Today is a beautiful, sunny day. The ocean is sparkling and the breeze is light. My usual walk is about a half mile--down the hill with 0cean views north and then around the end of the bluff to views of Campbell’s Bay to the south. This morning there were just a couple of boys surfing in the bay; occasionally, there have been a couple dozen.!
Driving into Oamaru this morning I was reminded of a few other observations. Off the highways, we have encountered many one-lane bridges over rivers and streams. I guess with sparse population, there is no real need to spend money on two-lane bridges. Also, there are carefully maintained, even manicured, 10-15 ft. high hedges everywhere--around houses but also in the middle of fields (wind breaks?) and along roadways. Is this the English influence? Lastly, in town, one fish and chips place also offers squid rings and chips or scallops and chips--we are on the ocean after all!
Here is something to make you feel good: we filled our gas tank last weekend and paid $1.73/liter. That is $6.50/gallon. Of course, that is in NZ dollars. Converting to US that is about $4.90/gallon. Still makes you feel good, right?
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Musings from San
We have seen many people with significant tattoos including full arms and legs. We do know that tattooing is historically important in the Maori culture. Has it become mainstream?
Every plug we’ve encountered has a little switch built into the plug unit. Thus you can “unplug” without removing the cord from the wall. We like it!
I am delighted by encountering different ways of saying things: takeaway (take out food), mince (as in beef mince/ground), the road sign says Give Way (yield), the bank teller today said she would have a “wee lookie” at my account, and Mark encountered at work yesterday after saying thanks, “no worries”. Here is a weather forecast from the paper: “Long fine spells, and the odd shower inland.” Also from the paper, a recipe for courgette? (oh, zucchini) that calls for “4 rashers of streaky bacon.” Ok….
Funny interaction at the internet café: the young woman said to me, “You want “Wallace”? I repeated, “Wallace?” Mark whispered in my ear, “She said wireless.” Ohhh….
One of our favorite comments. Mark spotted a reddish brown plant with long tough leaves that we have at home and said, “Wow, looks like the New Zealand flax plant we have at home!” We looked at each other and burst out laughing--duh!
Every plug we’ve encountered has a little switch built into the plug unit. Thus you can “unplug” without removing the cord from the wall. We like it!
I am delighted by encountering different ways of saying things: takeaway (take out food), mince (as in beef mince/ground), the road sign says Give Way (yield), the bank teller today said she would have a “wee lookie” at my account, and Mark encountered at work yesterday after saying thanks, “no worries”. Here is a weather forecast from the paper: “Long fine spells, and the odd shower inland.” Also from the paper, a recipe for courgette? (oh, zucchini) that calls for “4 rashers of streaky bacon.” Ok….
Funny interaction at the internet café: the young woman said to me, “You want “Wallace”? I repeated, “Wallace?” Mark whispered in my ear, “She said wireless.” Ohhh….
One of our favorite comments. Mark spotted a reddish brown plant with long tough leaves that we have at home and said, “Wow, looks like the New Zealand flax plant we have at home!” We looked at each other and burst out laughing--duh!
Musings from Mark
Well I decided it was my turn to write something in the blog, so here goes… San has very aptly described a number of our adventures thus far. What I am struck by is how often I am trying to make comparisons to what is known and familiar to me. We arrived in country and almost everyone was complaining (and apologizing) about the wet summer they are having. So I comment how the weather is so similar to our NW weather back home. But soon we discover that the weather changes much more rapidly here plus there is more humidity.
Then there is the medical system. I went thru an orientation to their medical system and their EMR (electronic medical record) and thought it not so very different from our EMR. But then I learn, at least in this practice, that the doctor brings every patient from the waiting room, does the vital signs, and then talks with and examines the patient all in one office with no nurse involved. Unless I need a chaperone for the exam or the patient needs a pelvic exam in which case the nurse does it.
I am really enjoying our time thus far--more reflections to come.
