Wellington

Took Totty to kennels and as usual she had to be carried off to the kennels. We then went home and finished packing and then off to the airport.


We checked in and then went to the Koro lounge to wait until our flight was called we had coffee and waited for the plane to come in. Take off was fine and although it was a small plane it felt OK and we had lovely views of Tauranga and then we were in the clouds. Fortunately we came out of the cloud over Lake Taupo and had amazing view over Mt Ruapehu and the Tongarrio crossing and as far west as Mt Taraaki with the snow top poking out of the clouds.

Our in flight snack was a cup of water and a cup for tea or coffee with a biscuit!

I thought we had got on the wrong flight as we flew right out across the Cook Straits and I thought we were going to the South Island. The pilot then turned and we headed for Wellington and it was very bumpy due to high winds. Landing at Wellington, one of my friends says, is like landing on an aircraft carrier and she is right! However, it is very pretty once you get over the fright.

We got a taxi to our hotel and as the room was not ready we left our case and went into the city. It was really quiet for a capital city on a Saturday afternoon. We saw the tram stop and decided to go up to the top and see the botanical gardens and get some lunch. Lovely views but very windy and the cafe was closed and the nearest was at the bottom of the gardens so we had to walk all the way through them and by the time we got to the bottom we were very hungry. We had some nice soup for lunch which was very welcome as it was so cold and I was shaking with hunger.

We continued along the path marked with roses as this was the tourist route. It took us through a graveyard which had been cut in half to build an urban motorway and the 3,700 bodies exhumed are now buried in a vault under the chapel. The path brought us out near our hotel but we carried on to Parliament House. The next tour was due in 20 minutes so we went into the cathedral to have a quick look before going on the tour. It was very interesting but a bit rushed as there were things around I would have liked to read about but there was no time. We went into the Beehive which is the round, ugly building next door and is used for all the admin. We also went into the Parliament Library which is a lovely old building.

There is a very big lottery draw tonight to we had a lucky dip, it is the first time we have played the lottery here.

By this time our feet were very sore so we found a shop and bought a piece of cake and went back to the hotel for a cuppa and a rest.

I had booked a table at a Maori restaurant called Kai so we took a taxi there. Unfortunately, he couldn't find it at the address so he called his office and turned off the metre. The office phoned them and there was a recorded message to say they had moved. The driver, who was so nice, said he would take us there. We arrived to find a Thai restaurant and we got out and went in and the place was so busy Jon said he didn't want to eat there and as I was expecting Maori food neither did I so we walked out. The taxi was still there and he kindly took us to have a look at the original address but we couldn't find anything. I felt bad as the Lonely Planet guide book said it was a very small, family place and I felt bad letting them down but we couldn't do anything about it. The driver dropped us outside a nice restaurant and we went in. Unfortunately, they could not fit us in so we had to go and look for another place. We had to check the taxi had gone as it was getting a bit embarrassing getting free rides from the very kind driver!

After walking miles we finally found an Italian that we both liked the look of and we had a lovely meal but had to get another taxi back as our feet were soooo sore. Too many Indian, Chinese and Turkish places in Wellington.

Our room is lovely and although the view is over the churchyard we have a huge window and all you can see are trees and you would never believe you were in the middle of the capital. Bed was very welcome.



WEATHER

Cloudy and windy but not too cold