End of the Meandering

We drove up the fast and straight road from Dunedin to Christchurch, only stopping to check some very curious sedimentary rock formations on the beach (see pictures). They were very old rocks... There we found a hostel, dropped the car off and set about enjoying our last night as a foursome. Which we did with stoical enthusiasm into the night, at the local Irish pub. There was a ridiculous live band - with an overexhuberant guitarist, a kurt cobain lookalike, and a strange looking drummer - and a table football. During the last game of 'fooseball', we were joined by a Kiwi dude who was completely off his face, not very helpful, but very keen. He also fancied himself to be a bit of a psychic, so we let him guess where we escaped to...

We got up early the next morning, said our short emotional goodbyes to the Canadian Girls and took the plane to Auckland. On arrival, we wasted no time, went up the Sky Tower, the tallest building in the Southern Hemisphere, which provides a splendid vista of Auckland, the Harbor and surrounding hills. We then got straight on a bus for the Bay of Islands, 4 hours North.

Auckland Harbour and Bridge from the SkyTower

There we spent a couple of big nights and a relax day. Sampling the local backpacker pubs and clubs. We also took the ferry to Russell, which is the site of the first European town in NZ, once dubbed the worst town in the Pacific as it was frequented by sailors who jumped ship, Australian criminals and such like. It was also the site of the early Mauri rebellion after the Treaty of Waitangi was signed in 1840 something. This treaty which is generally accepted to be the foundation of Mauri/Pakeha (european) relations still provides plenty of food for debate...

View of Russell from Paihia Lookout Point

Then I headed back to Auckland, leaving Alex in Paihia for an extra night. On the bus journey back Parnell, I reflected on what had been been good times traveling around NZ with this Genevois as a travel buddy/wing man. I checked into the Lantana Lodge, the original landing site, and went out to sample the Auckland nightlife with local connaissances.

I've now caught up with today... I'm about to get the bus to New Plymouth where I'll be checking in to the hospital accomodation before starting work tomorrow. I spoke to a Scotsman yesterday who still played rugby - loose head prop, at the age of 51. He summed up my feelings when he described the feeling of anticipation with a good word that escapes me as I write these. Anyway, so the meanderings end and work begins soon.

Cool