Greetings from the Southern-most city in NZ’s North Island!
That’s right, Stu and I have finally made it out of Napier!! We enjoyed three very pleasant months in Hawke’s Bay but 13 weeks just seemed like TOO MANY so we packed up and hit the road, with an Italian in tow (at least for the first leg of the journey).
To wrap up stories of our life in Napier: January was much like December. Stu and I both worked heaps and rarely saw each other because of opposite work schedules (he worked days at the kiwi orchard while I worked mostly nights at the restaurant). BUT we did manage to enjoy the free time that we (independently) had with all the friends we made at Wally’s. Again: lots of beach time, lots of waterfall time, lots of birthdays & birthday celebrations, lots of adult beverages, lots of good reading. Stu also spent lots of time at the studio where we has teaching a wheel throwing workshop and getting things organized for a big wood-fire kiln he’s going back to help fire at the end of March. I also got to spend a lot of time speaking Spanish with the six Argentines who arrived at Wally’s on Christmas Day.
Which brings us to Tuesday January 25, 2011, a day of great progress for Maggie and Stuart. On this sunny day we packed up our little station wagon with all our belongings and those of our friend Alessandro and we drove down the NZ 2 in search of urban life in the form of WELLINGTON. For how many people live in the city (I think it’s less than 200,000 in the proper Wellington city limits) this city feels super urban. When we walk out of our hostel and down the hill to Willis St. we are smack in the middle of a swarm of fast moving, well dressed people who walk quickly past shops, cafes (so many cafes!), restaurants, government buildings, museums…you name it, they have it in Wellington. So far I think we have done pretty well for taking advantage of all that the city has to offer. We have been up to see the botanical gardens (on foot! Not by cable car). We have been to Te Papa (actually as amazing as people say it is—and free). Stu also went to the Wellington City & Sea Museum (not as good as Te Papa—I opted to go on a photo walking tour instead). We have been to the Beehive and on a tour of Parliament. We have been out to eat Malaysian food (a first for me). I have had some pretty delicious coffee (probably enough for me and Stu both). Throw in a lot of walking around, some eating and sleeping and you pretty much understand what we’ve been up to in Wellington.
OH! We also ran into some Wally’s folks, not more than 20 minutes after arriving in the city. They were passing through on their way to a festival in Nelson and we caught them on our one afternoon of overlap in Wellington. As I keep telling everyone in my goodbyes: “it is a small country!”
Well that’s all for now. We only have a little more time left here in Wellington and I want to go enjoy it! Tomorrow morning, we head onto the ferry and across the Cook Strait!! Here’s hoping for calm seas and no seasickness… We (I) will try to do blog updates frequently from the South Island as I am thinking (hoping) that our life will be a little more exciting on the road. BUT Stu and I will be spending most of the next six weeks in campgrounds and National Parks so the regularity with which we have internet access may not be so….regular. If you don’t hear from us DON’T WORRY we’re just off hiking in the mountains or relaxing at the beach somewhere. We will tell you all about it eventually.
