Thirteen Things about Wellington and my upcoming weekend.
1. Wellington is the capital of New Zealand and is about an hour flight from Auckland.
2. It’s always very windy in Wellington. I’m hoping we have reasonable weather for our weekend since we’re intending to do a lot of walking and outdoor things.
3. We’re going to visit the Botanic Gardens and ride the red cable car to the top of the hill, walking back down through the gardens.
4. There’s also a teahouse. I’ll probably need a cup of tea to warm up since we’re heading into winter down here in NZ.
5. We might wander past our parliament buildings, also known as the Beehive because of the round shape.
6. There’s a pub near the Beehive called the Backbencher where they have 3-D puppet heads of NZ politicians on the walls as decorations. We’ll probably stop by for a drink.
7. We’re going down to see an exhibition of Monet paintings at the Te Papa Museum.
8. According to the Te Papa site we’ll see twenty-seven stunning paintings by Claude Monet – including works from his Water Lily, Haystacks, and Rouen Cathedral series – plus works by Impressionist masterpieces by Renoir, Degas, Cézanne, Pissarro and others.
9. While I’m at Te Papa I’m looking forward to seeing the giant squid that they dissected last year. They broadcast the proceedings on the Internet and people watched around the world.
10. We might fit in some shopping and definitely some eating.
11. On Saturday night we’re off to the rugby at the stadium on the waterfront. It’s affectionately called the Cake tin because of its shape. Wellingtonians are big on nicknames!
12. It’s ANZAC day, the day where Australians and New Zealanders remember the battle at Gallipoli and our fallen soldiers. The curtain raiser match is NZ Army v Australia Army.
13. The main match is a Super 14 game (the tournament where NZ, Australian and South African teams battle it out) and the ACT Brumbies are playing the Hurricanes. (Australia team v New Zealand team) It should be a great match. I just hope it doesn’t rain!
What are you doing this weekend?
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April 23rd, 2009 at 1:50 am · Link
I’m totally jealous of you, now… Winter is coming and you’re going to an exhibit of great art! Lucky you!
Have a great time, and be sure to tell us all about it, okay? :)
Ciao!
Happy TT!
April 23rd, 2009 at 3:20 am · Link
Spring, Summer, Fall or Winter….yes—-you just gotta fit in some shopping!!!!
My 13 is posted. What I see on the back of a cereal box…it’s a fun 13 this week…come join me if you find time.
April 23rd, 2009 at 3:48 am · Link
A news article tonight spoke of renaming your North and South Islands to confuse Australian tourists. One of the suggestions was the general Maori name for New Zealand for the North Island and one from their mythology for the Southern Island. It sounded a mouthful and a half when a couple of local Kiwis tried to say it on television.
I remember windy Wellington well. I flew in there the first time in 1970 and sailed in a couple of time afterwards. It was a great town then.
Amy
April 23rd, 2009 at 4:34 am · Link
You lucky thing! I’ve always wanted to go to New Zealand. Have fun! *Hugs*
April 23rd, 2009 at 5:52 am · Link
color me jealous! I’d love to visit New Zealand someday … if I could get the DH to travel!!! Have a great trip!
April 23rd, 2009 at 5:59 am · Link
WooooooHooooo! This is why I love your blog Shelley!
I hope the trip is fantastic and I know you’ll bring us pictures.
I hadn’t heard of the Giant Squid. *off to try and find it on YouTube.*
April 23rd, 2009 at 6:30 am · Link
Hmm, Anzac cookies. Made those last year for Anzac day.
This year I will be going out of town for the weekend as well. Going up to the country.
Enjoy your weekend! ((hugs))
April 23rd, 2009 at 6:46 am · Link
I hope you take a bunch of pictures. I’d love to see all this.
April 23rd, 2009 at 6:47 am · Link
Sounds wonderful! I am owed a vacation to down under. Maybe it’s time I reminded him. LOL!
April 23rd, 2009 at 6:47 am · Link
Have a great time! Wish I was there.
Happy T13!
