A Trip Down Parklane…
Coffee nooks and nostalgia in a city called Hobart
As I write this the Tasmanian Premier is announcing border closures for another three plus months. At least.
So with a trip planned for Christmas time, this state of events has me filled with hope and suspense that all the Covid dust will be settled by then. But it isn’t likely.
In the meantime I’m feeling nostalgic thinking about the eight years I spent living there. Now it’s been three years since I left my island home to pursue bigger dreams in a bigger city, but I know Tasmania will always hold a special piece of my heart.
If you’ve ever lived there or visited you’ll understand that there’s charm to be found in everything. The people, the buildings, the art, festivals and marketplaces.
Propped up against the harbour you’ll find Salamanca Place. Day to day it doesn’t get a lot of attention. It’s quiet and quaint. But on Saturday mornings the streets spring to life.
At 5am the creators come rolling in with canopies, tables and goods. And by 6 the smells are already wafting. Lavender, fresh coffee, oliebollen and huon pine. At 7 the early risers are the first to arrive. They grab their copy of The Weekend Australian and a latte to go. Then they wander the stalls before finding a quiet spot to settle in solitude.
By 8 o’clock the music begins. Violins, guitars, singers and magicians. Bagpipes and poets even. It’s magic. The crowds start flooding and the laneways are filled with hustling foot traffic. It’s a stark contrast to an iconic backdrop: Mt Wellington standing tall in all its grandeur, dusted with a light covering of snow.
Away from the artistic chaos are some small hidden treasures. A quiet park with harbour views, cobblestone lanes leading to eclectic stores, and bookshops stacked floor-to-ceiling with literature waiting to be re-loved.
Parklane Espresso is a place you may find if you follow the footsteps of a true coffee connoisseur. Small, hidden and busy, the warm faces behind the counter make you feel like you’ve entered the right place at precisely the right moment.
It’s here that you find house made chai, single origins, and delicious specialty blends made by baristas as dedicated to the community as to their craft. You can reside in the window or at one of the handcrafted wood tables outside, and simply make yourself at home. The cosiness and warmth will make an hour fly by.
The markets, coffee shops like Parklane, and every quirky artistic store in between compose a telling collection of everything this city has to offer.
Artists thrive and business owners remain supported by the sheer interest and support of residents. They’re on a simple mission to create and share with the world.
If you haven’t visited, I urge you to do so. And if you’re one of the lucky ones who call this place home, may this inspire you to never let the novelties of this city wear old.
