City Life
Emma here.
Last week, Anna and I ventured to Auckland for the day and were glad to find that even though it is 2.5 hours drive each way, it is perfectly possible to manage in a day. With Anna's iPod loaded with classic songs, we sang all the way there and back! We headed first for Wagamama for some therapeutically familiar noodles. Smaller portions from the UK, but thankfully they still did the old favourite ginger and white chocolate cheesecake. Navigating is always tricky in a strange city and we did get lost a couple of times but after shopping in the main city centre, we also found a shopping 'village' on the outskirts. There were lots of familiar names there, like Nando's, Starbucks, the Flight Centre (but maybe more about that later....!)
My most long serving, fantastic friend, Karen, has been in Christchurch in the south island visiting family, and she got in touch on Monday. Her family have planned a tight schedule for her but she had one day she could come up and see us, which was Thursday. Somehow, just a few days before Christmas, she managed to get a flight to Wellington. Anna and I couldn't get any flights so we drove down, thinking it would only be about 4 hours each way. I had forgotten about Kiwi roads! The journey was 8 hours each way, so we booked into a motel for 2 nights. The drive was incredible though - some views take your breath away....
Meeting Karen from Wellington airport seemed the most natural thing in the world. We walked around the city all day, visiting Te PaPa museum and lots of shops and eating places until our legs and jaws ached from too much walking and talking. There are far too many incriminating photos of Karen and me in the 80's so this one will can only begin to balance that....
Back in Tauranga now and it's only 2 days till Christmas. The weather has been a bit wet recently - though not as bad as that in the UK by the sound of things ( yes, UK weather makes the NZ news!). The sun is out again. We aim to spend Christmas day on the beach and have a traditional meal in the evening. I have another interview in January, so hope things on that front will begin to pick up then.
Last week, Anna and I ventured to Auckland for the day and were glad to find that even though it is 2.5 hours drive each way, it is perfectly possible to manage in a day. With Anna's iPod loaded with classic songs, we sang all the way there and back! We headed first for Wagamama for some therapeutically familiar noodles. Smaller portions from the UK, but thankfully they still did the old favourite ginger and white chocolate cheesecake. Navigating is always tricky in a strange city and we did get lost a couple of times but after shopping in the main city centre, we also found a shopping 'village' on the outskirts. There were lots of familiar names there, like Nando's, Starbucks, the Flight Centre (but maybe more about that later....!)
My most long serving, fantastic friend, Karen, has been in Christchurch in the south island visiting family, and she got in touch on Monday. Her family have planned a tight schedule for her but she had one day she could come up and see us, which was Thursday. Somehow, just a few days before Christmas, she managed to get a flight to Wellington. Anna and I couldn't get any flights so we drove down, thinking it would only be about 4 hours each way. I had forgotten about Kiwi roads! The journey was 8 hours each way, so we booked into a motel for 2 nights. The drive was incredible though - some views take your breath away....
Meeting Karen from Wellington airport seemed the most natural thing in the world. We walked around the city all day, visiting Te PaPa museum and lots of shops and eating places until our legs and jaws ached from too much walking and talking. There are far too many incriminating photos of Karen and me in the 80's so this one will can only begin to balance that....
Back in Tauranga now and it's only 2 days till Christmas. The weather has been a bit wet recently - though not as bad as that in the UK by the sound of things ( yes, UK weather makes the NZ news!). The sun is out again. We aim to spend Christmas day on the beach and have a traditional meal in the evening. I have another interview in January, so hope things on that front will begin to pick up then.
posted by Lowes abroad at 2:35 am
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