April 23rd, 2009 at 7:14 am · Link
Hey Shelley,
This weekend I’m hoping to be able to plant some veggies in the garden plus get my hubby to finish the porch. I’ll be happy if one of my things on my honey do list gets done. Have a great weekend. Would love to see the gardens over there.
April 23rd, 2009 at 8:00 am · Link
That all sounds fantastic but, uhm, Giant squid?
Wow
http://talesfromthecrit.wordpress.com/
April 23rd, 2009 at 10:13 am · Link
Monet is my favorite painter.
This weekend I’m going to a Pow Wow. I’m absolutely delighted!
Your weekend sounds brill!
April 23rd, 2009 at 11:25 am · Link
Cool TT! Have fun!
*hugs*
Paige
My TT is at http://paigetylertheauthor.blogspot.com
April 23rd, 2009 at 12:51 pm · Link
Sounds like a wonderful weekend! I’m going to a Liberty States Fiction Writers meeting on Saturday and hope to get some weeding in on Sunday.
Happy Thursday! My 13
April 23rd, 2009 at 1:50 pm · Link
Ms. Menozzi – you forgot the rugby.
Hootin’ Annie – I enjoyed your cereal box TT.
Amy G – I’m not sure what’s up with people at the moment. I can’t believe the way they want to change the names of everything. Last month they argued about whether Wanganui should have an “h” in it and be spelled Whanganui. It was a HUGE argument.
April 23rd, 2009 at 1:52 pm · Link
Stephanie/Kristi – I’m sure I’ll have a great time. The weather report is looking good.
Jennifer – I think the proper name is the collosus squid. I hope to get some photos as it was a very rare find and there was heaps of interest at the time.
CC – I love ANZAC Cookie. Very yummy.
April 23rd, 2009 at 1:58 pm · Link
Alice – I’ll definitely take pictures.
Maria – Oh, yes. Remind your hubby. You could visit.
Adelle – thanks, I will.
Roberta – I’ll take some photos for you. My post tomorrow is a gardening type post. it might interest you. I even have photos.
Inez – If it was alive, I wouldn’t be quite as keen. It’s very big and they had difficulty getting it onto the ship after they caught it.
Mel – The Pow Wow sounds interesting. I hope you have a great time. Monet is one of my favorites too. I was actually surprised when hubby agreed to go since he hates most art. He didn’t hesitate.
Jamie – have fun at your writers’ meeting. There’s nothing more inspirational than a meeting with other writers. I hope the weeding gets done. It’s a necessary chore, isn’t it?
April 23rd, 2009 at 4:46 pm · Link
Oh, a giant squid! Talk about calimari! YUM!
April 23rd, 2009 at 5:12 pm · Link
This is great!
April 23rd, 2009 at 7:21 pm · Link
I hope you have a safe and wonderful trip. It sounds like you’re going to have a great time in Wellington.
I’m going to be a hermit. I’m watching the NASCAR races on Friday and Sunday, the NFL Draft on Saturday, and somehow I’ll get some writing in.
April 23rd, 2009 at 7:32 pm · Link
Can I come?
Safe and glorious travels to you.
Happy TT
~X
April 23rd, 2009 at 8:29 pm · Link
Would love to visit New Zealand some day soon. I have seen the All Blacks play on tv.
April 23rd, 2009 at 9:16 pm · Link
It sure sounds like you have a great weekend planned! All I’m planning is lunch out on Sunday with friends, my sister, and my hubby. We’ll celebrate our friends’ wedding anniversary and my birthday.
April 24th, 2009 at 6:26 am · Link
I loved the film ‘Gallipoli’ – and would love to be Down Under for ANZAC Day sometime.
Have fun! We’re actually having a sunny, warm weekend – no doubt I’ll be in the garden at some point.
April 24th, 2009 at 8:16 am · Link
Sounds like an awesome weekend, Shelley! I’m hoping to get outside — spring might finally have sprung.
April 24th, 2009 at 8:03 pm · Link
Sounds like a great weekend in store for you. I would so be there for the gardens, Monet exhibit and giant squid.