We arrived in Wellington after a very long day of driving from Lake Taupo. To be honest I, and I believe Morgan as well, was quite ready for the city, socializing, and showers! We drove into the harbor and marveled at the bustling city set amongst rolling hills of evergreens and the pink and blue waters reflecting sunset. It only took two phone calls before Morgan found our new home for the next three nights.
Cambridge Hotel. It was once a hotel but now it's a hostel. One reception, one living room connecting one kitchen, one long bathroom, and plenty of stacked dorm rooms. We dropped our luggage, tapped into the inter web, and soon hit the showers. We were both so very excited to see blow dryers! Finally I can do something with these bangs! A little advice: Don't cut bangs before indefinite budget traveling!
We made some dinner, drank some beer, and met some of the residents. We met a few good people from, can you guess, Ireland who'd been living in Wellington for months, turns out we can't shake Irish people, they are everywhere! Anywho, we hit the town in search of dancing. And that we did! Danced, met fellow travellers, played pool, roamed the vibrant streets. This city is so young, so artistic, so colorful.
The following day we hit the Cambridge restaurant for three dollar breakfasts! We spent the day exploiting the free wifi, watching tomb raider, and, let's face it, nursing our hangovers.
That night we indulged in some burgers and fries for dinner. BTDub, the fries here are incredible! Every time! That evening was interspersed with movie watching, chocolate eating, skyping, and browsing the web.
We rose bright and early, ate our breakfast of apple scooped with heaps of peanut butter, and set out for the incredible Te Papa. Te Papa is New Zealand's national and art museum and it roughly translates as "the place of the treasures of this land". On our way we were thoroughly distracted by the bustling weekend farmers market. Couldn't help ourselves, we bought basil hummus.
We finally entered Te Papa at around ten in the morning. First things first, the beginning of New Zealand. This is a sort of interactive science walk through where you learn all about tectonic plates, volcanoes, earthquakes, water's impact, the moons pull... EVERYTHING! Morgan and I had a chance to revert to childhood in the best ways possible.
If not for our hunger we'd have stayed there for hours. However, around twelve thirty we wanted some grub. We didn't venture far because we were heading back to the museum afterward. Did I mention it's free? So we ate our lunch of BBQ burger, me and chicken blt, Morgan, along with snake bites.
Upon our return to Te Papa, we read up on refugee's history in New Zealand, women's rights, economic ups and downs, and so on. Basically any cultural history we could soak up. Following that we explored the plants and animals role's on the land. We saw how illegal transport of certain plants has wiped out entire species. We read about the Mauri creation story. We watched a film called "My Place", showcasing seven people and their deep connection to their land in different parts of the country.
We left the museum wonder filled. People here are so in love with their land. They take such pride and have such strong roots here. I was inspired by the devotion it's people have to preserving every aspect of life here. It was nearing five in the evening and we still hadn't managed to see everything!
As the sun set, we roamed the streets listening to street music and wandering in and out of funky shops. For dinner we sat at the bar of a restaurant called Chow. Morgan ordered some delicious coconut milk cocktail while I sipped on some bitter citrus cocktail with muddled mint. For dinner we shared blue cheese and peanut wantons, beef satay with spicy peanut sauce, and spicy yellow chicken curry. Everything was divine. On our stroll home we stopped in for gelato. When it comes to ice cream I am an "If it ain't broke, don't fix it" kind of lady, chocolate for me. Morgan went with biscotti which was mouth watering as well. We called it a night early, bellies full.
In the morning we geared up to check out. I phoned my brother Paul and very much enjoyed hearing his laugh, catching up. We sucked down some cappuccinos and headed for Mount Victoria.
Up a steep long winding road sits a platform for the soul purpose of looking down on and admiring the city below. So that we did. The wind was crisp and the clouds milky as whipped cream.
We then drove over to the botanical gardens and took in the smells of the glorious rose gardens! Hundreds filling the courtyard, some growing taller then me. I buried my nose deep into the center bud and took in the sweet fragrant smells, eyes closed. Moments like these when I'm so profoundly envious of those bees, practically bathing in their nectar.
We soon headed for the ferry, eager to make the cross to the South Island. We will definitely be back in Wellington soon!
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