Once upon a time a man from Seattle (who just happened to be a tourist visiting Chicago) told me that only tourists use umbrellas in rainy places. Considering I once lived in one of the rainiest cities in Great Britain, I beg to differ. A good umbrella is key, as well as a coat and pair of shoes made of good, water-resistant material…and fifty cups of tea. But then again, maybe I’m wrong. I saw plenty of soaking wet-haired assholes stomping around in ballet flats. And don’t even mention the crappy sewer system, besides the immediate puddles that develop between the cracks in the pavement after a little bit of rain. I mean, in Scotland, they have to shut down the subway because it constantly floods. Talk about living like a drowned rat.
Speaking of rain, I’m not sure Tasmania gets much of it, but they do have a genuine period shop with a collection of umbrellas. Built in 1860, the Old Umbrella Shop of Launceston is now owned by the National Trust. All the interior fittings of authentic Tasmanian blackwood are preserved and intact. The shop has been operated by three generations of the same family. Next to the retail space is a display about the family and history of the store as well as a large collection of umbrellas and wood souvenirs used over the past 100 years.
Not only is this our visit to Tasmania, but it’s our second collection of umbrellas (if you count the umbrella cover lady). I’m always surprised to find a museum of random things not once, but twice. Crazy, man.