Also, though the hills look like they are very dry, similar to eastern WA, they are covered so often in clouds that they have year round grasses growing. We see wonderful gardens and I am trying to find plants that I recognize and know like dahlias, petunias, marigolds, and trees like cedar and oak. But then we see odd and beautiful low plants with leafless stems and purple saucer-like flowers that are almost like a desert plant. Or wonderful trees with greatly interweaving trunks and branches unlike any of ours. Hiking (or trekking) in the foothills yesterday we saw a very familiar broom plant like our scotch broom. But beside it is an equally invasive shrub with incredible thorns lining all the branches with bright yellow flowers just like the scotch broom (gorse, perhaps?).
Then there is the medical system. I went thru an orientation to their medical system and their EMR (electronic medical record) and thought it not so very different from our EMR. But then I learn, at least in this practice, that the doctor brings every patient from the waiting room, does the vital signs, and then talks with and examines the patient all in one office with no nurse involved. Unless I need a chaperone for the exam or the patient needs a pelvic exam in which case the nurse does it.
I am really enjoying our time thus far--more reflections to come.
Monday, January 25, 2010
Saturday's Outing
Briefly, as to driving…. We keep reminding each other to “keep left, keep left”. And both of us have multiple times hit the lever on the left hand of the steering wheel and thereby activated the windshield wipers instead of the turn signal. For some reason, we both have also found ourselves wanting to manually shift gears--guess this little old Honda must remind us of our little Nissan, our designated kids’ car for some 12 years. Thankfully, this car is an automatic--I, at least, already have plenty to think about when driving! However, in Mark’s and my wanderings, we have always found it better if I drive and he navigates.
Consequently, I drove as we set out on Saturday for parts unknown to the north of us. We drove some 30 miles to a small town called Waimate which is known for, of all things, wallabies! Apparently, the wallabies along with possums were introduced here in the 1850s. Now they are both tame and in the wild. Like possums, they are considered a pest, however. We had to stop briefly at Victoria Park (another one!) to view the flowers, bowling green, and wallabies.
We were up for a hike but since the day was overcast we decided to hike close to Waimate rather than driving up into the foothills. The local i site recommended Studholmes Bush which was just outside of town in the direction we wanted to go anyway. We had a grand time hiking with sheep, then gaining altitude for some great vistas, eating lunch, and scrambling back down again. By this time the sun had come out.
The rest of our day was spent driving west towards the southern Alps along the Waitaki river. Beautiful winding roads and foothills with sheep and dairy farms as well as general farming and even deer farming. The river has three large dams which provide massive amounts of hydroelectric power to the region. The resulting lakes are gorgeous--turquoise in color. We also encountered some Maori rock art. A full day!
Consequently, I drove as we set out on Saturday for parts unknown to the north of us. We drove some 30 miles to a small town called Waimate which is known for, of all things, wallabies! Apparently, the wallabies along with possums were introduced here in the 1850s. Now they are both tame and in the wild. Like possums, they are considered a pest, however. We had to stop briefly at Victoria Park (another one!) to view the flowers, bowling green, and wallabies.
We were up for a hike but since the day was overcast we decided to hike close to Waimate rather than driving up into the foothills. The local i site recommended Studholmes Bush which was just outside of town in the direction we wanted to go anyway. We had a grand time hiking with sheep, then gaining altitude for some great vistas, eating lunch, and scrambling back down again. By this time the sun had come out.
The rest of our day was spent driving west towards the southern Alps along the Waitaki river. Beautiful winding roads and foothills with sheep and dairy farms as well as general farming and even deer farming. The river has three large dams which provide massive amounts of hydroelectric power to the region. The resulting lakes are gorgeous--turquoise in color. We also encountered some Maori rock art. A full day!
Our first full day in Oamaru
Our little rental house is very nice and most functional. If you walk up the street to the bluff, you get a great view of Campbell’s Bay and All Day Bay. If you walk down the hill, the view is of the Pacific Ocean and Cape Wanbrow around which is Oamarui. As I mentioned, we are a hamlet south of town called Kakanui.
Oamaru is the largest town, population around 13,0000, in the Waitaki District, an area that stretches from the Pacific Ocean to the foothills of the Southern Alps. A thriving port in the mid-1800s, the downtown boasts large numbers of ornate Victorian limestone buildings which earned Oamaru the designation “The Whitestone City”. Thames Street runs straight through downtown and is comparable to Main Street, USA. You can find anything on Thames--including tourist information, of course.
