Beautiful Weekend

Now, I didn't quite forget about posting today. Really, I didn't. I just got occupied, and then I did forget how long it takes to post on Sundays. This weekend was amazing. Really really beautiful weather. No camera or silly verbal (typed?) description could possibly do the weather justice, but I will try. It was remarkably clear, and the wind didn't pick up once. Not once. It was all relaxed, like the wind itself was enjoying the clear day. The sky was free of clouds save for the awesome ones hanging just over the mountains in the distance. The water was oh-so clear, and the shining sun made it feel a lot warmer than it was (although it hovered in the upper 50s in the middle of the day, quite warm for the middle of winter).

I believe I last posted on Thursday or so, so I will start from Friday. I did absolutely nothing all day. Well, I take that back. I went to the gym that morning. And Metro that afternoon. So, aside from grocery shopping and the weekly Friday morning gym routine, I did nothing. I relaxed all day. At some point, David, V, and I cleaned the flat. It desperately needed to be cleaned. We won't go into how dirty it was. Anyways, I just relaxed with a movie that night. However, I was overcome with the desire to go find some water, especially if it involved a bridge. I didn't know where one was exactly, and I wasn't about to go wandering around at 11 PM alone, so I decided I would spend Saturday down by the waterfront exploring.


The weather cooperated with me and turned Saturday into the most beautiful day ever. I wandered down to the waterfront about mid-day and proceeded to be out there until late evening. I got there by cutting through Civic Square, which meant that I stopped by the iSite tourist center. I stole so many brochures my bedroom may as well be the new tourist center. I am walkign through CS after leaving iSite, I turn to my left, and there is this remarkable alley way with water and everything. It was so peaceful; I had to take this picture. It looks like something you should find in Italy to me.

This is the view from the docks. For those of you who have been here, it is right down from Te Papa, kind of new the big New World. That water was so inviting. I was incredibly tempted to run down to Ferg's to rent a kayak for the afternoon. Next free day I get that is as gorgeous as this, I am doing it. It would be absolute heaven to kayak around the bay all afternoon. Really, I think I say here for about well over an hour, just looking and thinking. It was amazing to be at such peace with the water. Really, if I could wake up and see scenery like this every day, I would be happy. There were a lot of people out there practicing rowing and sailing and whatnot.

After sitting there by the water, I decided to walk down towards Oriental Bay. However, I hadn't gone more than 500 feet when I spotted Bex and Louise, so I walked over to say Hey. Bex used to be on crew before she hurt her knee not too long ago, so they were watching the rowers practice. I sat on this wooden part of the docks for an additional 1+ hour talking with them and enjoying the sun and water. It was an amazing time. I had missed lunch, though, so I left them around 2:30 to go into Te Papa (you can see it in the background) for a snack and then meandered my way around to Oriental Bay.

This is the Wellington Beach, otherwise known as Oriental Bay. I like having the sand so close. You can sort of see the trees that are lining the road on the right; those are strung with Christmas lights that are on at night. To the left in the harbour is a big fountain that is also lit up at night. There is also this man-made stepping stone walkway thing (I really can't describe it) that leads out into the water. I went out to the very end and sat there for a very long time. I read part of the paper (Te Papa has free copies, so I took one when I was in the cafe) and watched the tide come in. It was glorious. Really, one of my favorite hours since I have been here.

This is the view about 3:30 PM from the stepping stone place where I was sitting. Really, this doesn't even come close to capturing how beautiful the day was. I am sure you are tired of hearing about the gorgeous day, but I can't think of how to impress it upon you.

Anyways, that was the afternoon. I came back to Mckenzies right around 5 PM. Lucky for me, Patrick had found some sort of internet in the Pink House, so I got to talk to him properly for the first time in days because he had been driving to Atlanta from Wyoming. I got to talk to him til about 8:30, when I made him go to bed (4:30 AM east coast!) and took my phone call from Ryan, who was calling me from Hawaii (I am 22 hours ahead of Hawaii! Almost a full day!). I talked to Ryan til about 10:45, which was amazing. Needless to say, I was in a very good mood after all that talking, and, realizing I missed dinner, promptly ran down to the never-closed Star Mart to pick up a bottle of wine and some munchies. I came and proceeded to hang out with my flatmates and their friends and just generally have a very enjoyable rest of the evening.

I woke up Sunday morning and went to church, as usual. Afterwards I went up for my cup of tea and got to talking to Annette, a lady I had met on a previous Sunday. She is really fantastic. She ended up inviting me to come to her house for lunch and then take a hike up Khandallah. Of course I jumped at the chance to see more of greater Wellington and escape Mckenzie's food. We had rosemary & garlic fresh bread and ham & pea soup (so good!). We stayed in her house and talked for a long time. She also pulled out her atlas, so I got to show her all the important cities around me.

This is at the top of Khandallah. The harbour just to the left of me is Wellington. You can sort of see how it is spread around the water. It was amazing being up there. Sunday was just as lovely as Saturday. (This is also my obligatory I'm-still-alive-and-haven't-changed picture.)

Now, the really cool thing about being at the top of Khandallah is that on a clear day you can see all the way to the South Island. You can see the mountains in the distance in this picture, across the water; that's the south island. How cool! The mountains around were amazing. "Rolling hills" is the only description that even comes close. Really, you all just need to visit me and see all of this yourself. It is breathtaking.

So, that is what I have been doing all weekend. Did you see how there was no work ever mentioned? Yeah, that's because I have done nothing since Thursday. I am avoiding this POLS 244 essay like the plague. I suppose I will do it tomorrow. I have plenty of time, and I won't later in the week. I have a lab practicum on Thursday in geology, and the essay is due on Friday. But honestly, it is the last week of school before the two week break, the break during which I will be vacationing in Fiji. How in the world do these professors expect me to keep concentrating? :)

I best be getting some sleep now for class in the morning. Phil Goff is supposed to be coming in to speak with my class, so I am sure I will be posting about that eventually. It will be a great reason to keep avoiding my essay. ;)