"I know that bucket lists are popular these days, but Carol and I find it easier to just follow our kids. Doing so is more exciting than anything we could come up with. NZ is an incredible country. We took a lot of pictures, but seeing it in person gives one so much more - like live music. The people are wonderful, as well.
Catherine is doing great. She manages a small hotel/restaurant/bar in Arrowtown on South Island. The owner is onsite, but she pretty much has the run of the house (imagine that). His name is Peter. I know how he feels.
She rents a room from a Kiwi who's a little older than she is. He is a very nice, very low key guy. That is, until he got a few adult beverages under his belt and teamed up with his long time friend Fraser (that's Frasser, not Frazier). We hooked up with them last Sunday. Gareth and Fraser had a head start on the alcohol and their running commentary had Carol and I in tears. Jeff Daniels and Jim Carrey would have come in a distant second in the duo category. Another friend of hers, Benny the cab driver, took us into the back country in his 4 wheel drive. He refers to his wife as "the old trout." Browns and Rainbows are venerated species around Arrowtown, so we heard that as a high compliment. All in all, Catherine runs with a good group of friends.
Kiwis are unfailingly happy and polite. Nothing gets them down. We are so used seeing folks put out for one reason or another that I began jonesing for some boorish behavior to make me feel at home. I twisted a few noses, spit on the sidewalk and even intoned in a crowd that perhaps I saw the Queen wearing army boots. All I got was "no wawries" and "sweet as, bro." The closest we saw a Kiwi given to anger was Fraser last Sunday. The bartender at the outdoor pub we were enjoying had the temerity to advise him that he could only drink his beer sitting at the table ("what's it come to when a man can't stand up in his own country and drink beer?"). Perhaps it was the 10 or 11 that preceded that one … Actually, I was with Fraser on that one.
If you read the local papers, you would assume that rugby and cricket are the national sports. If you get out on the road, however, you understand that the real national pastime is camping - yes, camping. Kiwis and tourists both rent full sized vans equipped with shower/toilet, frig and stove and hit the countryside. Every town has hiking paths that are marked and maintained, as well as areas to camp. It was really amazing though, given the landscapes, it makes perfect sense. If we are lucky enough to get back here, we're all over one of those vans (with some nice digs sprinkled in every once in a while).
Driving on the left side is like driving on the right side, only different. It took us a while to notice it, but people walk on the left side of the path or sidewalk, as well. Other cool things that the Kiwis have going for them:
the metric system - we have missed the boat on this one - Celsius, not so much;
anything nicer than shorts and a t-shirt is Sunday go to meeting wear;
blue Cod and Rock Lobster (or Crayfish, as they call them);
their wonderment at how little vacation time Americans take; and
tobacco is so expensive that you don't run into many smokers.
We had our small world moment when we hooked up with my mother's brother and his wife in Queenstown for a few hours one afternoon. They were in week two of a three week tour that included lectures every day and even homework. When these academic overachievers went through their schedule, it made me want to take a nap. Since they live in SF and we don't see them much, if any, though, it was a cool visit.
We took a lot of pictures and some video. When Zeb figures it out, I'll send a link for you to check the pics out, if you are so inclined."
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