Finally in Middle Earth

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What seemed like a million and one hours of flying and waiting and flying again has landed me in this magical land they call New Zealand. It seems as though I am dreaming yet I feel the wind on my face and the warmth of the sun on my back. I can breathe again. I arrived yesterday to find myself staying in a beautiful, what seems to me mansion like, hostel. Not more than an hour after I found my temporary home base I took the city by foot. I ran down Ponsonby, a beautiful trendy little street, engulfed in little boutiques, flower shops, and funky little restaurants and bars. Although my memory of New Zealand is somewhat vague considering I was so young, I feel as though I may have missed out on a lot of the sheer quaintness of this place. It is a little peice of heaven.

I woke up this morning bright and early but still exhausted from my travels. At about 8 am I took the city by storm once more; the sound of my feet hitting the ground calms me. The smells in the air are intoxicating. I feel more free than I can remember feeling in a very long time. In my decision to veer off the main road I had taken yesterday I found myself running down a steep hill that ran into a very large bridge that went up and down so I couldn't see what was on the other side. I ran over it, simply with the curiousity of wanting to see what was on the other side, with the intention to head back. And of course I did not. I zigged and zagged through beautiful little covered streets, past uniformed school girls and tattoo shops and coffee shops and a business called "Middle Earth" something or other, up hill and down hill, trying to find my way back with what I thought was my great sense of direction. Finally I asked for directions to Ponsonby and it turned out I was heading the right way and just had to go about three more streets to get there. I have come to the conclusion that from now on I will be taking my camera on every run, and maybe $5 in case I end up semi-lost again.

Today Dad and I are heading to the center of the city to explore and see the sea 😉

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Comments

[Jo carpenter]

Travel
Wow!!! Molly , your visit to New Zealand sounds wonderful! Kearney and I leave on Monday for Cambodia and Vietnam. Some day we'll have to share experiences. Have a great time and say hi to your Dad. xxooo....Jo