1/. Ferry Across the Mers....
I can honestly say, with suntanned hand on heart, that I've never taken a ferry to get to a concert. Never.... Or at least I don't think I have. It's the sort of thing that you'd remember, even in a drunken state. Not that I was drunk on this occasion. A little merry perhaps, but certainly not drunk. The thought of getting on a water borne vessel in a state of inebriation is not on my list of top ten things to try. That's why I've avoided cruises..... and the pedal boats in Scarborough.
Anyway I digress. And so it was that last Friday we caught a ferry from downtown Auckland across the harbour to Devonport where we saw the New Zealand Navy Band play big band classics. Multicultural moi? You betcha. And they were fantastic - their previous appointment to this was to play for Angela Merkel. Not even U2 can claim that.....actually knowing Bono they probably have but you know what I'm saying right? Good.
The other notable fact, especially for readers from the magical city of Liverpool, is that there is also a town called Birkenhead 'across the water'. I kid you not.
2/. Rotorua
Where do you start with a place like Rotorua? No, I don't know either. It's certainly the first town I've been to where they roll up the pavements at 9:30pm. Actually scrub that - I've also been to Todmorden on a drizzly, cold day in December.
But it is the first town I've been to where in the local cinema the patrons are outnumbered by the staff. Actually I'm being a bit disingenuous. The actuality is that the local climbing wall has a small cinema in its basement where they show films of a more independent nature. The thirteen seater movie house is a sight to behold, too cute for words and a great resource for a town that seemed to be short on resources. Well those that extend beyond 9:30pm anyway. We bought tickets, along with three others, to see 'Finding Vivian Maier'. We thoroughly enjoyed it. Not sure the others did as we were only three by the time the movie ended. Maybe they were expecting something else? Perhaps they were in the mood for a spy thriller? Or a swashbuckling adventure? If they were then a documentary about a reclusive photographer who died in obscurity probably wasn't their idea of entertainment for a Saturday night.
I can also claim, without one shred of doubt, that I have never ran in a race that took you through an active geological area. OK so I have never ran in a race in NZ until today, but running through a landscape that gloops, hisses and steams sulphureously at you is definitely unusual. And oh my god the smell! Was it not enough that I was surrounded by smelly runners? Thankfully this was only one portion of the 21km route as the rest took you through forest glades, manicured suburbia and along the lake shore. I'm glad to say that I finished in one piece and in a decent time. But I have definitely gone off eggs.
3/. Breakfast on the go
I thought I'd seen all the variations on mobile meals - that was until my journey to work one morning last week. Now you should understand that I walk fairly quickly, especially for someone less tall than average. But I was surprised when I was overtaken by a woman coming out of a side street.....eating cereals from a bowl. Yes overtaken! Walking at speed down the street whilst munching on cornflakes, balancing a bowl in one hand with spoon in other was something that I'd never thought I'd see. To be fair it was something that I'd never even considered that I'd see. Maybe it demonstrates a whole lack of imagination on my part? Intrigued, I sped up to try and stay with her. Whatever was in her bowl certainly give here energy. But I couldn't help think that she would have been better off getting out of bed a few minutes earlier and sitting still whilst having her morning repast. It would certainly be less risky. If she had to have food on the go then why not have a banana or a bit of toast? They are certainly more mobile and almost entirely remove the risk of spilling milk on the footpath. If it has to be cereal based then how about a cereal bar? Surely that would be an appropriate compromise? Fascinating.
So there you have it. New stuff. Surely that is the whole reason for coming somewhere new? Of course there are the usual chores; grocery shopping, commuting, paying bills, working etc. But it's the new stuff that makes the other things worthwhile. And I'm looking forward to seeing what's around the corner. No don't tell me! I want to find out for myself. In a country as special, beautiful and, in some cases, downright bizarre it could be anything.
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