Getting information about a town and surrounding area is so easy in NZ. There are tourist/visitor i sites everywhere that are manned by very friendly resourceful people--some paid, some volunteer--who give out info, printouts, pamphlets, or maps, as well as book transport, events, lodging. Whatever you want or need! Listed on the board at the Oamaru i site was a tally of the blue penguins seen the day before. We learned that the numbers would be dwindling so decided that we best use Friday evening to go see the penguins.
Oamaru is known for having colonies of blue penguins, the world’s smallest penguin breed (around 3 lbs), as well as yellow-eyed penguins, an endangered, rare breed. (Our viewings of each typified for me somewhat the vagaries of traveling and sightseeing.) Both of these kinds of penguins spend most of their day at sea but come to land to roost for the evening. Thus dusk is a good time to see them. (To add to the fun of the evening, we decided it was time for me to try driving, but more on that next time.)
After wandering around to find Bushy Beach to view the yellow-eyed penguins (who come to land early in the evening), we walked out on a trail on a high bluff in a fierce wind to join many other people most of whom had binoculars and fancy cameras and were staring down the cliff to the beach. I literally had to hang on to my glasses so that they wouldn’t vibrate in the wind. The only thing we saw was a sea lion asleep on the beach. Furtively, we looked around us and identified an official looking kind of man. Somewhat reluctantly, he looked at a little handheld clicker-counter on his jacket and announced that he had seen six penguins thus far. Hmmmmm…… At the top of the bluff was a hide filled with people but they all seemed to be talking in different languages and know what they were looking for! As we walked back towards the car, we encountered a friendly looking man who instructed me to hoist myself up on the fence and look through a break in the brush to where he pointed at the beach hundreds of feet below us. Mark peered over my shoulder, and VOILA, there was a single tiny hunched figure on the beach. A yellow-eyed penguin!! Not having a camera with a foot long lens on it, we left with no picture to share. (Note to self: buy postcard.)
On to view the Oamaru blue penguin colony--ah, colony. However, this place had a Visitor Centre and an entry fee for the Evening Viewing--$22 each (approximately $15-$16 US). This one also included a viewing stand and a narrated information program to go with the viewing (lighted as dusk darkened). We bought our tickets and found good seats in the viewing stand (out of the wind!). Alas, NO CAMERAS allowed. (Note to self: buy postcard.) We sat and waited. However, all this was forgotten once the penguins started coming to shore.
The narrator pointed out a black smudge on the water which gradually got larger and larger. Suddenly a “raft” of penguins (~20) scrambled through the waves onto the beach and rocks. From there they waddled and jumped up the rocky “ramp way” and briefly preened before scurrying further up the ramp and through the wire fencing into the nearby bushes and provided breeding boxes. Over the next hour this scene repeated itself several times until some 143 (official count) blue penguins had come to shore. A few lone penguins entertained us all by meandering over to the viewing stand and wandering around near people’s feet. We listened to the penguins “quack” and sing/talk in throaty long trills. It was kind of magical..........
Campbell's Bay and the ubiquitous agapanthus flowers
view towards Oamaru
We woke Friday morning to the high pitched baas and low pitched maas (really!!) of the sheep (only five) outside our windows. We needed to get groceries, do laundry (washing machine in the house with clothesline out back), and get our bearings around town. Mark also needed to spend some time at the medical practice. Those few things took us almost all day!
view from the bedroom window
Getting information about a town and surrounding area is so easy in NZ. There are tourist/visitor i sites everywhere that are manned by very friendly resourceful people--some paid, some volunteer--who give out info, printouts, pamphlets, or maps, as well as book transport, events, lodging. Whatever you want or need! Listed on the board at the Oamaru i site was a tally of the blue penguins seen the day before. We learned that the numbers would be dwindling so decided that we best use Friday evening to go see the penguins.
