On Monday, March 17, 2014, Jody's mother and son and I went to the Wellington Botanical Gardens for a tour. Another beautiful day in Wellington.
Where's Waldo? Can you find Brendan in this picture?
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Jody began four days working in Christchurch today and took her Mum and Brendan with her so they could sight-see parts of the South Island. In the meantime, I had fun this evening over a dinner of fish and chips and Guinness at Molly Malones Irish Pub in Wellington along with Kevin, the nephew of my good friends, Gary and Kathy Feige, who are busy watching Pippin in their home in Punta Gorda. Kevin has already visited 25 countries by the ripe old age of 22. He has been in New Zealand attending rugby games, will be leaving in a few days to spend some time in Australia, and then returning to the States to finish up his college degree in international affairs. Ah, seeing the world while he's young - the best way to do it. His parents should be very proud. I had a great time. 
Just so you know, inequality is worldwide and happening in New Zealand too. I just purchased this new book in a local NZ store. 
Jody's son, Brendan, and her mother, JoeAnn, arrived in Wellington yesterday to spend three weeks with us. This morning, Jody's daughter and son-in-law got on a plane and returned to the Seattle area. Before leaving, we had a wonderful dinner at home yesterday with Jody's whole family, as well as with her co-worker, Judi. Today, Brendan and I did a six mile walk around Wellington and had a delicious lunch at St. John's Restaurant (our favorite Wellington restaurant) down on the wharf while Jody and her Mom shopped in Petone outside of Wellington.  Yesterday, Thursday, I joined Jody's co-worker, Judi, at the Michael Fowler Center for my first New Zealand Orchestra concert, a lunchtime performance of one of my favorite symphonies, Shostakovich's 5th. What a great venue and moving performance. Can't wait to attend more concerts as we have three pending between now and when we leave in August. 
On our last day in Nelson, Friday, March 7, 2014, Jody and I went kayaking with a guided tour guide, Nick, on Cable Bay. What a treat. As usual with New Zealand weather, the early morning started out overcast and then became brilliantly blue and clear as the morning progressed into afternoon. Jody and I paddled a two-seater kayack while Nick narrated our tour around the bay. Just the two of us - what a personal treat. We had a great mid-morning break with Nick on the shore where we discussed politics and many things New Zealand. Nick was a world traveler with the oil industry, but had very strong ecological views. 
Setting out. 
A fur seal in the distance. 
Nick. 
A large fur seal staring down on us. I just love these guys. 
Mid-morning break. 
Jody is thrilled that blue skies have returned. 
Land in sight.
On Sunday, March 2, 2014 the first of our 6 weeks of house guests arrived in Wellington, Kat and Bryan. They are here for 12 days and plan to visit both islands on their own, as well as share some activities with us. Between March 2 and March 7, Kat and Bryan had fun visiting the Wellington Zoo and the WETA Cave and touring the South Island which included the ferry ride over from Wellington; visiting fur seals up-close; and swimming with the dolphins. Visiting the Shire set where LOTR was filmed is a major priority soon. We're looking forward to seeing pictures from that trip as we plan to do it later. The Shire set is close to 6 hours away by vehicle.   Visiting the Wellington Zoo.  Hanging with trolls at the WETA Cave.  Touring the South Island.  Visiting with fur seals.  And finally, swimming with Dolphins.
On Thursday, March 6, 2014, Jody got off of work in the early afternoon and we went on a hike in Nelson. I had spent the previous day relaxing in our room and was ready for some exertion. We hiked up to the top of a mountain where there is a monument describing that point as "The Center of New Zealand." We then went hiking further along the ridge line until returning to the base of the mountains. We were so tired that we took a cab back to our hotel where I cooked a dinner of cheeseburgers and wine.  From the summit of "The Center."         Along the way I was having fun making sheep noises to get their attention. Jody thought that this sheep might have designs on me. I immediately desisted and moved along as I was not in any way a lonely sheep herder :-).  I just love Jody's panoramas.   Hiking down from the mountains was beautiful and serene.  As we planned, at the bottom we visited the beautiful and serene Miyazu Japanese garden presented in the mid-90's to New Zealand in recognition of its sister city relationship with Japan.  On Tuesday, March 4, 2014, Jody and I flew from Wellington to Nelson on the South Island, the "Center of New Zealand," so that Jody could continue her refugee research by meeting with local educators and students in Nelson. Kat and Bryan took the ferry from Wellington at 2:30 am to the South Island and landed at Picton. They then drove to Nelson (about 1 1/2 hour drive) and linked up with us at our hotel. The flight over for us was in a two-engine prop that was so powerful it sounded like a jet and also reached rather high altitudes as the beautiful pictures that follow attest. The total trip by plane for Jody and me between the two islands was only 25 minutes. Following our arrival in the early morning, we walked around the city of Nelson for awhile before we could check into our hotel, Later in the afternoon, we linked up with Kat and Bryan,. They were so pooped from their early morning trip over that they chose to go to a local fast food restaurant and turn in early in preparation for their big drive the next day to Kaikoura to swim with the dolphins. Jody and I went to the really nice Harbor Light Bistro on Wakefield Quay for a gourmet dinner of Lamb Shank that was superb, followed by a great sunset. The Moveable Feast continues.  Our plane. I was amazed that we didn't even have to go through Airport Security, a first for me in a long time.  Two views from the plane.   Jody fell in love with this sculpture outside the airport, although we don't know its significance.  Dinner time at the Harbor Light Bistro.    A great sunset to end a great day.  What a surprise after our bike ride. Mark took us to the site where several of the scenes in LOTR were filmed depicting the Elvish village of Rivendell. NZ is just packed with filming locations for these movies. I can't wait to get to the Shire. All in good time. 
I'm still stalking Peter Jackson. Thought I had him a few weeks ago, but a false alarm. The search continues. 
One piece of the set was still left standing. 
Trees around here are just incredible. 
A really fun swinging bridge enhanced by Jody. 
Closing out this great morning and afternoon was a trip to this quaint restaurant where we had terrific scones, coffee, and tea. Charming! But, the day was still not over for us. That evening we went into downtown Wellington to see a play, BLACK FAGGOT, about the LGBT experience. Quite good, enjoyable, and moving. It seems like every day is a holiday and adventure here. 
Here is the link: http://festival.co.nz/black-faggot/
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