Should a Once Broken Hearted Guy Give a City a Second Chance?

Even though I've been in New Zealand for over fourteen months, this time around at least, I've only ever been to the capital once before. The previous time was part of a whirlwind 'tiki-tour' (you're going to have to look that one up) of this beautiful country and the experience was not good. If first impressions are as important as they are made out to be, then the fact that my over riding memory of Wellington is witnessing a bar fight tells you all you need to know about that maiden visit. And if you don't believe me you can experience the visit here. 

http://inthelandlongwhitecloud.blogspot.co.nz/2013/12/wellington.html?m=1

So it came as a bit of a surprise, to me at least, when I suggested a trip to the capital to help celebrate by birthday. I had heard so many people tell me what a great little city it was, that I thought that either they were suffering from mass delusion or I had got it plain wrong. Obviously the former reason was the most likely but, hey, I'm an open minded guy. So with the promise of a great weekend away, and potentially the second bout of a great bar fight in mind we arrived in the second most famous Windy City. 

Second time around the experience couldn't have been more different. It really is a great wee city. Nestled in a natural harbour and surrounded by impressive hills, dotted with houses that  cling improbably to the precipitous slope, it really is a super location to build a city. You could be forgiven for thinking you were in the Italian riviera; sun glistening in the azure sea, golden stretches of beaches, scooters riding up and down the winding coastal road and more ice cream and coffee shops than you could shake a stick at. But, boy is it windy. In the taxi, on the way to the Parkrun, we were casually informed that this wasn't windy, it was a mere breeze and us Aucklanders are just soft and, quite frankly, Wellingtonians are sick of people telling them how windy it is thank you very much. Sorry I mentioned it. Wind or no wind, it was a beautiful day and with the sun beating down what great timing to spend some time in Wellington. And perfect conditions for Wellington to make amends.

I won't bore you with the details, but we rode on a cable car, wandered around the botanical gardens, sought sanctuary in a nature reserve, ate, drank from the brewery tap and were well and truly merry in wonderful Welly. 

It does make me wonder what went wrong last time. We're we too tired? Was it the weather? We're we just not in the mood? Or are we just more attuned to the city after having been in New Zealand for well over a year? Maybe all or just one of these hold the answer. 

Either way, what's done is done and is water under the bridge. But now if asked "Should a once broken hearted guy give a city a second chance?" then the answer has to be a resounding "yes! Of course! And beside what have you got to lose?"