New Zealand adventures: Nelson

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I really like Nelson!! I could see living here. A good artist community almost always sunny, a really a nice town. We went to this church that was converted into a brewery, ingenious! Really interesting place and comfortable settings. I fell in love with the enormous copper bug art on the wall, where you would think stain glass would go in a roman catholic chuch. We ended up talking to the woman behind the bar and found out she is doing a year long around the world trip with her daughter before the she goes off to university! How cool is that and what a wonderful part of that young womans life, I hope thy end up looking us up along the way! We found a place to camp outside of town for the next day or so. We rented mountain bikes and biked 10miles to a festival for the rugby called a block party, in celebration of the USA team. I had a very nice birthday phone call to my dad and mentioned about the old cars that were suppose to be there (mu dad, myself (and mom/siblings for that matter) have a love of old cars… Well, much to my disappointment we were, I seriously think, the only Americans there! Plus there were no old cars except for the old ford school bus converted into a ice cream/sandwich truck. I am thinking maybe we had the wrong time and came to late, that can’t be all NZ has to offer for US events!?! There was a rockabilly band and an older couple dancing in the walk-way, which was nice to see. The next day we dialed in a awesome bakery and got a fresh, right out of the oven, loaf of bread and went to the butchers shop (who was originally from France) Later that day we had the last rugby game USA vs Italy and met up with Bruce again (for the last time) oh what a night! We lost to the Italians, but we stayed after the game and met the Captain of the game and some of the players. Like a school girl I had them sign “I Love Sarah” on an envelope I found in my purse, hahaha. They are a great group of guys and holy cow are they BIG!! I mean they looked like giants. The next morning we saw some more of them at the fish market all dressed in suit and ties. They asked me to take their photo and we talked for a little bit. We found out that one of they guys family is from Buffalo and that they were all being sent home that morning, less than 15hrs after the game!! Otherwise if they want to stay they have to pay for their flights home. Crazy how they don’t even let them enjoy the country or rest of the tournament.

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Nelson was much anticipated as our first real city on the South Island, and the last World Cup game for the USA, against Italy. Nelson has some of the best weather in New Zealand and attracts all types….our going away was at the house of a hippie psychologist named Briar. We met her getting copies of our Yahtzee sheets at a midget sized Office Depot. She asked us a few questions about our travels, at the zerox machine, and within five minutes said we HAD to stay with her. It turned out to be the most comfortable bed of the trip and I give thanks for her kindness. The game itself was a riot of a time as we pre-partied with our new friend Bruce, from Buffalo (that we met three games earlier). One day we rented bikes and peddled 15 k against the wind to a supposed American tail gate party. We were disappointed by the turn out but the Rock-a-Billy group was entertaining enough. We had a good time and road our bikes back to the camp smiling during sunset all the way home. The town of Nelson itself we could both live in as it seems to have a thriving community of artists, events, athletes, and an outdoor feel. One never knows….The highlight was talking with the US rugby team after the last game and seeing them outside a fish store the following day. One of the guys roots was Buffalo….hip hip hooray!