New Zealand Day 9

It was a travel day today, Betsy and I relocated from Christchurch to Nelson.  The NZ Air flight was uneventful, though curiously our ID's were not checked nor did we have to go through any security screening.  We checked in at a kiosk using a bar code from an electronic ticket and checked our luggage using the same machine.  We even attached the luggage tags and then use a gun-like device to screen the codes on the tag.  It was all done without any interaction with a person.

We arrived in sunny Nelson and hailed a cab to take us to the DeLorenzo's Apartments, our home for the next 3 nights.  The cab driver was talkative, and pointed out neighboring mountains and discussed a "long trek" located there.  His "partner" was from Ashland, OR.  He gave us some recommendations on restaurants and told us about hike up to "The Center of NZ."  We will attempt this walk tomorrow.

The Delorenzo's Apartment is quite well-designed - we have a  generous studio, with a well-equipped kitchen, a walk-in shower and an additional tub, washer and dryer and two relax-the-back chairs and a sofa.  There are coffee/tea making appliances including a coffee press, a Nespresso machine and milk steamer/frother.  There is also an electric teapot, microwave and a dishwasher.  Finally, we have a nice curved balcony which comfortably seats 2 with a table, with a view west to the sunset.  (I am writing this on the balcony and watching the sunset).

After checking in, we went on an orientation walk around what seems to be a very sleepy town (though it is Sunday).  We walked toward the city center, turned and followed the Maitai River up to where the climb to "The Center of NZ" begins, came back by a field where young guys were playing cricket, through the Queen's Garden, and then to the city center (corner of Trafalger and Hardy).  BTW, the city is named for Horatio Nelson, whose last words were spoken to Robert Hardy.  There are lots of other English names.  It feels sort of like Bend.

A residential garage door

Maitai River

Cricket match

Queen's Garden

Cathedral on the Hill

City Center

View of "The Center of NZ"

We decided to attend Evensong at the Cathedral, which sits on a prominent hill overlooking the city center.  We paused before the 5:30 service to have yoghurt slushies.  We joined a sparse group of folks inside the Cathedral for what turned out to be a prayer service (evidently the choir was on a break).  The organist played before and after the 40-minute service. 

We left the Cathedral back toward the center and watched a couple of buskers.  Just like in Christchurch, there is a Busker Festival going on here.  The first busker used one of his legs and both arms/hands to create puppet like characters, the first was a ballerina (one legged), and the second was a hip rocker, etc who moved in time with the music.  The guy,  who said nothing, was graceful and the act was surprisingly charming.  The second performer was a woman from Estonia, who did gymnastic and contortionist moves.  Her last act was to trust 6 guys from the audience  to catch her as she fell backward from shoulder height, supported by 2 other guys.

Dinner was at the Sprig and Fern "Craft Beer Bar" a few blocks from the city center.  They had about 20 beers and ciders on tap, that are all brewed in Richmond, a town just south of Nelson.  We enjoyed a chicken quesadilla and seasonal salad.  I had a Red IPA and Betsy tried a Mango Cider.  On the way back to the hotel, we picked up some groceries for breakfast.  We clocked over 5 miles in total for the walk.

Cathedral Hill in the 1800's

The Cathedral's original/first interior 

The current interior