After wandering around to find Bushy Beach to view the yellow-eyed penguins (who come to land early in the evening), we walked out on a trail on a high bluff in a fierce wind to join many other people most of whom had binoculars and fancy cameras and were staring down the cliff to the beach. I literally had to hang on to my glasses so that they wouldn’t vibrate in the wind. The only thing we saw was a sea lion asleep on the beach. Furtively, we looked around us and identified an official looking kind of man. Somewhat reluctantly, he looked at a little handheld clicker-counter on his jacket and announced that he had seen six penguins thus far. Hmmmmm…… At the top of the bluff was a hide filled with people but they all seemed to be talking in different languages and know what they were looking for! As we walked back towards the car, we encountered a friendly looking man who instructed me to hoist myself up on the fence and look through a break in the brush to where he pointed at the beach hundreds of feet below us. Mark peered over my shoulder, and VOILA, there was a single tiny hunched figure on the beach. A yellow-eyed penguin!! Not having a camera with a foot long lens on it, we left with no picture to share. (Note to self: buy postcard.)
On to view the Oamaru blue penguin colony--ah, colony. However, this place had a Visitor Centre and an entry fee for the Evening Viewing--$22 each (approximately $15-$16 US). This one also included a viewing stand and a narrated information program to go with the viewing (lighted as dusk darkened). We bought our tickets and found good seats in the viewing stand (out of the wind!). Alas, NO CAMERAS allowed. (Note to self: buy postcard.) We sat and waited. However, all this was forgotten once the penguins started coming to shore.
The narrator pointed out a black smudge on the water which gradually got larger and larger. Suddenly a “raft” of penguins (~20) scrambled through the waves onto the beach and rocks. From there they waddled and jumped up the rocky “ramp way” and briefly preened before scurrying further up the ramp and through the wire fencing into the nearby bushes and provided breeding boxes. Over the next hour this scene repeated itself several times until some 143 (official count) blue penguins had come to shore. A few lone penguins entertained us all by meandering over to the viewing stand and wandering around near people’s feet. We listened to the penguins “quack” and sing/talk in throaty long trills. It was kind of magical..........
Traveling to Oamaru
Thursday morning we packed up and headed to the airport. We checked in at a central kiosk and hefted our bags onto an adjacent scale only to discover that one of our bags was over 25 kg. The sign declared that bags over 25 kg simply WOULDN’T GO! Needless to say, we did a little shifting of items between bags.
The domestic small airport atmosphere is much more relaxed here than in the States. Scanning happens at the gate and there is no removal of shoes or even coats if not needed. We did two short hops to Christchurch and then to Dunedin (unfortunate airport code DUD). Bruce, the apparently well known Oamaru shuttle guy, met us with a sign and loaded us up. We proceeded to meander around in Dunedin picking up several others and then dropping them off at their destinations as we neared Oamaru. We arrived some 3 hours later at the medical practice, dark and locked, in downtown Oamaru. Fortunately, a quick phone call brought Chris Rohrbach , one of the docs (originally from Germany) , running down the block from where he had been waiting. Awkwardly, we discovered that the shuttle ride had not been prepaid as we expected and we didn’t have enough cash (no credit cards accepted)! Bruce said we could leave the money in an envelope at the clinic with his name on it and he would swing by later and pick it up--small town, huh? Chris then loaded us into “our” car and drove us to his house out in the country for a home cooked dinner--yeah! There we met his wife Dagmar, 3 year old daughter Sophie, 3 month old son Jacob, Pia the au pare, a German friend Susan and her 6 month old daughter Fannie there for a long visit, and American friends Bob and Linda from Idaho who live in Oamaru part of the year. We felt a tad overwhelmed but also beautifully welcomed.
After a hearty dinner, we followed Chris (Mark’s first time to drive) to our compact, two bedroom, many windowed, beach house in Kakanui, an area south of town. We met our neighbor and landlord Dave (his wife Claire works at the medical clinic) who showed us around the house and went home to get us a coffee press (“I drink gobs of tea every day, myself”) and fresh goat’s milk for the morning--to use with our pilfered instant coffee packets and the last of our bag of bran with sultanas (raisins). We can see the ocean from our little house. Dave’s few sheep and chickens are in the small fields outside our windows.
