Oooh ffffffffffffffffFREEZING!
Trip Start
Nov 01, 2005
1
77
117
Trip End
Nov 2006
Greymouth,
New Zealand
Thursday, July 6, 2006
So last night we glammed up in our various layers, and headed to the brewery in a bus, it was one of those mini buses and Naomi has already noticed how useless i am at everyday chores, everyday life really as i was the last on the mini bus and couldn't slam the sliding door, i tried 4 times and it just bounced back, by now we were already driving and heading to the brewery so the girl in the front seat had to hold the door too, whilst we zooooomed along much to naomi's amusement
barmaid
!The brewery trip was good, we got to try grains that went into bear, different kinds of barley, some were nice and tasted like horlicks others were grim and tasted like very burnt toast, we then got to try some hops, by smelling it i knew i shouldn't as it smelt like rotten milk but everyonelse was so i thought why the heck not and bit into it, disgusting! yuk, really gross, a sharp taste that just gets stronger and stronger and then decides to repeat on you all day. We were then shown all around the brewery, up some steps were massive open top vessels full to the brim with beer, noami being irish i feared would jump in and go for a drink and swim, but luckily before she'd managed to take her shoes off and try the lady told us all that there is no oxygen so we'd almost certainly die, phew.... close call naomi!
After we had the tour we ended up in the brewery bar, where you have a pot size of the 7 different beers, all different, some like guiness, others with lime and another with cinnomon infused, pretty yummy stuff, i never realised how much i actually do like beer till now, after we'd drunk a full glass of all seven and without a falter in my step or speech, honest! You then had half an hour to pour as much beer as you liked, it was a good giggle and we met some cool people, most of whom are on our bus today and we're staying with at the hostel, so all is good!
After the beer we were dropped off at another pub for an all you can eat bbq and i must say it's my 1st ever winter bbq, very strange but it defo warmed the cockles and that's all that matters, we couldn't eat to much due to the bellies filled with beer, but managed a plate full, we were also handed what we thought was a pint of our favourite beer from the brewery, it turns out it was a pint and 3/4 as he showed by putting it next to a uk pint, our pint just looked piddly compared to it, so we chatted and sat by the fire and then all made our way back to hostels for the early pickup...
beer
. 7am! I need sleep!I woke up today with no sign of a hangover which came as a pleasant surprise and we waited and waited in the mornings bitter cold for the bus, now the bus is like a party bus, full of travellers shouting and singing, well generally it is but this morning that wasn't the case cos most peeps were hungover so, me and naomi shared music and checked out the amazing sceenery as we came to franz josef! It really is amazing, i've never seen anything quite like it, mountain ranges covered in snow and then beautiful crisp green mountain ranges and that all reflecting on massive lakes, it's fantatsic! We stopped at a few small villages on the way, but me and naomi hid on the bus at the last one as it was way too cold to venture away from the heat of the buses blow heathers! At least the weather is warmer where we are now, i have gone down from 2 layers to one and thanks to my tights that i finally found yesterday after a proper mission to find them i'm pretty snug!
We arrived in Frans Josef and we are pretty gutted as the bus doesn't come here til sun, so we are gonna be here til then but tomo we are doing a days trek up a glacier, so if i survive that..... i'll tell you all about it on sat, the pics of the place look amazing and Dave, you'll be proud..
big beer
. i'm gonna finally use that slide film! I'm very excited, but slightly scared as they showed us some pics of where the ice had broken and we have to climb straight up a ladder that is positioned rather weirdly on the slippery ice! Hey, it's gonna be not only beautiful but interesting!I have a day doing nowt on sat so if i can make it to the tinternet cafe and am in one piece i'll catch up with all me emails and send you guys some!
One last thing before i go, Naomi has cottoned a phrase called 'oh crap... i kated it'. She likes to use this for example this morning when she couldn't do the simple task of opening the hostel door with the handle, i must add i have only had a few miss-haps since i got here, like forgetting to check in one place, not being able to work out how to use a key and forgetting where i was so i'm not too sure how she can justify using this new phrase of hers!
Anyways i'm off now, i have a pasta lunch waiting for me at the hostel thanks to naomi the chef and a wee walk up there. I hope everyone's good, that jesmond and cal had great birthdays and happy birthday for the 7th to beth! Dad, bec's and pat have a great holiday! Bye bye x x x
