Napier, the Art Deco City

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Well if you aren't interested in architecture or looking at many pictures of art deco construction you might as well skip this blog!

By the way, I do have lots of pictures already uploaded but not published, over the last few months, and I am in the process of writing the journal part just now. I just upublished one for Feb 6th I think it was, about Tauranga and Bay of Plenty, and another on Feb 14th, so a word to my readers to keep checking earlier dates for these journals that I am just writing now.

So back to Art Deco:

I happen to really love looking at it. Pat and I went on a tour of Frank Lloyd Wright buildings in Chicago several years ago and were completely taken with the simple beauty of the designs.

We went on a walking tour of the downtown the first morning we were here. In a nutshell, Napier was destroyed in February of 1931 because of an earthquake. Then, what few buildings that remained standing were razed by fire which erupted shortly afterwards. More than 200 people died in the destruction. There was a massive reconstruction of the entire town, and the architects used the prevailing schools of design for their inspiration: at the time, it was Art Deco.

I do have the info in my room about the actual buildings, and will add the details later when I have it by the computer. This backpacker's we are staying at is really nice, with the added benefit of having FREE INTERNET. For travellers wanting the details, it's Wally's Backpackers on Cathedral Street in Napier. Very clean, cozy lounge with big TV and two computers with broadband hookup.

A week ago, Pat made the decision to not return on his flight to Canada! Instead, he extended his holiday by another month to be able to golf and fish without having to drive great distances to "see the country". I would sooner have spent at least a week in each place to explore it more. Each place we stopped, one could stay a week, look at the buildings, see the wildlife, do some tramping or day walks along the countless paths maintained by the Department of Conservation. They also have camping grounds that we would have loved to have stayed at but with a tight schedule to be back for the prebooked ferry and get Pat to Auckland - phew! We had to dash. So now we are poking along, taking it slowly.

Pat went golfing yesterday, the first time since he came on holiday. Today he bought some fishing gear to try fly fishing. The guy was very helpful in the shop and now he has maps and a pile of tackle and tomorrow will be the first shot at it.

We originally decided to go back to the South Island because Nelson is reported to have the greatest number of sunlight hours of New Zealand. Well, here in Hawke's Bay it is also very sunny, and we are now thinking that rather than taking the ferry again we will continue to explore Hawke's Bay. The wine industry began in this area, and it's a bit like Niagara on the Lake in Canada, with apples, peaches, plums and grapes everywhere. Some of the young kids in the backpackers here are working in the seasonal jobs of fruitpicking. The report from a yound Pommie is "It's the pits!!" ha ha. The pay is only about $11 per hour, or $30 per 50 kg box. Today was his first day and he managed to fill one and a half boxes, so his take-home is $45. He said he had a romantic view of what it would be like. No more.

Pat has done some golfing at a beautiful public course beside the ocean in town, his first time out since arriving. He also bought some fly fishing gear and spent a long happy day whipping the lure off behind him, catching the fine line in his coat and hair, and even catching a little trout which he threw back.

We went for a ride around Hastings/Napier area on a self-guided drive on a windy day. Up on a bluff lookout over the harbour we met Hugo, a barrel-chested lively little Jack Russel Terrier, and his owners, Garnet and Christine McCutcheon. I was trying to lure him over while they were trying to call him back. So we ended up chatting (while I was restraining myself from rolling around on the ground with Hugo) and they invited us back for coffee. We met Nana whose name is Val (originally Mavis but Val for short!!) and a lovely horse who does dressage with their daughter, out the back of their 5 acre property . Garnet runs a trucking company and was amazed to hear the McCutcheon is a name in trucking in Canada as well. Val pulled out an atlas and we found Canada on it, then another page with Ontario, so I put a dot where Barrie is on the map. And wrote down Oro Station on the top of the page, the village where we live outside Barrie.

Strangely enough, no one asked for our autographs!

