This week so far

This week is been really busy actually! Let's start off without trip to a local cafe. We got a seafood platter. The "green lipped" muscles are a local favorite. I think all mussels are gross but cec really liked them. The salmon was smoked and cold. Weird tasty basically. The cake was amazing!! Oddly they served it with both natural yogurt and natural whip cream. The non sweet whip cream was ok because the chocolate was super sweet but the acid yogurt made for a weird flavor profile.

We also took some beautiful drives around the city into the beaches. It's been kind of windy and chilly lately so we didn't really go on the beach. I'm not really sure if my allergy to sea mites will come and play with the volcanic sand but will find out soon enough. This Harbor that we found was very rocky and windy and it wasn't very safe for swimming because occurrence but it made for some pretty pictures.

(Pretty huh?)

(Cec did some climbing)

(Windy selfie!) 

(Huge volcanic sand dunes!!)

We also climbed up the hill to what is called Duryea elevator. It's a historic thing that was done in the 1900s in this area. It was an elevator that to people down the hill. However nowadays you have to walk up the hill to see it. There's also nice more memorial up there. And quite breathtaking views. Oh and stairs a LOT of stairs. People run them for exercise. I felt out of shape just a walking them!!

(Stairs… more stairs)

We also found this place called Victoria lake that is very close to her house. It's a man-made lake where they house swans and other native waterfowl. There is about a mile long trail around the outside and it's beautiful. Very very nice. They also have a aviary next to the place as well as what they call a Wintergarden which celebrate the Christmas season over here because obviously there's no snow. They have poinsettias and other cute things.

(Baby native waterfowl!!)

(They had a sign that they bite but he was cute!!)

(Winter garden)

Finally, this week we started to make friends. We were invited to two separate parties. One was a nurse's 40th birthday. She was very nice and basically was like a barbecue in the US there was a lot of talking laughing and drinking.

(Yes they sang happy birthday)

We were also invited to American Thanksgiving on Sunday at another US citizen that is working at the hospital's house. There were quite a few people there and quite a spread. We felt a little awkward taking photos though because really know anyone so I know they're on it but it was good times again lots of talking and booze lol!

We also met out neighbors who came down to introduce themselves and brought flowers as a thank you, which I thought was sweet!!

Overall we've been busy with normal stuff but our workouts got very picturesque lol. This weekend were heading to he capital of Wellington for a mini-cation because Cecil has off!!

 internet is here but it's slow ok for browsing and such but not enough for streaming. We are signed up for fiber hopefully by January…

Finally, the last bit of good news is our house has rented!!! The people move in December 15 and they are set to move out December 31 so everything is good in our world!

(Photo from my walk)

Hospital

Here is where I will be working for the next year! 

Strange crazy drug names!

And no pixis! 

So far the people are awesome and the volume seems about 90% decrease of what we were seeing in Columbus... And the best part is that even with the reduced volumes... There are still residents (RMO's) to see the patients! 

Ups and downs- first few days at Whanganui

Ok so we are at an Internet cafe still without Internet and it seems a good time to update. Let's start with the traveling. We took a small 12 seater plane here. We actually walked onto plane via stairs it was crazy small. Flight was easy. Airport tiny, like two terminals even smaller than the one in erie, pa. All our luggage made it so alls good there. 

*airplane*

Rental is a huge suv which surprised us as gas is like $2 a LITER. Driving on the left is easier that we expected.

*cecils first drive*

Our lodge was sparse but nice and had internet so alls good there. The town is larger than expected but still small.

The largest and most encompassing thing revolves around the house. It was disgusting when we moved in. Dirty dirty dirty… cec and I cleaned everything from walls, blinds, drawers, carpets (scrubbed them), etc. junk, dust and dirt eveywhere. I was a little upset to say the least. We had to buy new linens, towels, sheets, comforter and couch covers as well. We got boxes and deck uttered, dusted and basically minimalists the space.  Looks much better and Cecils allergies have calmed. I expected a little more dust as there is no AC so windows are open, more flies to but still. pictures will come later they are all on the camera, just trust me it sucked.

*town walkway*

On top of that internet (as mentioned in the other post), is a problem. We've got our phones up and running but we need home internet. It's going to take at least a week if not two, killing us in the process just to get any access. Then probably January before fiber (fast good internet) is here. 

Cec has started working and says it's ok, just different. I'll let him give you those details. Things with me visa are tough too they are asking for more stuff with my melanoma history and I have to wait until next week because of thanksgiving. However things are mostly looking up.

