Friday February 2nd
Today we are in Napier NZ the Art Deco capital of the world. The city experienced an earthquake back in 1931 followed by a fire which destroyed much of the city. The city was rebuilt during the 1930’s era in the popular style of Art Deco architecture. The building facades of geometric shapes and precise lines are stylish and interesting architecture view.
Giddy had made plans for us so we hired a taxi to take us out to the Napier Botanical Gardens. We walked through the Botanical gardens to visit Giddy’s Auntie Jacky-o and his cousin Buddy who is large as a gnome at the waterfall. Trying to understand their accent was challenging, but Giddy seemed to understand. Their home was up the hill near the beginning of the falls by the Redwood. We didn’t see inside, and Giddy commented that it was comfortable and a little damp. The gardens are on a hillside with old trees and beautiful plants blended throughout the gardens. While we were in the gardens several workers were in process of removing a large cypress tree approx. 150ft in height using a large crane with skill. Beside the gardens was an old cemetery at the top of the hill which we walked through and viewed the various tombstones and associated names and dates.
As we walked back towards the ship, we did some shopping; batteries, a new Sudoku book for Bonnie and I also stopped at a local barbershop for a haircut since my hair was beginning to become COVID long.
Yesterday we sailed from Tasmanian Sea through Cpt Cook Strait (the isthmus between North and South islands of NZ). We stopped in Picton, to catch a ride on steam locomotive. We travelled a small portion of the Coastal Plains railway from Picton through Bleinheim to Seddon and back. At the rail station, Giddy almost missed the train, so the engineer backed into the station to pick him up. The scenery was pictureisk through the hills with vineries stretch for miles as we rode the rails. On the way back Giddy grabbed a nap in the overhead since it was gently swaying back and forth.
We also stopped at the Edwin Fox Museum while in port. This is the world’s 9th oldest ship and 2nd oldest surviving merchant sailing ship. Built in Calcutta in 1853 to transport convicts to western Australia and immigrants to New Zealand shores. Giddy commented that one of his relatives came to New Zealand on the Edwin Fox. Giddy’s family is extensive and he seems to have relatives throughout the world. Picton port is a commercial port which was shipping loads of wood.
We were told this afternoon that our port for tomorrow Wellington is cancelled due to high winds so our next stop is Christchurch current temp is 65 deg.