Hugo and I played with his squeaky toy - he is just as energetic and eager as our little dog Abbey was, including "talking" while we are both pulling on the toy. Of course I know it's just talking, but some might think it's growling - anyone who hasn't played PULL THE TOY with a terrier. It's a game all the training books tell you NOT to do in case it teaches the dog to pull at everything hanging, like purses. But Hugo is a big boy now and knows the difference. Hugo also did his trick for me, sitting up pretty wedged in the corner on the couch and staying until Garnet tells him "OK" and I took a picture. But I had trouble with the compact flash (essentially, it wasn't in the camera when I went to get the pictures out) so if Garnet happens to see this blog, could you send me a message (see the links at the bottom of this page) and I could email you to get another picture of Hugo (you'd have to type out your email but I won't publish it on the internet). You'd have to take another picture of Hugo for me, doing his trick again. He was lots of fun. Heck, I'll even put in a picture of all of you humans too! If you send me one, that is!

We missed the big Art Deco weekend where about fifteen thousand people come here, dressed in 1930's style, and there is an antique car show, with beautifully restored vehicles, people singing in quartets and all sorts of fun. It was while we were in Wellington. I'm just as happy with the lack of crowds here, but apparently I missed seeing my aunt Gael, who came down for the weekend with all the fun-seekers.

I also got word from my brother Derek that he is trying to get my parents' friends Dorothy and Bill to take internet courses to learn how to use it. If they do, they will see their names on the computer for the first time: Dorothy and Bill Dunster, hello out there from Down Under!!!

We have been staying in a Backpacker's that we really have enjoyed. It's called Wally's Backpacker's and I can't say enough good things about it - clean, spacious, bright, secure. Cozy lounge and free internet. Well, it's why I was able to upload so many pictures in my free time!

We went around to a couple more wineries and did more tasting. And had tea at one place. Stopped by the residence of a former flat-mate of Erin's, Jocelyn, who told me before Christmas to stop in and visit her father in Hastings, as he has a garden he'd want to show me. He wasn't home when we happened by that day, but we drove in the driveway and had a look at the garden.

I went in search of a new sun visor today while Pat was golfing again, and ended up in a book shop looking for New Zealand authors. It's a logical leap, if you think hard enough. I bought a book filled with stories about intelligent things dogs have done, collected by a vet who had been involved in a couple of TV programmes. She's the kind who gets choked up at the theme music of Lassie. She had people around the world contribute stories about amazing things done by their dogs. I sat having cappuccino in a cafe reading this thing, and happened to look up the publisher. There is a Canadian publisher for this same book - in Tottenham, Ontario, no less -------- the place where Pat grew up and his mother still lives there!!!!

So I am now seeking suggestions from locals about music to take back, books to read by Kiwi authors, and Kiwi movies to watch. If anyone else out there has suggestions, send them in!

We leave Monday, in search of more fishing - probably in Taupo Lake area, renowned for its fishing.


That's it for now.

Please do send in your comments!

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Photos

Church
If you are going to build a church using art deco design, make a circle around the crucifix.

Three dimensions
This was pointed out on our tour. The three dimensions continues inside the store.

Mark of the designer
Eyebrow and geometric detail at the column tops, and recessed windows. Local architect Haye.

Theatre Building
Cantilevered overhangs because of No Pillars law.

Leaded glass
This beautiful detail is viewed from the inside of the

Pastel colours
When they decided to emphasize the Art Deco details, the building owners were told to paint the details in different colours to highlight the designs.

Acronym
They should have rethought this one! Kiwi sense of humour at work again.

In town a short while,
we went straight to Marine Parade, visitor's info and a scenic walk along a wonderful Art Deco waterfront

Comments

[Christine & Garnett McCutcheon]

HUGO
Have read your article while visiting Napier. It is very interesting and it was real good to meet you both. Sounds like you are still having lots of fun. Will definately get another photo of Hugo on the couch for you. Happy holidaying! From the McCutcheon Family.

[alcarney]

Great to hear from you!
Hi Christine and Garnet - thanks for sending your comments! Somewhere on this page should be a link about sending me an email - that's how you can send me the picture of Hugo. The email is sent through this blogsite and I get it later on my email account. I'll look out for an email from you.