The day dawned crystal clear over New Zealand today. So much so that we could see Mt. Tapuaenuku and Mt. Tarahaka in Marlborough on the South Island clear as a bell. As you can see we chose to try a different stay this time around. Searching for lodging in Wellington before the trip I came across a Lighthouse and a stone “Keep” that was sort of like a castle turret, about 6 kilometers outside of Wellington in the seaside village of Island Bay. Cheryl and I stayed in the Lighthouse and Alan and Lois stayed in the Keep. That’s where the views of the rainbows came from last night. It’s a lot of fun, and very different. The house with the ship built into its front facade is our neighbor. We had Alan and Lois over for breakfast in the lantern room at the top of the lighthouse this morning and then this afternoon for cocktails we picnicked on the roof of the Keep as the sun set over the hills behind us. We also invited the owner of the lighthouse over this morning and had a wonderful chat with him about New Zealand and just his thoughts on life in general. The only wildlife we saw today was on our front porch.
In between breakfast and cocktails we explored some of what Wellington has to offer. We started at a cog railway that took us up a hill overlooking the city. More great views. There are many homes built right into the hillside which reminded me of Oakland. At the top of the hill was the Botanic Gardens which wound its way down the hill to the city. It was a beautiful walk and also a great place for an outdoor lunch. After that we walked around a bit stopping at Old St. Paul’s Cathedral which is now a historic treasure owned by the government and no longer used for services. It was constructed of all native woods. Then it was on to a tour of Parliament. We had a great guide and it was a fun and informative tour. They really do have their act together here. Not like some government I know about half way around the world. A quick stop at the National Library and then it was back home for cocktails. Getting ready for dinner now and then tomorrow we tackle the National Museum, Te Papa Tongarewa before heading north.