Leave off with some eye candy :)

Quick update- lack of the internets

Hi guys,

We are having some issues getting internet established… basically we don't have Internet for the next week maybe two so this is a quick post to let you all know we haven't forgotten about you! We have a ton to talk about but need to save our cellular data! It's a pain but apparently things move slower here

Rained out whale watching- changed to aquarium and movies

 *part of this original post was accidentally deleted, so the redo is much shorter sorry**

So we found out our whale watching your was cancelled at like 10 this morning. REALLY DISAPPOINTED, but we made the best of it by going to the sea life aqaurium, then downtown Auckland and the movies to see hunger games.  

This was the weird part: assigned seating!! 

First, the aquarium:

One of the best penguin exhibits I've ever seen. They had king and Gentoo penguins and even brought out a baby penguin and switched it out with one of the eggs! 

*switching the eggs *

*baby penguin!!*

They had a smaller aquarium but nice exhibits, like this one where you competes to see if you could keep your hand in the polar water for 30 seconds. Cecil succeeded I did not.

After the penguins they also had a surround tank decorated with Maori tank items, sharks and some awesome smaller tanks with stingrays, lobsters (which they call crayfish), fish and octopus!

*large surround tank*

*largest crayfish/lobester I've ever seen*

Cthulhu … err octopus

The aquarium was small but was really well done! 

-cecil

After that we went to a nearby pier. It was super scenic but also really windy! Notice the trash cans were strapped on!

Auckland museum and sky tower

I'm Today started with breakfast at the hotel. I feel the need to mention that the eggs were strange. They looked like they had cheese in them but they didn't. I regret I didn't take a picture actually. They also have muselli, but we would call it porrege. Pretty much oats, orange peel and or juice and its soaked. It's actually pretty good you put nuts and dried fruit in it.  Anyway, cec and I have been very hungry when we get up so breakfast has been big.

Then we took über, yes they have that here, to the Auckland museum.

(Sign for the museum)

 Great exhibits on Maori. Actually eveything was in English and their native language like the sign above. We did a tour with a nice tour guide who pointed out highlights, then saw a Maori show which highlighted culture through song and dance. 

(The show during a war dance called the haka)

(The show during a display of how they keep in shape, using games like with sticks)

We caught lunch in the cafe, then spent three more hours walking through the museum. I got a chicken burger (chicken sand which) and cec got a kiwi burger, basically a burger with an egg on it. Good food but the ketchup, which they call tomatoe sauce was GROSS. We also had a traditional pastry called Eccles. It has a fruit mixture and was actually pretty good.

(Cecils kiwi burger and yes that's a local beer, he said it was good)

(Eccles pastry)

First off, my impressions so far is the Maori love carving and they are really good at it. 

(Cecil in a tradition Maori hut that we have lost the name of)

(Note the use of shells for eyes)

Also, eveything paralleles the American Indian story in America. Just change Maori with Indian and Americans with British. They also had some brutal tribal warefre items. They also has a section about local wildlife. The moa bird is terrifying, that's what. I have to say about that. Also they have one of the largest ocean fossil collections.

Finally, they had a warm memorial half devoted to WWI and WWII as well as the struggles between the natives and Britain. It's was well done and depressing. One quote in the holocaust area resonated with me:

Anyway, after the museum, we went to the sky tower. Beautiful views even on a rainy day. Mostly city views, but it is the highest building in NZ, so that's to be expected. These are all iPhone photos, the nice camera ones are better.

(Notice the island/volcano in the backgrounds)

We then picked up some tea and hot chocolate at a cafe and subway to eat for dinner later. Yes, subway. You may be asking why. Two reasons: 1. It's something we could pick up and eat later 2. because our hotel is expensive and has no restaurants around it. 

Tonight is pretty much chilling before whale watching tomorrow! Crossing or fingers that weather doesn't cancel it. It's supposed to be rainy and cold he whole time in Auckland but I pulled my winter coat out and am making the best of it.

Auckland day 1

Just mainly pictures for your enjoyment

Tiny trash cans! 

What's missing from this picture? 

How about refrigeration for the eggs? 

Wonder how much money grocery stores in the US would save?!

Great name for fire staters! 

Not diapers but Nappies!!

Really? 

I haven't eaten at one of these in the states! 

Are you depressed? 

No I'm emu