I got a shuttle from the airport that dropped me right in front of the backpackers lodge. I climbed into bed almost immediately and slept easily for about 16 hours. This morning I woke up worrying if I'd made the right decision coming here. I'm missing home and all the people there. But here I am, so I must go about getting things done. So since the buses are on strike right now, I walked to the grocery store which is north on Ponsonby rd and east down College Hill. It was a long walk and I hadn't eaten in really more than 24 hours since breakfast on the airplane yesterday. So I stopped at ThirtyNine Cafe on the way. Had two double espressos and a huge sandwich which was a BLT with honey pesto and avocados on it. Very nearly heaven. With renewed vigor I walked on, listening to my ipod on the way. I couldn't help but grin most of the way. Doubt about my choices disappearing with every step. I can't explain how much at home I feel here already. Friendly faces passing me on the street and big lovely trees lining the streets. The city, so far, reminds me a lot of Seattle not only from the skyline
but also from the style of shops and restaurants and cafes here. Not to mention the hills and greenery around. I'm at Verandahs backpackers lodge on Hopetourn Rd, just arounnd the corner from Ponsonby Rd. The backside of the hostel overlooks Western Park here.
5 comments:
HAHA! I didn't even finish reading this, but I had to comment: What's up with you arriving to places in the midst of transportation strikes! ha
Hello Chris, I was excepting someplace a little more remote! Very glad that you are feeling at home as you walk into your adventure. Mark said he would have been glad to give you some gardening tips and lessons, but we are not so exotic here in middle America.
Kala is curled up here in front of the computer with her tail over the keys making typing this an adventure in itself. She just slapped my hands for touching her tail.
Well, I certainly am aiming for more remote. At the end of the month I'm heading for a farm just beyond Warkworth in Northland. It will be about a 100km cycle there and then gonna stay on a farm there for about 2 months, until just after the holidays. I'll let you know when I'm heading up north and send photos back when I get there. I'm pretty excited, can't wait to get out of the city for a while.
I like the pic! If you hadn't told me you'd seen sheep outside your place of rest, I might have looked like any other city to me. Tainted!
I just went back to read this again. Depending on recycled news is pretty sad. :-)
Looking forward to you getting settled in and doing some writing. Good luck and good adventures out there.
Mom
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