I did sleep in a bit today -- until 9:30 -- which after early morning yoga days was a treat. Did a fair bit of walking (along with a stop at the post office to mail a bunch of clothes home that I don't need -- warmer clothes that I had for my time down in Dunedin and my yoga stuff -- as I am tired of carting it around in the suitcase. Frees up some room for shopping as well, I imagine)
Walked along Willis Street and Lambton Quay where most of the shops are located. Found a great bookshop called Unity Books. Bought two books by kiwi authors. A signed limited edition of the 10th anniversary edition of the novel "The Vintner's Luck" by Elizabeth Knox and a new novel called "Misconduct" by Bridget van der Zijpp which is about a fortyish woman whose life is spiraling out of control so she embarks on some forced solitude by housesitting for friends with only their "perpetually happy" dog for companionship (and their eccentric neighbours) -- sounds good and that it may resonate!
Then I went to take a look at the Parliament buildings -- Victorian and Edwardian buildings with the modern "Beehive" addition...
Then I went up to see Old St. Paul's cathedral but it was closed as there was a wedding going on. So I couldn't go in and could only look at it from the outside (will go back tomorrow or Monday) ...
Then walked down by the harbour and went into an exhibit by the National Portrait Gallery in one of the old renovated sheds of portraits of well-known kiwis (including Lucy Lawless of Xena: Warrior Princess fame) by a painter named Stephen Martyn Welch. I always like portraits and his were very good -- mainly done as extreme close-ups so he really captured the sitter's features and expressions in the eyes and mouth. By this time it was time to take a bit of a break. My lower back starts to hurt a bit after a while on my feet since my injury so I need to sit down more than I usually do. So I selected the bar at "Shed 5" (an renovated wool storage shed) and sampled a glass of Spy Valley savvie from the Marlborough region and read for a bit. Then I headed back out to walk along the harbour some more. The harbour is very nice and the water was very rough in the wind today as you can see...
The day started out sunny but in the afternoon some rather ominous clouds rolled in ...
But the wind tended to blow the clouds away fairly fast as well so it never ended up raining. Likely will overnight. The newspaper today had in the weather forecast for the holiday weekend (Monday is a holiday in Wellington -- civic anniversary) that today would be somewhat fair with lots of wind, tomorrow will start out rainy but turn fair and nice "unless the winds drive you crazy, in which case Monday will be more to your liking" with more showers but subdued winds.
I came across some bands playing a park along the harbourside so stopped to sit and listen to them for a bit ...
Then I went back to my hotel to read for a bit and have a cup of tea before heading out to dinner. Went to a place called Floriditas Cafe & Restaurant on Cuba Street. Started with the fish balls with fresh lemon and had the homemade pasta with pistachios, parsley, parmesan and lemon for my main course. My savvie of choice for this dinner was the Craggy Range "Te Muna" savvie from the Wairarapa region (Val G. - Extremely Good Savvie Alert!!) When the server brought over my pasta she said "I do so hope that you will enjoy this pasta. It is gorgeous." And she was right. For dessert I had the affogato (homemade vanilla ice cream with a shot of espresso and a shot of amaretto poured overtop -- in Italian "affogato" means drowned). Will have to do some good walking tomorrow to wear that all off!
Now it is time to settle in for a couple more episodes of "The Thick of It" and a good night's sleep with the wind a-whistling and my patio furniture crashing around on my balcony (I am surprised that the chairs haven't ended up blowing over the rail on to the street.)
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