And now for something completely different -- Napier

Flying into Napier I was immediately struck by how flat the Hawke's Bay region is. Flat. Flat flat. Southwestern Ontario flat. Sure there are some hills around the region but it's flat. Sure the plane flew in over the usual farmer's fields, vineyards and flocks of sheep but it was flat. After all of the mountains and hills that have been in view (or under my feet) in my kiwi travels so far it looks and feels quite different. It also has a very beachy feel to it which is no big surprise given that it is right on the Pacific ocean. And the architecture of the downtown area is quite different as well -- on February 3rd 1931 Napier was destroyed by an earthquake. Few buildings survived and the city was rebuilt in the art deco style so that it is now the art deco capital of the world. Like Miami but without so many bad sunglasses and the Gloria Estevan music.

Upon arrival I took one of the shuttles to my motel -- The Nautilus. It is a motor hotel located right on the Marine Parade (hello beach!!). My room is on the third floor (the top floor) and there are amazing folding doors out to my balcony overlooking some trees and the ocean. Basically the whole width of the room opens up ...


And from out on the balcony I can sit and look out between the trees at the ocean ...



And if cross the street I am on the beach looking out at the ocean ...


My room has a little kitchenette and, as well as a bathroom with a shower, this massive jacuzzi tub in the corner ...


I dropped off my bags and went for a walk into the city centre (it's about a 10 minute walk along the waterfront). I stopped in at Pacifica, which is supposed to be one of New Zealand's best restaurants, and booked myself a table for 8 pm tonight. There seems to be a number of good shops around so tomorrow will check those out. I popped into the organic grocery shop and picked up some yogurt and juice for tomorrow morning and a bottle of organic savvie (from Sunset Valley Vineyard which is in Upper Moutere, just down the road from where the yoga place was) and some handcrafted manuka smoked gouda cheese. Just going to have a little snack to tide me over until my dinner. Also picked up some brochures so I can decide what to do over the next three days that I am here. Will peruse those now.

Was sunny earlier but some clouds are rolling in now and there is a chance of showers tonight but the forecast for next few days is looking good.