Sunday afternoon, Creedence, $6.50 shakers.......

  Queenstown, New Zealand
Sunday, December 16, 2007

drinking and sunsets... it doesn't get better

Hello All, Happy Holidays to one and all..... its 80 degrees here and for the holidays everyone is talking about something called a 'Barbie on the beach' and I haven't played with dolls since....
    On a lighter note, we are going flat out here.  I am trying to do way too much, I am now fighting a cold after

maia's birthday... and a beer for the walk

an epic 13 hour, 60 kilometer  (38 mile) hike.  I decided midway through my day to do the whole hike (4 days) in one because I forgot my toothbrush and the sandflies where so bad.  It was a beautiful walk through two glacial valleys, separated by a 3,000-foot saddle.  Epic views of snowcapped mountains all the way to the sea.  I decided to culminate the hike by proceeding to the bar till 2:30 in the morning to celebrate Maia and our friends' birthday.  Not sure where that cold came from though!

We are both working retail now at Outside Sports.  Maia is now working twice a month or so at the bar, for cheap drinks and cheap all nighters.  It is my first time working retail and I am realizing that I may not have the patience to sit there and explain to people all day how to use their telescoping hiking poles.

partying it up at a friend's house

I just hate having to subdue the urge to stab them with it after they ask me if 'that is as long as they go?' Who the *&%$ needs a hiking pole over 6 feet long?  

The people we work with are all pretty sweet though.  There are only about three kiwis working at the store, Americans are a major chunk with four of us on the floor.  There are adventure racers, masters students, graphic designers, and a lot of people chasing summers around the world.  My wonderful people skills have stuck me

maia's new bike

upstairs in the tramping and camping section, where besides being able to play with packs, sleeping bags and tents, I am in charge of Outside Sports vast and smelly rental department.  The gear is top of the line which has my materialistic side threatening to come out and consume my paycheck.  The Holiday specials by all the wholesalers have gotten Maia and I salivating.  I have managed to satisfy myself with one super sweet softshell jacket, but Maia has gotten a few new toys.  

There is so much to do around here that I do stuff and then realize how much I can't do because of how my body is feeling.  I am learning how it is to have to recover from something other than a weekend hashing.  Maia has gotten a new mountain bike and we have all sorts of sweet places to wander around and play on them around here.  She also has gotten a few of

man it's fun...!

the girls in the shop, who coincidently have gotten new bikes, to start a girls ride on Monday nights (boys play Frisbee golf.)  Tuesday's and Saturdays have become roped climbing, and bouldering respectively.  With ultimate Frisbee on Wednesday nights that leaves very few nights to just chill out and enjoy Dux'd'Lux the local microbrewery..... alas.  

Yesterday we went out to a local field where some massive boulders had just popped off the

bouldering on saturday night

Remarkables mountain range and scattered themselves around sheep and thistles.  Our evening was spent, six of us, bouldering.  Working our climbing skills while observing the sun setting on the snowcapped peaks on the other end of the lake 30 kilometers away.

scrambling up

Towards the end we iced our aching fingers with some of New Zealand's frosty adult beverages.  

Queenstown is definitely a wonderful place, we live within 5 minutes walking of two trails that lead to 1,500 foot and 6,000 foot peaks, a huge supermarket, 10 bars, downtown and the lake.

and now to get down...

There are still some kinks though.  Buying a car here was one of the easiest things yet opening a video account required a proof of residency, passport or NZ drivers license and a photograph of whoever will rent under this account.  Hot peppers are 59 dollars a kilo, so I have started growing our own.  Avocados though, our favorite vegetable is super cheap, 79 cents a piece.  So guacamole is one of our staple meals much to our delight.

We have no idea what to do for the holiday.  We have instigated an 'orphans dinner' at our house with a few or our new friends from all over the world.  We have not figured out whether to watch the Indiana Jones trilogy or is that to Thanksgivingly.... any ideas?  We are thinking pot luck and we'll take pictures of the one of a kind feast it is sure to be!

Alright, We have given in to an afternoon of shakers at Maia's bar..... till next time!