back from Auckland

I had a great time in Auckland just exploring the city and learning more about New Zealand. It is still spring so no beaches yet, but it is getting closer.   I stayed downtown on Shortland Street in a beautiful historic building.  It was a short walk to High street which is full of little boutiques, restaurants and coffee shops that really come to life in the evenings.  Really lovely.

Shortland street is just by that big tower with the disc on top

And a short walk to the water to watch America's Cup race from wharf 10 with a few thousand other people every morning.  Sadly the NZ team didn't win, but it wasn't for lack of trying or support.  Amazing race, I may have to try my luck at sailing, looks like a very exciting sport.

What I really have noticed about both Wellington and Auckland is that they both have well developed neighbourhoods within the city itself.  The best example I can give you is Calgary's Kensington or Marda Loop, except way more developed.    I don't think Edmonton has anything quite like it.  Anyway, I really enjoyed hanging out in a city just over the size of Calgary at 1.3 million people.

So off to see one up close for myself. I picked up a harbour tour ferry that gave some great sites of the city and North Island.

Wellington is a city of earthquakes and Auckland is the city of volcanos . Luckily, no eruptions during my visit and to make me feel a bit more comfortable I heard that they aren't active anymore. But to be honest although it was reassuring to hear, I am not sure if I really believe it.

The volcanos are protected in that you can't develop them or own them. Although, I really don't see why you would want to do either but maybe its a kiwi thing). Anyway, they look like amazingly beautiful and lush mountains or hills that are parks, lookouts our just beautiful space.

Volcano



Volcano up close



Even closer



So after a great afternoon of touring around the North Island, the little town of Davenport and some volcanos time to relax and have lunch at Corelli's and a famous flat white (coffee).

A Week of Exploring

Happy to say no more earthquakes (I now have an earthquake app on my Bbry) but we did have an amazing wind storm.  Really strong winds coming from the south blow across the ocean with no land masses to slow them down which means although they aren't cold they are incredible strong when the hit to

Wellington.  I guess they don't call it Windy-Wellington for nothing.  It only lasted a couple of days and then the weather returned to sunny and warm.  Spring is arriving steadily.

So this week I spent some time to explore the city a bit more and ventured out to a few surrounding small villages including Pitone and Miramar where many of the Peter Jackson fantasy films- Lord of the Rings, King Kong, The Hobbit to name only a few were created and filmed.

Looking out over Lambton harbour in Wellington

 So, I wandered into town and along the way passed the Old St. Paul Church, it is over 200 years old and built with all native wood.  It also saw off many an American stationed there as they headed of to WW2, hence the American flag with one less star (Hawaii hadn't joined confederation).

Then it was off to the botanical gardens to catch some of the spring blooms. We were a about a week early for the tulips but the magnolias were out.

Now off to Petone, a small town with an artisian well at its centre.  People come from all around to fill containers to take home.  Also home a a fabulous tiny movie theatre that is in a beautiful old building.  The theatre is full of character and hosts a small cafe so you could have a light meal, including a glass of wine or coffee and take it into the theatre to watch your big screen movie.  The seats are two-seater sofas, with attached coffee table on the arm.  Very cozy.

Next is Miramar and a tour of Wetacave where the production of all the characters for the movies I mentioned earlier.  We went inside the creative studio where we were told and shown how all the characters came to be.  What an amazing and time consuming process.  No wonder why these films have millions of dollar budgets.

 

From Wetacave we headed to have lunch at the Roxy theatre that Peter Jackson  built in Miramar.  The Roxy is a beautiful art deco style building made just to have the best movie experience you could imagine.  We will head back to make an evening of it - dinner in Coco restaurant, drinks at the lounge and deliciously rich coffee after as we watch our movie.  Truly a special night out.  I think we may have to dress up!

Next week I am off to Auckland so will have a new landscape to talk about as I move from eathquake area to volcanos.

My Week of Firsts

It is hard to believe I have been here just over two weeks.  I have done so much already, I so need to pace myself.  So, I am going to tell you of all my first experiences and unlike a novel, I wont save the best for last... Or maybe not the best but wildest in my mind.  But first let me tell you about my surroundings.

I am living in a small apartment in the community of Wadestown in Wellington  It is close enough to downtown that I can walk in.  My apartment is up on a hill settled into a beautiful array of trees overlooking the valley.  I have Tui birds nesting close by so I wake exevery morning to their amazing song.  It is winter still and the average temperature is 15c.  I think I love winter.  The first day of spring was Sept. 1 and the daffodils were blooming.  The tulip festival is next week.

View from my apt.

Downtown Wellington is very much like a cross between Vancouver and Victoria - charming boutiques along Cuba street, great little clubs overhead, and AMAZING restaurants.  It is the capital city and does have the highrise business sector as well.   Ok, I hope that paints a picture for you, now for my firsts...

MY FIRST EARTHQUAKE.
It was a dark and stormy night (really it was).  The wind was blowing in the trees and I was warmly snuggled in my bed dreaming of beaches yet to enjoy once summer arrives.  When around midnight, I was jolted awake by a WHOMPH sound or feeling not too sure which.  Then a massive tremble, everything was shaking.  Very weird feeling having everything shake.  I was so scared I wouldn't even open my eyes.  The big shake was followed by some smaller trembles I think but it could have been my heart pounding that made it feel like aftershocks.  Everything returned to normal as if nothing had happened at all.  I finally opened my eyes and looked around... Walls and windows still there, Ok, back to sleep, although not as cozy, kind of like keeping one foot on the ground just in case.  The next morning I learned I had my first 5.1 earthquake, even significant for some of the locals.  I have arrived

A walk beside the fault line

MY FIRST EVENT
Like Edmonton and Calgary, Wellington has a cultural celebration of food and arts. Its like Taste of Edmonton meets Heritage days. This celebration combines food, art and culture which is a wonderful combination.  One event was held at a community boathouse where local fishermen brought in the catch.  We were treated to lessons in types of fish caught, best times to fish, how to clean and prepare, and then a renowned chef took the variety of the days catch and cooked a few samples served like tapas.
It was a wonderful day, full of tasting fish I never knew even existed. There were Thai mussels, smoked fish, BBQ, and a lovely soup which I missed the name of the shellfish.  I asked my sister and she said it was giant black slug!  Nothing like a sister to give a shock.  Anyway, I have heard since then it isn't a slug it was called Paua or Abalone as we know it; just kind of looks like a giant slug once out of the shell.  Anyway for slug soup it was quite tasty.   A full afternoon of sampling different dishes, really fabulous.  And the lovely sunny setting for the event on the banks of a beautiful small river, with black swans swimming about

Great local beer paired with a mussel in Thai cream coconut sauce

MY FIRST RUGBY MATCH
I thought Calgarians/Edmontonians got excited about hockey, HA, they have nothing on the kiwis and their All Blacks.  What an experience... We took off to the local pub to watch the Bledisloe Cup.  Sunday night and the place is jam packed full, standing room only, everyone pressed close under the multitude of big screens.  Each good pass, rough scrum, met with a deafening roar from the crowd.  Very exciting. The All Blacks won the cup and conversations went wild about what will happen next and who they play next to defend their victory.

So a busy week and great adventure so far.  I will be a bit more regular with my blogs and not so lengthy either.  Until next week, Kia Ora.