop at the bakery (see new Pie-o-Meter), boy is it busy. 

The kids are keen on the Old Hobart Town Model Village, the models are really good and detailed, but the whole experience is high on our craptastic meter (no, I’m not doing two meters).  Anyway, the kids enjoy it.  On the way back to the car we stop and get a great ice cream.

A quick drive back to the van park.  The place is full now.  Caitlin makes some friends with the kids in the van across the way, and they end up playing another round of Putt Putt.

A movie, and we wait patiently for the kids to go to sleep (Liam I’m talking about you!) so we can put out some eggs for the morning.

Pie-O-Meter – Filling (4.5 / 5), Pastry (3 / 5), Overall (3.8 / 5)

Bakery – The Richmond Bakery, Type – Chunky Pepper Steak

Tasty, generously sized, tender steak pieces. In a thick gravy, maybe a little to tomatoey.   Right balance of pepper.   Not quite hot enough. Pastry base was a bit soggy, top was OK.   I’d go back for 2nds