Sunday, February 27, 2011

Are we empty nesters?

I've noticed in the last couple of weeks days, as we tour around Tasmania and stay in caravan parks that we are, on average, the youngest people in any group by approximately 20 years.  I'm not sure what the other 20s & 30s aged travellers are doing, but I'll tell ya, they are not following our itinerary.  I think the Australian tourism machine should recognize and start giving us the pensioner's discount at attractions.  We're clearly the demographic.

A few examples from recent outings:

Historic Richmond Town & Gaol (that means jail in olden times language)
There was a group of fleece-clad photography enthusiasts who had traveled there to take photos of the 17th century prison.  They were probably in their 70s and concerned about the dust mites impacting their photos.  Also complaining about the cold.

Berry picking at the Sorrell fruit farm.  The dining room occupied by a bunch of ancient ladies woofing down scones.  We had the whole strawberry patch to ourselves.  Due to the windy conditions, the rest of the older folks stayed indoors. We were strawberry millionaires.

Ghost Tour of Historic Port Arthur.  We were in a group of about 20 people, the next youngest probably in their late 40s.  I think the scariest element for most of them was the uneven steps at the various historical homes.  I, however, saw a ghost.  For real.

Stops at the rock & water features on the Tasman Penninsula.  A woman tapped on my window in the Tasman arch parking lot who had mistaken me for another woman who was approximately 65. 

Port Arthur Historic Village.  This is where the really really bad convicts went.  The ones who got sent to Australia first for being criminals, but then additionally did something bad in Australia to warrant being locked away with the worst criminals.  Its one of the first prisons in history to test out the theory of reform through limiting contact with other humans.  The walking tour was about a mile, total, and people had to sit down.  No further explanation necessary.

We're back in Hobart now, and I feel like we should go out and do something rowdy, just to re-establish our youth.  Maybe go to a discotheque or a dive bar.  Maybe stay out past 10.  Or maybe not.

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