Feb. 9-15/16: Nelson (Chch quake, Opera in the park)

Sadly, yesterday there was another  earthquake in Christchurch, a week short of the 5th anniversary  of the big one in 2011. Christchurch is 400 km. south of Nelson, so I did not feel it here but it has certainly dominated the news. There were thankfully no injuries  but definitely some damage, particularly near the coast as the epicentre was about 15 km. offshore. But it must be so discouraging for those who remember all too well the last  big one. The Christchurch  Cathedral, which was seriously damaged in the 2011 quake, sustained further damage, but it was very  vulnerable, as no work had been done on it since that quake, pending decisions on its future. Apparently the buildings that had been constructed, or reinforced,  since  the 2011 quake held up.

Christchurch Cathedral (A picture I took

at the end of December, 2015. It must 

look a bit worse today.)

The weekend's events in Nelson were much cheerier. Saturday night was Opera in the Park. Not the usual  setting for an opera, but this was Nelson's version of opera. Complete with fireworks, and Darth Vader lookalikes conducting and performing. The programme included mostly popular opera pieces  by the likes of Mozart (from the Magic Flute) and Rossini (from the Barber of Seville) but there was also some more serious opera, as well as a few popular songs. And of course  there was some Maori music, performed by the Modern Maori Quartet. Check out this selfie they took at the event. I am sitting very near the front, but not visible  here.

And, a few pictures I took there.

Darth Vader's contribution

Hard to see, but the stage just 

as it was getting dark

The Modern  Maori  Quartet  

Sunday morning I did a two hour shift as greeter at one of the area's earliest grand homes, Isel House, built in 1849. Guess they aren't concerned that I have a Canadian  accent! Takes close to an hour to cycle there, almost  the whole way on cycle paths. This is such a treat. A few final pictures, for this post.

Isel House

My stop on the way home, at

Tahunanui Beach

One of the route maps

Almost home. The house I'm living

in is straight ahead.

Feb 1-8/16: Nelson (Waitangi Day)

February 6th was Waitangi Day, and that was decidedly the highlight of the  week.  So this will be a wee bit of a history lesson. February 6th was also the Chinese New Year, and Bob Marley's birthday.

Waitangi Day is New Zealand's birthday, the day 176 years ago, in 1840, when the Treaty of Waitangi was signed by the Britsh Crown  and about 500 Maori chiefs. New Zealand  then became a British  colony, and the Maori British subjects. In theory the treaty was supposed  to protect Maoris and their land but this quickly came into dispute. Only in 1970 was a tribunal formed to resolve breaches of the treaty.

 Waitangi Day was celebrated on February 8 this year (creating a long weekend) and in Nelson the celebrations took place  at the annual Kai Festival. Kai means food in Maori so that tells  you something about the nature of the festivities.

The festival took place at Founders Park  (just a few minutes from me) and the neighbouring Maori Whakatu Marae. A marae is the focal point of a Maori community, the courtyard in front  of the meeting house.

Marae in front of the meeting

house (wharenui in Maori)

The day started with greetings and speeches  from local  public figures. The introductions  took place largely in Maori. The crowd - and it was large - lined up for the traditional Maori greeting, the hongi, touching  of foreheads and noses.  Didn't get any pictures  of this!! I did get one of the lesson that followed this however; pakeha (non-maori) being taught how to do the haka, the ancient war dance which is now performed by the All Blacks. Every sound and movement has a meaning.

Haka lesson

Although  this was New Zealand's Day, it was shared with festivities for the Chinese New Year, and food from around the world.

Apparently the first chinese

 dragon in Nelson!

Jan. 25-31/16: Nelson (week's highlights, coffee)

It's February!! I've been one month now in Nelson and still feel I could not have chosen a better spot to stay. Since I'm settling into a routine of sorts and not taking very many pictures, I thought I'd briefly show you the highlights of my week and then try something new, a theme for the week. This week I'm starting with coffee, because it is such a big part of life here in New Zealand.

