March 6
Paraparaumu to Wellington
A glorious, clear, still and sunny morning. I caught a bus, a train and a bus to Jane & Robert's, abandoned my luggage and set off into Wellington on a mixture of foot and bus. The beautiful skies in Paraparaumu had been replaced by a little blue and a lot of cloud. It was still calm and reasonably warm, however.
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I had a coffee in a new "food court" which has appeared since my last visit.
A group of cafes and restaurants lines a narrow alleyway, similar to what might be found in Singapore. I can't comment on the food but the coffee was OK. With a little time to spare, I took a few photos, including one of Paddy the Wander's fountain. His story always makes me shed a tear and I always try to visit him on my trips. He is not far from the waterfront where he lived for many years.
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I took a few photos of that and crossed back into the centre to the travel agency for lunch.
I made a few new arrangements for my holiday with Liz and we then decamped up the road to a new Vietnamese restaurant. The food was excellent and healthy, what I needed after the last couple of days.
Liz returned to work and I commenced the four kilometre walk back home. The sun had appeared while we were eating and it was becoming pleasantly warm. I was able to walk through the cricket ground, which looked magnificent in the sunshine.
I examined a few cafes but non selling small cakes or chocolatey things. Anything sweet was huge. Finally, at the Mediterranean Food Warehouse, last café before Jane & Robert's, I found a coffee and a small brownie. It was vegan but tasted good, none the less. After a four kilometre walk, I felt that I deserved it.
Back at the house, I collapsed on the sofa for a couple of hours after nearly five weeks travelling. Eventually, Jane & Robert reappeared, produced a good dinner and some wine and sent me to bed feeling full.