Napier & Hawkes Bay - Thursday, 1/17/08
Another B&B breakfast this morning as Angela whipped up a smoked trout omelette from some of their local catch. We could get used to that. We pulled out of Taupo at about 10:00 heading east to the Pacific coast and Hawkes Bay at Napier.
Angela told us that there was nothing to be seen between Taupo and Napier, and while there were no towns to speak of, the two hour trip was all beautiful peaks and valleys, pines and streams and the kind of geography that one saw in the shires of Lord of the Rings. Not much to see if you’ve seen it all before.
Napier was wiped out by an earthquake in 1931, and as the town was obliterated a bunch of new land was formed by the bottom of the bay heaving up and extending the acreage. The entire city was rebuilt in the popular art-deco style of the time and now it remains a very interesting period piece. The shoreline of the bay is bordered by the main thoroughfare, Marine Parade, and between that and the gorgeous blue water is a continuous series of parkland, all planted with a varied selection of summer flowers. The whole effect is pretty spectacular and one can see why this is a popular Travel Channel destination and a favorite among the Kiwis.
This is also wine country and after wandering around town for an hour we headed out for lunch at Mission Estate winery. It is the oldest NZ winery and the grounds and buildings would rival anything we have seen in Napa. After the big breaky (NZ lingo) we opted for the calamari appetizer for John and the roasted capsicum soup for Mary. We were very well behaved.
Our lodging here is a studio suite in a motel type facility (Pebble Beach) on Marine Parade and looking out at the water. We finally have the luxury of a double Jacuzzi, real cable TV, and high speed internet in our room so we may hole up for a couple days (just kidding). Mary had a hankering for Italian for dinner so we found one place about a half mile walk into the center of town. It wasn’t terrible, (Mary had the Penne with bleu cheese and broccoli; John had the Bolognese) but Gordon Ramsey could have made it into a show without much trouble. The owner (a big Kiwi) was cooking and cashiering and when we paid we got the impression he was pretty new at the whole process. We would have offered a consult but like everyone else who really needs it, he wouldn’t have recognized the problem until he closed the doors.
A nice walk back along the ocean as the stars were coming out and we sat on a bench across from our place at the water’s edge for a long time before heading off to bed.
Today’s Local headline: A Lifeline for Cancer Treatment, Wellington Dominion Post
(The government approved an new radiation treatment machine to shorten the 3-month wait for cancer treatment—a glimpse of national health care)
Another B&B breakfast this morning as Angela whipped up a smoked trout omelette from some of their local catch. We could get used to that. We pulled out of Taupo at about 10:00 heading east to the Pacific coast and Hawkes Bay at Napier.
Angela told us that there was nothing to be seen between Taupo and Napier, and while there were no towns to speak of, the two hour trip was all beautiful peaks and valleys, pines and streams and the kind of geography that one saw in the shires of Lord of the Rings. Not much to see if you’ve seen it all before.
Napier was wiped out by an earthquake in 1931, and as the town was obliterated a bunch of new land was formed by the bottom of the bay heaving up and extending the acreage. The entire city was rebuilt in the popular art-deco style of the time and now it remains a very interesting period piece. The shoreline of the bay is bordered by the main thoroughfare, Marine Parade, and between that and the gorgeous blue water is a continuous series of parkland, all planted with a varied selection of summer flowers. The whole effect is pretty spectacular and one can see why this is a popular Travel Channel destination and a favorite among the Kiwis.
This is also wine country and after wandering around town for an hour we headed out for lunch at Mission Estate winery. It is the oldest NZ winery and the grounds and buildings would rival anything we have seen in Napa. After the big breaky (NZ lingo) we opted for the calamari appetizer for John and the roasted capsicum soup for Mary. We were very well behaved.
Our lodging here is a studio suite in a motel type facility (Pebble Beach) on Marine Parade and looking out at the water. We finally have the luxury of a double Jacuzzi, real cable TV, and high speed internet in our room so we may hole up for a couple days (just kidding). Mary had a hankering for Italian for dinner so we found one place about a half mile walk into the center of town. It wasn’t terrible, (Mary had the Penne with bleu cheese and broccoli; John had the Bolognese) but Gordon Ramsey could have made it into a show without much trouble. The owner (a big Kiwi) was cooking and cashiering and when we paid we got the impression he was pretty new at the whole process. We would have offered a consult but like everyone else who really needs it, he wouldn’t have recognized the problem until he closed the doors.
A nice walk back along the ocean as the stars were coming out and we sat on a bench across from our place at the water’s edge for a long time before heading off to bed.
Today’s Local headline: A Lifeline for Cancer Treatment, Wellington Dominion Post
(The government approved an new radiation treatment machine to shorten the 3-month wait for cancer treatment—a glimpse of national health care)
Kiwis--
ReplyDeleteWell you have a week under your belts and I'm not hearing anyone sounding homesick. Good descriptions of the scenes and tastes of NZ... I can smell the flowers and taste the food.
America is still here and sputtering. We could use a few of your retirement dollars to boost of the economy. The economy went to hell as soon as you left, we had no idea how much your spending was keeping the country afloat.
Checked the Pine River temps this morning. You'll be glad to know the high today will be -12 and the low-24. I'm sure the wind chill will make it -50. You're not missing much in the north woods.
Off to Denny's for the blu-cheese, macadamia crusted seabass, with balsamic lingenberry sauce, simmered in essence of lime; or, maybe I'll just have the Grand Slam.
Back to life as we know it. Have fun.... more news about swimming with the sharks and hang gliding could enhance your posts... you don't have to do it... just make it up.
Muji and Rudy send their love and wonder if you have seen an rodents?
Jose