Napier to Wellington, February 5 - 10

Two of the many parks to be found in Napier.

We left the mist and rain in Tongariro and headed south to Napier. After crossing two mountain ranges, we crested and there at our feet were vineyards sweeping down to a brilliant blue ocean with Napier gleamimg white in the curve of a huge bay.

Napier is known for its Art Deco architecture - in fact it is the largest community of this style in the world. In 1931 the centre of the town was flattened by an earthquake and subsequent fires. The town council acted swiftly to have the centre re-built and decided to emulate the popular European style - Art Deco. We signed up for a tour to learn about the town. Our tour guide was an English teacher at the local school who volunteers her time on weekends. We had a very well organised field trip! Our group of 5 was complimented on how well we listened, kept up and asked good questions. If she had made us hold hands crossing the street, Ken was going to threaten her with a performance appraisal. It was an excellent tour. She had grown up in Napier so the facts of history were personalized by anecdotes. It was an enjoyable afternoon.

A typical Art Deco store front.

Art Deco feature.

Art Deco feature.

Ken enjoying a cup of tea on our balcony after a hard day of touristing.

Wellington, the capital of New Zealand, is a young and vibrant city. We stayed downtown, two blocks from the harbour. Amid theatres, coffee shops, restaurants and public art is Te Papa, the national museum. We spent many hours over two days exploring the exhibits that explain, reveal and demonstrate the history and culture of New Zealand from its cataclismic formation 65 million years ago to the Maori land settlement claims now in the news - and it is free! We booked an in depth tour of Maori art and culture. Our tour guide, an elderly Maori, illustrated what we saw with personal anecdotes. It culminated with lunch in the cafeteria where we sampled traditional Maori foods.

Te Maere, a meeting house in the conference centre in Te Papa.

People in Wellington live on the hills that surround the extensive harbour and its approach from the sea. Houses perch precariously on the hillsides. Very brave, we think, since Wellington is due for another earthquake any year now. We took a day to drive around Marine Parade exporing allof the little bays that house Wellingtonites.

Wellington harbour and homes.

A typical house.....

...and its view

I could look at this over morning coffee.

Some houses are near the water, and ready for the flood!

The civic square, downtown Wellington. Can you find Fran? (email us for a clue)

Art in the park. As this artist was sculpting in stone, artists at Winterlude in Ottawa are sculpting in ice.

Looking towards the south island. It is under the clouds which is fitting as Aotearoa is Maori for NZ and means
"long white clouds.Ït is our next destination.