19th Feb 2011 - Wellington Yet Again (this time with trams)
A day spent visiting museums, galleries and other sights in and around Wellington. Guy was, in spite of a very so-so night's sleep, keen to do a lot so he managed to get to the museum Te Papa before it was open. I was slower off the starting block and met him at Te Papa at 10am just as the door's were opening. We had a quick look to see if there was anything new since our last visit. Didn't seem like too much had changed so headed off to the portrait gallery where we were impresed with the set of portraits with biographies - mostly paint but some photos. Janet Frame was one - a famous kiwi novelist that I shall read now that, amongst others, I've heard of her. The visit was concise because we wanted to get to the Museum of Wellington - not too far away - an the library. The library was just a matter of enjoying looking at books - the complete set, very nearly, of Patrick O'Brian and enough newspapers to get you up to speed with both NZ, the UK and the world. I was engrossed by the corporate battle going on for dear old Northern Foods, based in Leeds I think. Another British company heading for international ownership. I looked up a few kiwi authors too. I guess I should read The Bone People and something by Aitken.The Wellington Museum was high tech and told a good story of ferries (there were other ferries than merely the ones across Cook Straits - the one down to Christchurch seemed the most remarkable), sea faring, migration and the growth of a trading city. They tried to illustrate this by finding a significant thing in each year for a hundred year period. I never realised how long pubs closing at 6pm went - right up until the 1960s (such a law causihg a massive and rapid after work consumption to get the beer drunk before the 6pm deadline - I guess you could take bottles home).Then the Cable Car up to the botanic garden - a lovely old Wellington tradition of a trip up the cable car to get the view, and a cup of tea, from the top. Then an amble downhill through the plants of the Botanic Garden. This habit, of only getting the cable car up the hill, meant that they ended up charging more for going up than coming down. The Cable Car Museum has two old cars, both lovely ornate specimens, one built in Wellington. The current system is less ornate but more health and safety conscious - Austrian I think. This museum had a suprisingly well stocked shop - amongst other things I got sticker for my bike. Oh, and they also sold very cute furry blue penguins...Then a final amble through the Botanic Gardens including the excellent Lady Norwood Rose Garden (too late for the teahouse) and via the scented garden and some herbaceous borders. A secondhand bookshop was still open - by now about 7pm - Arty Bees I think was the name, Excellent collection of books. Guy bought a book but his panniers have never been as full as mine.Then via a final shop at the New World Supermarket to the Youth Hostel. With the help of ear plugs we both slept better than the previous night.
A day spent visiting museums, galleries and other sights in and around Wellington. Guy was, in spite of a very so-so night's sleep, keen to do a lot so he managed to get to the museum Te Papa before it was open. I was slower off the starting block and met him at Te Papa at 10am just as the door's were opening. We had a quick look to see if there was anything new since our last visit. Didn't seem like too much had changed so headed off to the portrait gallery where we were impresed with the set of portraits with biographies - mostly paint but some photos. Janet Frame was one - a famous kiwi novelist that I shall read now that, amongst others, I've heard of her. The visit was concise because we wanted to get to the Museum of Wellington - not too far away - an the library. The library was just a matter of enjoying looking at books - the complete set, very nearly, of Patrick O'Brian and enough newspapers to get you up to speed with both NZ, the UK and the world. I was engrossed by the corporate battle going on for dear old Northern Foods, based in Leeds I think. Another British company heading for international ownership. I looked up a few kiwi authors too. I guess I should read The Bone People and something by Aitken.The Wellington Museum was high tech and told a good story of ferries (there were other ferries than merely the ones across Cook Straits - the one down to Christchurch seemed the most remarkable), sea faring, migration and the growth of a trading city. They tried to illustrate this by finding a significant thing in each year for a hundred year period. I never realised how long pubs closing at 6pm went - right up until the 1960s (such a law causihg a massive and rapid after work consumption to get the beer drunk before the 6pm deadline - I guess you could take bottles home).Then the Cable Car up to the botanic garden - a lovely old Wellington tradition of a trip up the cable car to get the view, and a cup of tea, from the top. Then an amble downhill through the plants of the Botanic Garden. This habit, of only getting the cable car up the hill, meant that they ended up charging more for going up than coming down. The Cable Car Museum has two old cars, both lovely ornate specimens, one built in Wellington. The current system is less ornate but more health and safety conscious - Austrian I think. This museum had a suprisingly well stocked shop - amongst other things I got sticker for my bike. Oh, and they also sold very cute furry blue penguins...Then a final amble through the Botanic Gardens including the excellent Lady Norwood Rose Garden (too late for the teahouse) and via the scented garden and some herbaceous borders. A secondhand bookshop was still open - by now about 7pm - Arty Bees I think was the name, Excellent collection of books. Guy bought a book but his panniers have never been as full as mine.Then via a final shop at the New World Supermarket to the Youth Hostel. With the help of ear plugs we both slept better than the previous night.