So, let me start off by telling you that I didn't get a tatoo today. I am really bummed about it but in the end, it couldn't be helped. I went out today with every intention of getting one. Most of the tatoo parlors here look really 'dodgy' to use a local term and are not places that I would be comfortable getting work done (not being assured of a gentle touch and a hygenic needle). However, I had discovered there was a National Tatoo Musuem with a tatoo studio in it which, to me, meant it should be safe and nice. I mean, it is a musuem. Not so much though. The museum turned out to be a grafitti covered building in a not so nice part of town and Susan and I didn't even make it to the door before turning around. I will just have to settle for getting one when I get home.
Today was pretty low key. Just a lot of walking around, looking at little shops and such. We did visit the Wellington City and Sea Museum which was very well done and quite enjoyable. In retrospect, I wish we had spent more time there.
We have repacked our bags to include all the little goodies and such we have accumulated along the way. Kind of a tight fit but I think they will hold together long enough to get us home. Tonight, the New Zealand Rugby team (the All Blacks) is playing South Africa so we are off to a local pub to watch the game and have some dinner. I don't know if you have ever watched rugby but it is very lively and I find it very entertaining. It is something of a national mania over here and the entire country roots hard for the home team. Should be a great way to spend our last night here.
Tomorrow morning we are off to the airport early. It will probably still be late evening Saturday for most of you. We fly out of Wellington at 12 something in the afternoon on Sunday and land in Phoenix at 2:15 or so Sunday afternoon. Only, it isn't even close to a 2 hour flight. I am determined to stay up until a reasonable bed time on Sunday though so if I see you, do what you can to keep me awake. I am sure I will need the help.
Some parting observations about NZ:
*all of the toilets here are the low flush and most offer you the option of a half flush or a full flush with the half of course using less water. I will miss that.
*speaking of toilets - public toilets are everywhere here which is really quite nice and not at all like Tempe where you can't use a gas station bathroom after 10 pm or so even if you buy something. They even have roadside port a potty things called Kiwi Loos. In general, it is just a nice country to go to the bathroom in.
*in most cities, when you get the go ahead to cross a street at an intersection, the little sign/indicator thingy makes this wierd noise and then beeps to let you know you are still okay to cross, speeding up as you run out of time. It is a little disarming at first but you start to miss it if it doesn't have it. In Auckland, the little green man indicating you walk, actually walks himself (primitive animation) and a few of the intersections allow you to cross in all directions at once, even diagonally.
*I haven't found one place yet where they have central heating and our hostel room actually barely has heat at all. Plus, people are walking around in shorts, short sleeves and even flip flops. Not all people though, just a few nuts.
*McDonald's, Burger King, and Subway all seem to be big hits over here. I ordered two cheeseburgers at McDonald's today for a snack and got one without a burger on it - it was just cheese, onions, ketchup, pickle and a bun. You just can't get good help these days.
That is enough for now. Have a great Saturday! See you soon.
No comments:
Post a Comment