The domestic small airport atmosphere is much more relaxed here than in the States. Scanning happens at the gate and there is no removal of shoes or even coats if not needed. We did two short hops to Christchurch and then to Dunedin (unfortunate airport code DUD). Bruce, the apparently well known Oamaru shuttle guy, met us with a sign and loaded us up. We proceeded to meander around in Dunedin picking up several others and then dropping them off at their destinations as we neared Oamaru. We arrived some 3 hours later at the medical practice, dark and locked, in downtown Oamaru. Fortunately, a quick phone call brought Chris Rohrbach , one of the docs (originally from Germany) , running down the block from where he had been waiting. Awkwardly, we discovered that the shuttle ride had not been prepaid as we expected and we didn’t have enough cash (no credit cards accepted)! Bruce said we could leave the money in an envelope at the clinic with his name on it and he would swing by later and pick it up--small town, huh? Chris then loaded us into “our” car and drove us to his house out in the country for a home cooked dinner--yeah! There we met his wife Dagmar, 3 year old daughter Sophie, 3 month old son Jacob, Pia the au pare, a German friend Susan and her 6 month old daughter Fannie there for a long visit, and American friends Bob and Linda from Idaho who live in Oamaru part of the year. We felt a tad overwhelmed but also beautifully welcomed.
After a hearty dinner, we followed Chris (Mark’s first time to drive) to our compact, two bedroom, many windowed, beach house in Kakanui, an area south of town. We met our neighbor and landlord Dave (his wife Claire works at the medical clinic) who showed us around the house and went home to get us a coffee press (“I drink gobs of tea every day, myself”) and fresh goat’s milk for the morning--to use with our pilfered instant coffee packets and the last of our bag of bran with sultanas (raisins). We can see the ocean from our little house. Dave’s few sheep and chickens are in the small fields outside our windows.
Saturday, January 23, 2010
Last Day in Wellington
In Wellington, on Wednesday morning, I walked the several blocks to the train station and boarded the train for the fifty minute ride to Upper Hutt. Robyn had researched and then given me the name of a local violin maker and repairman, Ian Ralston, who I had been in email contact with from home. Ian graciously picked me up at the station and took me to his house and backyard workshop. The next couple of hours were delightfully spent with Ian and his wife Judith in violin talk as well as heartfelt conversation and sharing. I felt like I had known them much longer than just those few minutes. Ian sent me out with a lovely “for hire” violin of rich, full sound and said we would settle up when I brought it back! Judith then took me the long way back to the station cruising me around town to view a local Lord of the Rings spot and a limestone carving class in a nearby park. (Side note: Ian has been an extra in all three LOR movies--his biggest part being a rock throwing tree in the second movie.) Sadly, he is now fighting bone cancer. If you are a praying person, keep them in your prayers.
I caught the train back to Wellington in time to meet Mark and his orientation group at the impressive Wellington Te Papa Museum for a guided tour full of New Zealand pride:
--the Maori peoples--your iwi is where you are from and includes the nearest mountain and river; I called myself “Sandra from Mt. Rainier and the Deschutes River”
--ancient to modern history--including information on the much disputed 1840 Treaty of Waitangi between the Maori and the British
--wonderful birds and animals and plants
--greenstone (jade) treasures
Our official tour ended on the top floor at a beautiful modern interpretation of the Maori marae (meeting house) incorporating the many cultures now represented in NZ. We left and walked the waterfront back to our downtown hotel.
One further thought on Wellington: the waterfront area is one of the most people friendly waterfronts I’ve ever enjoyed. It is full of parks, eateries, and businesses and is frequented by people of all ages sitting, reading, walking, jogging, bicycling, skate boarding, using scooters, kayaking, and even swimming! We would love to go back.
I caught the train back to Wellington in time to meet Mark and his orientation group at the impressive Wellington Te Papa Museum for a guided tour full of New Zealand pride:
--the Maori peoples--your iwi is where you are from and includes the nearest mountain and river; I called myself “Sandra from Mt. Rainier and the Deschutes River”
--ancient to modern history--including information on the much disputed 1840 Treaty of Waitangi between the Maori and the British
--wonderful birds and animals and plants
--greenstone (jade) treasures
Our official tour ended on the top floor at a beautiful modern interpretation of the Maori marae (meeting house) incorporating the many cultures now represented in NZ. We left and walked the waterfront back to our downtown hotel.
