New Zealand adventures: Wellington

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A quick visit for the USA vs Australia game and way to get to the South Island via ferry. We went to the Musiem called Te Papa Museum (translates in Maori to treasure box). There was a TON of money put into it and it is said to be way ahead of its time. There was not nearly enough time to go through it in a morning, you need a day or two!! We want to try to get there on the way back, but we might not have enough time to. That evening we went to meet with Philippa and Peter to go to the game. We also met up with Bruce (the Buffalonian working in Singapore we met in New Plymoth) We all met up at an Irish pub (of course)! When Peter and Philippa came they were wearing USA shirts even though they were rooting for Australia! It was really sweet that they were more decked out than we were in USA…… That was until we brought out the face pain again….well, I should not have trusted this girl with the white paint (you will see in the photos below). The game was a blow-out USA got crushed by Australia, but we kind of figured that one coming. It was a great time!

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Wellington is where all the beurocrats live. Wellington is where all the money is. Wellington is a city and thus we parked side by side to other camper vans and paid a premium price for very little services for the USA game. However, Miss Saharita and I have a tendency to make the most out of things, and that we did. Arrival was a bit hectic due to travel….one goes through a bit of shock after cruising thru pastures, beaches, rivers, and mountains and then arrive into the hustle and bustle of a city. Location wise it sits on the Cook Strait and is lined by beautiful blue wild waters. Sail boats, yachts, and every water craft available is obviously a pastime. The first night we hung out with 4 older men from parts of Europe, seems they travel every year together around the world in camper vans….I envied their friendships and style. The beauty of this game was that the entire world was rooting for the States as Aussie’s from “across the ditch” are rivals when it comes to sport. The following day we headed to the amazing Te Pappa museum which is the jewel of museums here in New Zealand, and much to our delight it was amazing. Interactive, modern, a place I would like to visit with everyone reading this blog. After a couple hours we had to put on our game faces…..make up….red, white, and blue! We happened upon once again a fantastic Irish Bar that was loaded with people from The States. We felt right at home and there is where we rendezvous’d with our friends Philippa and Peter from up north, near Auckland. They arrived wearing red USA shirts and we were delighted they took us up on our offer of free tickets as they could not afford to go to even one game in their own country. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, travel is about meeting people and sharing our selves. That is an instinct to me that makes me feel whole and connected, perhaps that is a reason why some choose not to travel, it leaves them vulnerable. A poet by the name of Longfellow once wrote:

Ships that pass in the night, and speak each other in passing,

Only a signal shown and a distant voice in the darkness

So on the ocean of life we pass and speak one another,

Only a look and a voice, then darkness again and a silence.

Our bro-dog Bruce from Buffalo also arrived and this was the 3^rd game we were attending with him too! The energy of the pub increased, as the libations disappeared, and we found ourselves with a group of at least 20 others in parade formation walking to the game. Somehow we ended up three other bars along the way for a quick shot and to spread some Old Glory cheer upon unsuspecting diners and bar goers, most of which were a bit prudish when it came to our exuberant souls! The game itself was a blow out, however that didn’t stop us from enjoying the huge stadium, the festivities of the night, and before we knew it we set sail early the next morning for the South Island.