Day Six - Wellington

Bit cloudy today but still some blue skies up there.  Also, woke with a headache as I was dozing on and off for a few hours this morning. So will take more paracetamol before we go out. We caught the bus and went into Wellington City Centre. First impressions are that it is very hilly but very beautiful. It had a city

feel about it but not so much 'full on'. Very clean and modern but nestled in the buildings were buildings that were built in the 1930s. We went for a coffee (of course) and sat and watched people going by before we made our way to the Art Gallery where we went to see three art exhibitions. As always, some were more interesting and thought provoking than others, but it was a good place to be and I really enjoyed it.  The building itself was stunning but it is being closed for three months for refurbishment.  I hope they don't change it too much as it looked perfect to me.

We walked down to the waterfront and had a look along there.  There were some lovely unique shops and one in particular was selling some lovely clothes. Obviously I was tempted but not much would have fitted me properly anyway,

so that helped.  We went and found something to eat a place that sold mainly seafood, well crabs, and some fish. It was rather nice but we both ate far too much for a late lunch.  We continued our way around the town and what I do like about it is there are quite a few shops that cater for size 16 plus. It made a lovely change and most of these clothes were lovely, compared to the rubbish Pat Butcher stuff we saw the other day.  Scattered around the buildings are little gems of wonderful Art Deco architecture.  We went to Cuba Street and quite a few people had told me I would like it there.  It was OK, but not what I thought it would be but Jackie said there is another part of it which we will look at at another time. 

It is so lovely to be out in cropped summer trousers and shades and I am finding it difficult to get my head around the fact that it is November.  I have seen the odd Christmas tree but it is not 'in your

face' like it is back home.  I could put up with this to be honest every year if the is what Christmas is like here.

I also purchased some Topsy Turvy Christmas decorations such as a Santa in his swimming costume and some flip flops to hang on the tree that I do not have.

We sat and had another cup of coffee in Cuba Street before we caught the bus home.  On the buses here you an pay (unlike London) or you have a little toggle thing that you pre-pay just like my Oyster card.  Another observation is that the gutters in the road here are very, very deep.  In fact they are like a moat.  Jackie sad it is because when it rains, the water runs down the hills and the road cannot cope with it and that is why they have to have such deep gutters.  They really are quite deep and if you had a pram you would have to cross the road where there are driveways as they have part of the gutter filled in.

Oh it also turns out that I missed two earthquakes two nights ago.  I am not surprised as I have been so tired but it is crazy really as I do not sleep well at

home. I hope this is not it, as I would like to experience an earthquake just once in my life, we obviously I do not want to get hurt or die!  The houses here are reinforced to take an earthquake and this is why most of the houses in the suburbs are made from wood.  Recently, Jackie had her house reinforced with steel girders to ensure it remains safe if, or I should say, when, it happens.  Apparently, the are happening all the time, but are so small you do not always notice them.  It is strange really isn't it.

So I will leave you with some more photos of Wellington City Centre.

As always, with my love x