One further thought on Wellington: the waterfront area is one of the most people friendly waterfronts I’ve ever enjoyed. It is full of parks, eateries, and businesses and is frequented by people of all ages sitting, reading, walking, jogging, bicycling, skate boarding, using scooters, kayaking, and even swimming! We would love to go back.
Monday, January 18, 2010
A Couple of Fun Things
My other tidbit of news is that I got to see England's Prince William up close yesterday! What a hoot! Mark started his orientation yesterday and late morning I joined him so we could go to the bank together and get our accounts set up and cards issued. Across the street from the bank is the new Supreme Court building (Wellington is the capitol of NZ). Prince William was in town to ceremonially open the new building and so I joined lots of Kiwis crowded behind barriers to see and photograph him. Here is the proof!
notice how many are female :-)
Sunday in Wellington
As she left us on Saturday night, Robyn (NZLocums liason) suggested that, if we were interested in church, the cathedral was just a few blocks away. So Sunday morning we set out in the mist to find the church. After a bit of walking we could hear the church bells which helped guide us to the Anglican Cathedral of St. Paul. Completed in 1998, it is one of the newest Anglican cathedrals in the world. It is a large, beautiful church, full of light and stained glass, and home to a world class organ (4 manuals, 81 stops, 3500 pipes).
We were truly blessed by the service and the friendly people--good prompts on following the prayer book, wonderful hymns with resounding organ, a meaningful message, and even an organ postlude by Handel. I was so moved by the prayers that I had to jot a few down:
So now we offer our thanks
for the beauty of these islands;
for the wild places and the bush,
for the mountains, the coast, and the sea.
Our thanks for the marae (Maori meetinghouse) and the cities.....
And I have a new phrase for my daily prayers: Look with kindness on our homes and families.
The sermon was delivered by the Rev. Dr. Eleanor Sanderson, a mother of two young ones who was just leaving the congregation to pursue further studies in Auckland for a time. The Gospel lectionary reading for the day was from John 2, the story of Jesus' first miracle, the water into wine. Apparently, the building of the new cathedral has been thought to be an unwarrented extravagance by some of the congregation . However, the pastor suggested that sometimes God welcomes extravagance on our part just as He sometimes blesses us with extravagance--such as providing very good wine to people who are already a little drunk....or providing a year of sabbatical........ Even a world away in NZ, this congregation had a connection with the tragedy in Haiti--a niece of one of the members had lost her husband and two of her three children in earthquake. Like so many worldwide, they said prayers and collected donations for the people of Haiti.
The rest of our day was split between The Wellington Museum of City and Sea and the Wellington Botanic Garden. Hopped a cable car up to the top of the hill for the garden and then walked down through the vast and varied gardens in the increasing rain--actually, a perfect way to see all the NZ vegetation, especially the many variety of ferns/tree ferns. We checked out eateries on our way back and chuckled at one sign boasting, "Come in by the fire and get WARM." However, one Irish pub advertised roasted pork and veggies with applesauce--ooh, sounded like comfort food to us!
So now we offer our thanks
for the beauty of these islands;
for the wild places and the bush,
for the mountains, the coast, and the sea.
Our thanks for the marae (Maori meetinghouse) and the cities.....
And I have a new phrase for my daily prayers: Look with kindness on our homes and families.
The sermon was delivered by the Rev. Dr. Eleanor Sanderson, a mother of two young ones who was just leaving the congregation to pursue further studies in Auckland for a time. The Gospel lectionary reading for the day was from John 2, the story of Jesus' first miracle, the water into wine. Apparently, the building of the new cathedral has been thought to be an unwarrented extravagance by some of the congregation . However, the pastor suggested that sometimes God welcomes extravagance on our part just as He sometimes blesses us with extravagance--such as providing very good wine to people who are already a little drunk....or providing a year of sabbatical........ Even a world away in NZ, this congregation had a connection with the tragedy in Haiti--a niece of one of the members had lost her husband and two of her three children in earthquake. Like so many worldwide, they said prayers and collected donations for the people of Haiti.
The rest of our day was split between The Wellington Museum of City and Sea and the Wellington Botanic Garden. Hopped a cable car up to the top of the hill for the garden and then walked down through the vast and varied gardens in the increasing rain--actually, a perfect way to see all the NZ vegetation, especially the many variety of ferns/tree ferns. We checked out eateries on our way back and chuckled at one sign boasting, "Come in by the fire and get WARM." However, one Irish pub advertised roasted pork and veggies with applesauce--ooh, sounded like comfort food to us!