To start , some pictures of the week's highlights:

Mullet man, one of the entertainers

at the annual Buskers Festival

A concert at Fairfield House,

one of the city's historic  houses.

The group: Richter City Rebels,

a 9-piece band playing New Orleans

style music

A walk on Tahunanui Beach

on the other side of town.

And this was on a Sunday!!

And now for coffee. I'll start with the coffee menu from one of the local cafes. Most cafes here are independents, and also serve fantastc food. I'll get to food another week. And unlike  home, no matter which cafe you go to, the coffee types all have the same names. How sensible is that.

Yello is the name of the cafe

In case you didn't notice, filtered coffee does not appear on the list. One website said you couldn't  find drip coffee (other  than in your home) if your life depended on it. Too true. The coffees are all expresso based, and most often between $4 and $5. And if you want decaf and soy, add $.50 for each of those. Important to remember that  tax is included, and tipping not expected. The Canadian and NZ dollar are close. $1.00 Canadian =  $1.10 NZ.

Last year I had never heard of flat white, but when I got back to Canada, there  it was, at least in a few places. New Zealand claims  to be the creator of flat  white, but so does Australia! My extensive research tells me it is the most popular coffee here. It's certainly  what I most often hear ordered.

Here's a brief primer on NZ coffees:
- short black: single shot of espresso served in a demi tasse;
-  long black: single or double  shot of espresso OVER hot water although  sometimes the water is served separately. Apparently an Americano is quite different as the espresso  goes in first, then the hot water. Could one really tell the difference?
- cappuccino: shot of espresso with equal parts steamed milk, and a cap of foam;
- flat white: more milky than a cappuccino. One-third espresso and two-thirds steamed milk, with a touch of froth;
- latte: the milkiest. A shot of espresso with lots of hot milk and little or no froth.

The websites I looked at went to some length to describe the process for steaming the milk and creating the froth but by that time my eyes were starting to glaze over.

That's as much as I think I will ever need to know about coffee. Hope it helps you too. There are other types but I can't absorb any more,  and they are the fringe coffees, as far as I can tell.

By the way, Starbucks is here. I've gone in only to find out that they use New Zealand coffee terminology, and not the names they use back home. Yeah, New Zealand!!!

Jan. 18-24/16: Nelson (to Mapua, Evolve Festival)

The weeks are flying by all too quickly. Found another gardening "job" this week, this time at Hospice  Nelson.  Given I am here for a relatively short time, this sort of thing may make the most sense. But I won't stop looking for other possibilities.

This week had two highlights. The first was a trip to Mapua, to spend a night with my airbnb host Marianne, who has been just wonderful. I made the trip with my new-to-me bike. It's about 30 km. to Mapua, almost all if it on cyclepaths, and flat. Doesn't get much better than that. And much of it is by the coast, with views of the water and hills (which in Nova Scotia would be called mountains). Mapua, I think I mentioned earlier, is a wee seaside holiday  town  close  enough to Nelson  to commute. The tides there are not as high as in the Bay of Fundy, but they are impressive  just the same.

The route to Mapua takes you through Rabbit Island (see the beach below, which is seemingly endless) and then onto a ferry for the very short ride to Mapua. I returned to Nelson the next day. The weather was perfect. Here are a few pictures.

The path to Mapua, looking  back 

towards Nelson

Beach on Rabbit Island enroute to 

Mapua. Not too crowded!!!

Above and below, Mapua harbour

The second highlight was a festival of health  and well-being  on the weekend held at Founder's Park, which is just a 5 minute walk from my accommodation. It was very well done. Lots of exhibitors presenting a range of products and services related to well-being and alternative healthcare, workshops, presentations  and of course food and music. I was not at Woodstock  in 1969, but I had the sense that some of the people at this festival would have been quite at home there. It was really delightful. No alcohol at all that I could see.

This was the main stage area where 

the musicians performed

The intro act. Called the Twisty 

Twins. They were that, and fearless too.

Can you see the young kids? They

were totally captivated.

