We actually did make it out on the Rainy Lazy Sunday afternoon for a walk down Courtenay Place. There were all sorts of great takeaway and sit-down restaurants along that road as well as many nice looking pubs, some theaters, and a ton of internet cafes.
Here's the afternoon's pictures. Extra credit for identifying which ones Haley took.
I tried to get a picture of Haley beating up on the so-called Father of Wellington, John Plimmer. Most times we head that way, she runs over and beats on him with balled up fists in full view of Wellingtonian natives who no doubt wonder why she has such a beef with their iconic founder. Unfortunately, she was in a foul mood on Sunday afternoon and decided to give Mr. Plimmer a much needed break. Here you can see Zoe standing in as Plimmer-abuser for the purposes of the photo op.
Courtenay Place is a neat street. It's long and packed with shops and restaurants and the tributary side-streets are the same. Chances are good you can find just about anything along there. As much as Lambton Quay is oriented towards weekday businessmen and shoppers, Courtenay Place seems oriented towards weeknights after work and weekend revelry.
We ended up back on Cuba Street Mall at J. J. Murphy's Irish Pub for dinner. The girls stopped and watched a kinetic sculpture midway down the block on Cuba St. Mall for a good half hour.
J. J. Murphy's serves good local beers and traditional Irish and NZ pub food. Joanne got the lamb shanks, I got the ol' bangers 'n mash, Zoe got the shepherd's pie, and haley got some chicken nuggets and chips (fries.)
We ate and watched Rugby (not the NRL, but some Rugby union games, the Hong Kong 7's) on the pub's big screen and the girls read books we'd found at a local used bookstore. Books are EXPENSIVE here. We're glad we have most of ours sailing towards us in a big crate. $15 NZ for a thin child's first grade reader! Ack!
It was a great Sunday evening. The pubs here are big, clean, and very kid-friendly.
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7 comments:
Zoe and Haley: Give Mr Plimmer one on the jaw for me. Then go eat some fish and chips on Friday eve. Do they do that there? I bet the pubs serve it up well!! Let me know. We are on Day 4 or 5 of our Southbeach diet. Thank God there are nuts in this world! I'll let you know if it works. We are sticking to it religiously. Love ya! Ruth
Thanks so much, Steve and Joanne for the lovely blog and pix. I showed Ed's brother and Phyllis the slideshows, yesterday. We are on the East Coast visiting. I dropped Ed off in Wilmington, DE and I am in Baltimore until Tues. at a meeting. I will head back to Wilmington by train for a couple of days and then go by train to NYC where I will do a workshop and stay in Times Square overnight, returning to Wilmington on Sat. We fly home on Sun. Shannon is pet-sitting for us.
I love being a part of all of your explorations. Friends here at my meeting have told me that they all love New Zealand, if they have been there and even if they have not and plan to.
Kiss those girls I miss them so. They are growing up so fast.
Love you all,
Grandma Cathy
PS Ruth, I am doing weight watchers online and have lost 10 lbs in 6 days. It really works for me, I have to stay on it though.
Thanks so much, Steve and Joanne for the lovely blog and pix. I showed Ed's brother and Phyllis the slideshows, yesterday. We are on the East Coast visiting. I dropped Ed off in Wilmington, DE and I am in Baltimore until Tues. at a meeting. I will head back to Wilmington by train for a couple of days and then go by train to NYC where I will do a workshop and stay in Times Square overnight, returning to Wilmington on Sat. We fly home on Sun. Shannon is pet-sitting for us.
I love being a part of all of your explorations. Friends here at my meeting have told me that they all love New Zealand, if they have been there and even if they have not and plan to.
Kiss those girls I miss them so. They are growing up so fast.
Love you all,
Grandma Cathy
PS Ruth, I am doing weight watchers online and have lost 10 lbs in 6 days. It really works for me, I have to stay on it though.
I demand reviews of local microbrews Steve!
It's been rough living in the land of the rising macrobrew lagers.
Yep, books are expensive, but Steve, you work across the street from the great Wellington City Library! Maybe you have to have a utility bill to get a library card, but you could borrow mine. Checkouts are good for a month. But heaven help you if you return them late - steep late fees. Take the girls over there for a huge selection of kids' books.
Jim
Ok, total random question. Where did you get the girls jackets? I am looking for some good rain jackets and those even have hoods.
Hi, Brandie. Joanne here. The girls are wearing Columbia jackets that I bought at Sports Authority on winter clearance before we left. They're three in one jackets in that they have a zip-out fleece jacket so that it can be a warm winter parka, a fleece jacket, or a rain jacket/windbreaker. Definitely buy your outdoor gear there before you come. I took a look at a pair of Merrell hiking shoes at a store the other day and they were NZ$220! I paid about $60 bucks for the same ones at home. Good luck to you with your preparations! If we can help in any way let me know. :)
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