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.