Laurie and I went to the railway station where we were to meet Leslie. We got out our stuff from the locker then we were able to put both of our large packs in one locker. While I was taking them out, I heard someone say "you meet people in the strangest places". It was Murray, the man we stayed with last night. So we had one more chance to say good-bye. Leslie came and by then it was pouring and getting cold--well, cold for here. We walked to the bus stop which was a little bit of a walk with our large pack trying to dodge the raindrops. Got on the bus which is always a challenge with all of our things.
Got to Leslie's apartment. It is really nice. It was an old fashion shoe factory warehouse. I loved the apartment. There are three stories. The first story was just a bathroom and bedroom. Second floor was the kitchen and living room and the third floor was a loft, big enough for a bedroom. The windows are nice and big. The only thing is you are looking into someone else's place. I feel like Jimmy Stewart in the Rear Window. It was just very interesting.
We ordered pizza which was on the bottom floor of her apartment. Really convenient when it is raining. After dinner, we just sat talking, getting to know one another. Her partner was away on a business trip.
April 8, 2003
Today was a relaxing day. We took a shower and it felt so good to have a full size towel to wrap around me. I have been using a backpacker's towel. It can be the smallest things that you appreciate. We decided to go find a hairdresser because we both needed to but they weren't open yet, so we stopped at a bakery. New Zealand has lots of bakeries, if you haven't figured it out yet, by all the ones we stop at.
We went to the hairdresser and she didn't have electricity, so she told us to come back in an hour. We walked back to the apartment and used the computer. We wanted to see Laurie's pictures online. Other people were looking at them before us. Mine aren't done yet. We got out haircuts. The woman had just opened the salon a month ago. We were the only people there so we weren't sure how it was. I was pleased. The last haircut I had was six months ago. I had been trying to let it grow out so I could just pull it back. I realized that it just wasn't going to work.
Back to the apartment and then we went shopping. This city is a great place to walk around. They have some neat old buildings that are now stores, they have lots of alley ways and it is so clean.
I bought another camera--hopefully I won't have a problem. I figured it would be cheaper in the long run instead of buying disposables. I bought a few other things while I was out. Laurie and I were looking at the New Zealand book and someone asked if we needed help finding someplace. We told him the Warehouse. We found out where it was and we shopped just like a local.
Laurie went to pick up our rental car. She picked me up and we went to go find Leslie's place of work. We had a few problems of getting on the wrong road and the one way streets, but found it eventually.
Shopped for food and went home for dinner. We had salmon steaks and a vegetable dish of carrots, zucchini, sweet potatoes, onions, and peppers that we baked in a balsamic vinegar and oil. For dessert we had a selection of carrot cake, a coconut bar, cookies, and eclairs. As you can see I am eating well. Just getting it all in for when I go to Nepal and eat rice.
Leslie showed us some of her pictures from the Milford Track and Tongario. Laurie and I will be going to Tongario in a few days.
April 9, 2003
I read for a while before I got up. Then when I heard Laurie and Leslie up, I got up and packed my pack and then we packed the car. We said our good-byes to Leslie. It was a great visit. It is amazing how quickly you can get to know someone and be friends. Laurie drove Leslie to work and I used the internet. We were then on the road about 10:00. We were headed for Napier. That was where we were going to spend the night. The drive was nice. It was very picturesque. Green rolling hills dotted with sheep and cows and a blue sky with white clouds. Laurie did the driving and I read. We arrived in Napier about 3:00. We drove by a couple of hostels and picked the Criterian Art Deco Backpackers. It was originally a hotel. It is on an alley way with a bunch of shops below. It is quite nice. They have a nice lobby and also patio that looks out to the activity below.
The drive in reminded me of Florida. Same style houses and the streets are lined with palm trees.
There was an earthquake in 1931 that registered 7.9 on the Richter scale. Napier was virtually destroyed. Due to the earthquake Napier grew 40 square kilometers larger by heaving the seabed above sea level. In some areas the land level rose over 2 meters, which is about 6-7 feet. This area is where Napier airport is located.
Napier is known for being one of the worlds best example of an Art Deco City. The city is pretty. I like the buildings and gardens. There are houses way up on the hill that have, I assume, terrific views of Hawkes Bay.
Laurie and I walked along the beach. We then had to go to the grocery store for dinner. On the way we walked by the cities theaters. We saw that "Buddy: The Buddy Holley Story" was playing. Laurie and I went to the box office to see if we could get tickets for tonight's show. There were seats, so that is where we are going tonight--Boy, I love this traveling.
We got our groceries, went back to the hostel, cooked dinner, and ate. We are now in the lobby reading and writing notes waiting for the time to leave for the show. I guess I will have to dress up--which means that instead of wearing my shorts I just add the legs to the shorts. They are a little wrinkled, but I am sure they have seen worse.
Oh, I would like to mention that when we were walking into the hostel we recognized a girl that we met on the Kepler Track in the South Island. The longer we are here, the more people we meet and the better chance we run into them.