Jan. 10-17/16: Nelson, life begins

My second week has come and gone and I'm already starting to develop routines. Doesn't take long! I'm gardening now two  mornings a week, once at  a formal garden (Queen's Gardens), and once at  a community vegetable  garden (Waimarama). My trusty bicycle gets  me to both places  easily. Although  there  are lots  of hills, for the most part where I need to go  is flat. Using a bike as a mode of transportation  feels  good, and mostly  I've remembered  to keep left. Mostly.

I've also found a yoga studio that  is a 10 minute cycle along the path beside the Tasman Bay. About as good as it gets.

There are many hiking opportunities  both in town and nearby. Today I walked up to the spot marking the Centre of New Zealand. Really, it's right here in Nelson.  The path starts about  a 5 minute walk from my front door  and takes about 45  minutes one  way. Astounding views.

Here's a few pictures from my week.

"My" house is just across the street

from the park  above, so this is my view. Glorious!

Below, view from a street not far away.

On a hike not far out of town.

Look what was on the path!!

In the Japanese  Gardens,  literally  

across the street

Sunday afternoon jazz in Founders

Park, a 5 minute walk  away

Path leading to the Centre of

New Zealand, and the very spot, below

View of Nelson   (that's most if it!)

from the Centre of New Zealand

Jan. 1-9/16: Nelson, some images

I have been in Nelson just  over  a week now and am loving it. It's just the right size for me (just under 50,000) and my accommodation could not be more ideal. I love being on the edge of town, and what an edge!! A jogging/cycling path almost at my front  door, lovely Japanese Gardens across the street - not to mention the Tasman Bay - and a delightful 30 minute walk to the town  centre.

I've spent the week reacquainting  myself with the area, and looking for  volunteer  opportunities and yoga classes. I will start gardening at two different places  this week  and am working on a few other possibilities  as well. And thanks to friends back home who put me in touch with relatives here, I've been taken to the annual jazz festival and to one of the neighbouring  holiday spots.

Once again, I think the best way to describe my life here so far is with a few pictures.

What I see on my morning jog

On the way into town, homes

on one side, these hills on the other.

Truly on the edge of town

Crossing the Maitai River on 

the way into town

In the Queen's Gardens, which I

 pass  on the way into town; 

hope to help  garden there

Here's what the main street in 

downtown  Nelson looks like

(Macpac is like our MEC)

Had to include one picture of 

a delightful old-style bungalow

Taken at Mapua, a holiday  

community about 30 km. away

At the weekly Saturday market

Tahunanui Beach, on the other side of town

My new-to-me mode of transportation;

there are cycle paths everywhere!!

Jan. 1/16: To Nelson

I am now in Nelson. What a glorious  day it has been. High 20s. Some might say too hot! I made the trip by bus (Intercity), which works perfectly from my perspective as I can sit back and see the sites while someone  else does the driving. The bus drivers are generally excellent, and often provide  useful commentary along the way. The scenery was spectacular. It was not possible to take pictures on the bus so just imagine glorious turquoise  ocean on one side, and wonderfully rugged, but treeless mountains on the other.

We stopped first in Kaikoura (our Maori guide told us it meant “to eat crayfish”), a popular destination for those interested in whale watching. I spent some time there last  year.

Downtown Kaikoura, 

with mountains in the background

The scenery changed  as we were approaching Blenheim, the centre of the Marlborough wine region, and the spot where I changed buses. The  route then took us inland, first with views of  vineyards that go on forever, and after that up and down windy roads  through  mountains that were covered in trees.

i SITE in Blenheim, where we changed buses

This is the iconic symbol for the NZ tourist offices

NZ does tourism so well!

So here I am in “my” home for the next 3 months in Nelson. It’s a wonderful older home literally on the edge of town with a spectacular  view of the Bay of Tasman, and a path just in front of the house which is perfect for biking or jogging or walking. To walk to the centre of Nelson takes about half an hour.

View through my window  to the Bay of Tasman

(Above in the afternoon, below  in the evening)