I should play the lotto this week....

  Queenstown, New Zealand
Thursday, November 8, 2007

Queenstown Day 3:

Queenstown docks

Ummm... things really couldn't have worked out better. So I got here a few days ago and after walking around town decided that this is definitely where I'm going to settle down for a bit. I had already kind known that before getting here (I was here three years ago and loved it then) but it was totally confirmed as soon as I stepped foot here. The town is the adventure capital of New Zealand and everyone comes here to do their skydiving, climbing, mountain biking, whitewater rafting, etc... And, it's nestled on this lake surrounded by huge, beautiful mountains, including a ski mountain just five minutes away. Oh, and of course all these mountains have hiking/biking trails on them- really, this place is perfect. Not to mention that it's been over SIX months that I've stayed anywhere more than a week and I'm starting to crave the little things... like having an unpacked backpack and not having to lug my toiletries kit into the bathroom every time I want to brush my teeth.

So after a walk around the town I picked my top two places I wanted to work and then went

What an awesome place...

straight to the internet cafe to print out my resume. It's funny... I had to modify it, like, take away my engineering jobs and add my waitressing jobs...

Anyways, like I said, luck is on my side... So the first job I wanted is at this sweet bar in town. I talked to the bar manager within a few hours of getting there and got myself hooked up with

At the summit of Queenstown Mtn

a trial shift for the next night. Now my bartending experience extends to opening beer bottles with picnic tables and pumping college kegs into plastic cups... but of course that's not what I told him so you can imagine I was pretty nervous when people start asking for drinks and the tap runs out... but somehow things worked out and now I start there next week! Before I describe the other job, let me just say that gear here is freaking expensive!! Hiking boots, mountain bikes, camping stuff.... easily 2.5x what it costs back home. And I want gear. And I want cheap gear. Sooo... off goes my resume to the outdoor store and in town, and ha, now I'm also working at the outdoor store.

After that finding an apartment was pretty easy, I got one with unbelievable views of the lake

Another summit pic

and just at the start of this awesome hikding trail that goes up to the summit of one of the mountains in town (or well, on the edge of town, it'd be weird to have a mountain in town, huh?).

Mmmm mmmm, and that's where I am now. I imagine I won't be updating the blog as regularly now but I'd still love email updates and hellos from everyone! And of course, if ANYONE has some extra vacation time and wants to come and visit, mi casa es tu casa :)

Big smiles,
Ciaoooooo!