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Leaving Auckland
We had not arranged before arriving in Auckland for our transportation to Wellington at the south end of the island. Neither of us were able to face returning to the airport and flying again. We got quite excited, however, about the thought of taking a train south but then discovered, to our dismay, that the overlander train to Wellington was completely booked. The fallback plan was the bus. Consequently, at 7 AM on Saturday, we taxied to the bus station with all our luggage and boarded the bus for Wellington--a 10+ hour bus ride! Crazy, huh? Actually, we enjoyed seeing the countryside inbetween as well as catching a few naps. And yes, we did see lots of sheep!! Also, drove by Lake Taupo, NZ's largest lake that is known as the "rainbow trout capital of the universe". What we caught sight of from the bus were swimmers participating in the Epic Swim--apparently, a kind of "fun swim" for all ages and stages. Go figure........
We arrived in Wellington to wild and windy, cold weather (so windy, in fact, that we were grateful that we had not flown down). Our NZLocums liason Robyn arrived at the station, shepherded us to our hotel, treated us to a glass of NZ wine, and apologized profusely for the unsummerlike conditions. We retired to our room where we ordered dinner from the room service menu. We ordered, they called when ready, and Mark went downstairs to retrieve sets of stainless stacking bowls (much like nesting camping ware) filled with food. Did the trick!
An interesting side note: on entering our room we could not figure out how to turn on the lights! Had to call the desk. Discovered that on entering the room you put your key card in a lighted holder just inside the door which then enables all the electricity in the room. Conversely, on leaving the room, you grab the key card and EVERYTHING is shut off. We thought it ingenious.
There were even sheep at the rest stop
We arrived in Wellington to wild and windy, cold weather (so windy, in fact, that we were grateful that we had not flown down). Our NZLocums liason Robyn arrived at the station, shepherded us to our hotel, treated us to a glass of NZ wine, and apologized profusely for the unsummerlike conditions. We retired to our room where we ordered dinner from the room service menu. We ordered, they called when ready, and Mark went downstairs to retrieve sets of stainless stacking bowls (much like nesting camping ware) filled with food. Did the trick!
An interesting side note: on entering our room we could not figure out how to turn on the lights! Had to call the desk. Discovered that on entering the room you put your key card in a lighted holder just inside the door which then enables all the electricity in the room. Conversely, on leaving the room, you grab the key card and EVERYTHING is shut off. We thought it ingenious.
Exploring Auckland
In Auckland we were not ready to brave renting a car yet so decided to do our exploring on foot. My walking mantra has been "look right, then left" as I get used to the cars travelling on the "wrong" side of the street.
Thursday was beautiful and sunny so we decided to go up the Sky Tower to get a feel for what Auckland looks like. Reminded us of our favorite U.S. west coast cities on water--San Francisco, Seattle, Vancouver. Beautiful vistas with surrounding hills as well as water expanses and islands and ferries. A novelty--you can bungy jump off Auckland's tower, for a fee of course! We saw a few brave souls suiting up but didn't hang around long enough to watch them leap.
From there we proceeded to the waterfront and caught a quick ferry over to Devonport, a lovely little town on the end of a peninsula across from Auckland. We spent the day walking and hiking up and around the town's two high points--Mt. Victoria and North Head--and the beach inbetween. Beautiful vistas of downtown Auckland as well as interesting historical significance. Mt. Victoria was the site of an ancient Maori fortified village while North Head has been a defense site from the ancient Maori times right through to the World Wars. The views also allowed us to appreciate why Auckland is called the City of Sails--there were sailboats everywhere!
Thursday was beautiful and sunny so we decided to go up the Sky Tower to get a feel for what Auckland looks like. Reminded us of our favorite U.S. west coast cities on water--San Francisco, Seattle, Vancouver. Beautiful vistas with surrounding hills as well as water expanses and islands and ferries. A novelty--you can bungy jump off Auckland's tower, for a fee of course! We saw a few brave souls suiting up but didn't hang around long enough to watch them leap.
