How to remember all this really important stuff. Simple, the Alphabet. A-W top island, C-D bottom island. [Auckland-Wellington, Christchurch-Dunedin]. There will be a written test in April so take notes.
We docked around seven AM to a beautiful clearing day. Greeting us on the pier was a mass of timber ready for exporting to Asia as raw logs. BC is not the only supplier of wood in the world, we do not have a clamp on the world supply of timber.
Today, in Wellington we were on a Ship's Tour. This tour was for people on deck six. About 300 over-fed, over-weight, pasty North Americans were allotted buses and taken on a 1 1/2 hour tour of this lovely city that had it's best weather out for us today. Blue sky, puffy clouds and no real breeze. Just like a spring day in BC or England.
The city of about 300,000 is very compact, with level ground at a premium, the city is situated on the slopes of low hills. Most of the buildings, except commercial, are made of wood. There are about 10,000 earthquakes a year in NZ. Most are not felt, but apparently the earth does move regularly. Many large commercial building are constructed on moveable beds to allow them to move in tremors.
The views from the surrounding hills, [no doubt volcanic domes] are outstanding. It is reminiscent of Vancouver or San Francisco with the hills and waterfront dominating the city.
We all eventually ended up at the Wellington Town Hall for a banquet and show. The Mayoress addressed and welcomed us very graciously. The food was outstanding, I thought that the lamb chops and salad were the main course. [They were cool and I thought that was lunch]. The main course soon arrived and I realized the chops were only an appetizer! The main course was beef and a few exotic vegetables and another dish that to this day I cannot identify. I must get the recipe!
Of course the wine was unending.
We were entertained throughout the courses by a very enthusiastic and qualified group of Maori dancers. Most of the audience was either impressed or intimidated by their very lively dances. They are so unlike the Australian Aborigines it is amazing. Only 1000 miles separates the two countries but there is really no similarity between the two countries or natives.
Of equal entertainment was a show put on by two Kiwi sheep farmers. They and their three dogs, two geese, one very large ram, one young ewe, four lambs, one cow, and a young farm girl kept us enthralled. The exhibition of sheep shearing, dog herding, cow milking and bottle feeding lambs delighted and thoroughly entertained us all.
This all took place in a heritage building in downtown Wellington with a massive pipe organ that would put most cathedral organs to shame.
At the conclusion of the banquet each guest was provided with a small shopping bag inside of which was a beautiful wool/possum scarf that is beautiful in its simplicity of design. Most of the people were breathless with the gift. [This was a Holland America sponsored banquet].
Back to the ship with an hour to spare. We skipped the dining room tonight and after watching the 'sail-away' from Wellington from our balcony, dined upstairs. Moe, Gail and Jim joined us on the balcony as a small pipe and drum band piped us away. The last tune we could hear as the ship drifted out and turned was "Amazing Grace". Beautiful.
Gail and Jim had a separate lengthy tour as well. Moe also had a city tour in the afternoon.
It was a great day for all of us.
Tomorrow the Cutler's and Robin's THlNK we have organized a Jet Boat Tour, Moe is off again on a tour of the City of Christchurch. [Remember, the top, well near the top, of North Island.]
One touching incident today was that we shared a table for six at lunch: one couple we knew, the others we met today for the first time. The new couple were about 55/60? They confessed that have been married nine months, both of their spouses died of cancer and they met at a funeral. Kind of gets you in the gut doesn't it!
Enjoy yourselves people!
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