NZ's very own version of Edinburgh
Trip Start
Oct 28, 2008
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62
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Trip End
Jun 30, 2009
Dunedin,
South Island,
New Zealand
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Four hours later, and several Spanish verb and tense conjugations later we arrive in Dunedin. We are learning Spanish courtsey of Michel Thomas on our Ipod - an excellent language teacher with a very unique and effective style.
The Naked Bus drops us off at the beautiful old station building but sadly not at the YHA itself. So we lug our heavy loads through the streets and hills of Dunedin to the proportedly haunted YHA. A beautiful old building with lots of potential somewhat ruined by the random choice of decor - walls painted with left over colours that sit together uneasilly. Our room is an akward shape and we work out that it used to be part of the coridoor. Joel's bed is half in an old ripped out wardrobe. Add to that that we are in the ropey end of town. Every cloud has a silver lining - the staff are nice and it's only about 10 mins walk to the nicer parts
Baldwin Street - World's Steepest Street
. It's good for us to see that not every square km of NZ is stunning - a reality check!We take a walk to the centre then across to the University area - some lovely old buildings house various faculties. We notice a sign advertising uni facilities including "queer support". Strange how the use of language can be so different in a seemingly similar country to the UK!
We browse in the Uni bookshop and find a Spanish dictionary and phrase book - more exciting than it sounds. We are really trying to drill the Spanish now and it's really satisfying getting our teeth into it. This area has nice coffee shops - we can recommend "Everyday Gourmet' for coffee that blows your head off and lots of delicious deli stuff.
We then head to the Botanic Gardens for a pleasant wander in the sun. Then it's on to Baldwin Street - reputedly the steepest street in the world. It's in an unassuming residential area. At its maximum, the slope is 35% - for every 2.86 metres travelled horizontally, the elevation rises by 1 metre. We huff and puff by the time we reach the top. After lying on the road we exchange thank yous and bows, for photos taken, with some Japanese retired tourists.
Back at the hostel we get the "Whale Rider" film out. It's based on a translated novel by Witi Ihimaera - a moving story of New Zealand Maoris seeking, with the leadership of a stubborn and harsh elder to sustain their peoples' values and traditions.
Dunedin- Botanic Gardens
Before we leave we head out to St. Clair, Dunedin's beach and take a swim in the "St Clair Hot Water Baths". This is a great refurbed outdoor pool which is 25% salt water and is heated. We're lucky because it closes in less than a week as we say goodbye to the NZ summer. Feeling exhilarated we enjoy a coffee in the cafe overlooking the waves and the surfers.
What visit would be complete without a souvenir? As we eat our lunch at the YHA before getting on the next bus to Christchurch, one of the hostel staff comes up to us with a serious face, "I am the bearer of bad bews". Joel's mind immediately jumps to the backpacks which we left in reception while out for the morning, "the backpacks have been nicked'. 'No, but when I was in your room after you checked out I found bedbugs". I had actually been itching around the ankles but had ignored it as so far we have been bitten countless times by everything from mosquitos to sandflies. Anyway he gives us money to hot wash everything, dry everything in the dryer, and instructs us to leave our backpacks outside overnight before going into next room. Relieved we still have our stuff albeit infested we make our way - onwards and upwards. I'm itching all over - is it in my head? Ironic that we travelled through Nepal, India, SE Asia and did not knowingly encounter bedbugs!
Comments
trailblazing!
By the way, Dunedin featured in the Courier Mail as one of the top destinations 'close to home' (i.e. Aus/ NZ) this weekend... so you guys are ahead of the posse!