Part 2: Napier, New Zealand

Napier, New Zealand from above

We made it out of the country! First stop: Napier. I was not expecting this place to be so adorable. Sadly, a massive earthquake in 1931 required much of the town to be rebuilt, but the result is an art deco gem. Beautiful buildings, houses, and craftsman cottages abound. Add in an abundance of great street art, and I am in my happy place! The weather is unseasonably cool, which is disappointing for the locals, but works great for us. Everyone here has been incredibly friendly. Connecting with departed friends and traveling buddies makes our departure feel a lot less drastic. With a few days to wait for more friends to arrive, we've had a ton of fun exploring the surrounding beaches, walks, parks and wineries (and of course pubs).

The city is in a beautiful valley, surrounded by rolling hills, farmland (so many sheep!), and outcroppings of low mountains and cliffs. We had a great hike in Te Mata park, with its surprising stand of California Redwoods (planted 100 years ago), and where the hang gliders fling themselves into thin air. That felt like a great metaphor for this adventure. With the last of our friends finally arrived, we are ready to set off for more destinations tomorrow. As nice as this place has been, we are very excited to start exploring more of the country. Rotorua here we come...