Sky Tower, Auckland
From there we proceeded to the waterfront and caught a quick ferry over to Devonport, a lovely little town on the end of a peninsula across from Auckland. We spent the day walking and hiking up and around the town's two high points--Mt. Victoria and North Head--and the beach inbetween. Beautiful vistas of downtown Auckland as well as interesting historical significance. Mt. Victoria was the site of an ancient Maori fortified village while North Head has been a defense site from the ancient Maori times right through to the World Wars. The views also allowed us to appreciate why Auckland is called the City of Sails--there were sailboats everywhere!
Mark and friend on Mt. Victoria, Devonport
On Friday we headed out to do the large Auckland Museum located in a 340 acre park area called the Auckland Domain. We particularly enjoyed a live Maori presentation of songs, dances and weaponry as well as the museum's extensive Maori collection. You rugby fans already know that the NZ All Blacks rugby team is known for it use of the intimidating Maori haka war dance as a pregame warm-up. After seeing the real thing we had to watch a YouTube offering of the All Blacks' version.
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Arriving Auckland
We left home in driving rain and 45 degree weather. After some 20 hours on airplanes, we arrived safely and without incident in Auckland to partial sun and 20 (low 70's) something degrees! We are working at getting a feel for Celsius. We cleared customs easily, walked up to find our three bags rotating the carousel, and exited the area to find Adrian from Quest on Eden looking for us with his sign "Mr. Mark Spee." What a welcome sight! We had decided beforehand to arrange a pickup from our little hotel since we have never been to Auckland before. We have also never traveled by plane so far before. Amazing to actually "miss" a day.
We hauled our bags into our little one bedroom efficiency apartment (basic but clean and well stocked with a little kitchen and laundry), took a nap FULLY STRETCHED OUT, and then set out about 5PM to walk and find dinner. We strolled through Prince Albert Park (finding only a statue of Queen Victoria, not Prince Albert) in the heart of downtown. The flora was decidedly more southern/tropical looking to us--even palm trees--and, being summer, everything is in bloom. Beautiful planted formal gardens and old, majestic trees. Towering in the background was the Sky Tower--akin to our Space Needle.
We hauled our bags into our little one bedroom efficiency apartment (basic but clean and well stocked with a little kitchen and laundry), took a nap FULLY STRETCHED OUT, and then set out about 5PM to walk and find dinner. We strolled through Prince Albert Park (finding only a statue of Queen Victoria, not Prince Albert) in the heart of downtown. The flora was decidedly more southern/tropical looking to us--even palm trees--and, being summer, everything is in bloom. Beautiful planted formal gardens and old, majestic trees. Towering in the background was the Sky Tower--akin to our Space Needle.
Friday, January 8, 2010
Countdown
We are amazed at the number of details and things that we have had to take care of before leaving--from estimating and paying taxes up front (special form) to defrosting the freezer, ordering enough meds for the trip and buying trip medical insurance, from converting car insurance and cell phone policies to cleaning house. We don't remember all of this from our sabbatical in '93 and that involved our three children as well! We leave in only three days.
Monday, January 4, 2010
December, 2009
Sabbatical really started early for us since both Mark and I were able to take a couple of weeks of vacation time at the end of 2009. We were overjoyed since all our children and two new grandchildren were with us for Christmas. Steve, Anneke, and 8 month old Mary Lou flew in from Boston; Jon, Arianne, and almost 3 month old Benjamin flew in from Atlanta; Mike drove home from southern California.
We mostly stayed close to home but did spend a couple of days in the mountains enjoying the snow. We also ate well and played lots of Settlers of Catan (almost all of us managed to hear, "Hail, Lord of Catan!" at least once). Grandma Ric was able to join us for Christmas.
On the Sunday after Christmas, we gathered with lots of other family members including the other new parents and baby--Sam, Hilleri, and 3 month Ailie West--in the family. What precious times.
Now we're back to the two of us plus Michael who will be house-sitting for us while we are gone. New Zealand beckons...less than a week away!
On the Sunday after Christmas, we gathered with lots of other family members including the other new parents and baby--Sam, Hilleri, and 3 month Ailie West--in the family. What precious times.
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