Heading back to Sydney

 T’was a great trip 💚💜

 

Napier in New Zealand

Today the town has an impressive collection of  Art Deco buildings. Its located on the east coast of the north island of New Zealand and was wiped out in the 1930’s by the worst national disaster killing some 500 people in an earth quake and also raising up the land some 2m. With hard times ahead the town went about rebuilding and today has so many different styles of Art Deco in the same place.

How could we not enjoy our day and the town of Napier other than in true old world style, so with the help of a driver all decked out in 1930’s fashion we were chauffeured around in a cracking 1930’s Packard

The aroma of the old leather seats and the Bakelite dash board warmed by the summer sun, oh and the smell of engine fumes and the workings of the motor not being kept from seeping into the car (oh the good old days). It reminds me of being a kid in my dad’s old ute.

It’s a wonder any of us got this old!

I didn't realise that there were so many styles of Art Deco drawing influences from America, Europe and Maori and even the tale-end of  the flowery, more fluid lines of Art Nouveau.

The front doors of this house in a late 1930’s   street has 2 very elegant stained glass window's, a real glimpse into the past.

Ever down to the carpets in the towns theatre, this is what I always thought of as Art Deco with its very square line

Dunedin 26th December. This was our first port to get off and explore. Pine timber logs piled high is a major export from several of the ports we visited up the east coast of the south island.

Morning walk into the town and as you can see it’s up hills so my steps counter is working overtime!

The main street certainly has maintained its old-world charm.

High above town for all to see sat a beautiful church dating back some 120years.

The stained glass windows towering up the tower was truly lovely to see up close.

We did a small boat trip for 2 hours out to see some wildlife and we were not disappointed.

 Dunedin is the home of a large albatross colony, there wing span reaching some 3.5m across. What an amazing sight as they flew by our boat.  

Seals every where sunning themselves on the rocks.

The mist gave a calm feeling to our morning on the water

Back on teraferma to a little junk shop in the main street which was lost in time just super charming and a great spot to brouse.

Not sure if much gets sold … maybe they should have a cover charge!

So after cruising extremely calmly for 2 days and 3 nights we arrive at Milford Sounds on the west coast of the south island for Christmas Day. Grateful for our jackets as it was about 12 degrees, sitting on our balcony with blankets on our laps and the cool breeze on our faces what a beautiful way to spend Christmas in such a pristine place.

A cocktails or 2! always helps to while away the hours.

Holland America Cruise on the Westerdam Sunday 22 Dec 2024

We are off again, this time cruising out of Sydney around New Zealand and back to Sydney on a 14 night christmas cruise. We are in room 5137 which is an ambient accessible room with its balcony looking 45 degrees forward certainly allows for a great view of whats coming. The sea crossing of some 2000 km over The Tasman Sea took two nights and was very calm so that makes for very happy Pete!. The only down side of the 45deg balcony was on the trip over the balcony was not as usable with the winds hitting straight on with sea salt and wet chairs so a bit more time spent indoors. Once we hit the south island coastline the ships balconies were wash down ready for our 2 weeks rounding New Zealand.

Test lawn picture

 

Hobart - Tasmania - Fico Resturant

So here's cheers to having time for a long lunch on a warm autumn Sunday at Fico restaurant in Hobart. It takes us back to our travels in Italy were the Sunday long lunch is a tradition