Today was Taieri Gorge Railway day. The train left at 9.30 and was pretty full (there were a couple of cruise ships in port).

The morning had dawned overcast, and a bit drizzly, not ideal scenic viewing but it didn't really matter too much.

The train travels over some spectacular railway bridges and viaducts - I staked a position on a viewing platform and didn't move for the entire journey (didn't want to lose my position - I had the windswept hairstyle to prove it)

Took heaps of photos which I need to sort through and upload to flickr.

Back to Dunedin in early afternoon and headed back to the hotel to try and tame my hair (couldn't so picked up hat instead) then went to check out the exhibitions at the Dunedin Public Art Gallery.

Ran out of time to see the exhibitions so will try and go back later.

Dunedin

Happy Birthday to me.

My %)th birthday dawned bright and sunny (and two hours earlier in NewZealand).

I treated myself to a rather spectacular cooked breakfast and then headed to see the butterflies at the Otago museum.

Yummy morning tea or lunch of green tea with lime & and a savoury muffin at the museum before heading across the road to the University of Otago Library to see their exhibition of pulp fiction.

Checked out the world's steepest street (Baldwin Street) before heading back into town for a hot chocolate from chocolat (& coconut ice).



Also treated myself to a pair of new shoes (just because) before joining some friends for an Indian meal. (Awesome rogan josh)

Christchurch to Dunedin.

It was difficult to leave my palatial digs at the Holiday Inn in Christchurch but I had to cos the bus to Dunedin was picking me up at 7.45 am.

The bus ride was uneventful - we stopped for lunch at Oamaru and we arrived in Dunedin at 2.30pm.

My hotel was further away from Dunedin station than I expected so (I should have got a cab) it was a longish walk for me & my suitcase.

The Mercure hotel in Dunedin is in a heritage building (well the front half of the hotel is) and my room was tucked under the eaves on the seventh floor.

To get to my room I have to take the heritage lift which is a manual lift (you know with the gates) - scary.

In this photo my room is in (or under) the topmost centre window.

Dumped my bag and headed out into the big wide world of Dunedin.

By the way HAPPY BIRTHDAY TAPPINGBETTY

Christchurch - Day 2

Up bright and early this morning and headed for Cathedral Square where I started the day with a rather delicious breakfast at the Cathedral coffee shop. (french toast with banana, crispy bacon, & maple syrup.)

There was a craft market in the square so I checked it out before heading for the Arts Precinct and the market there.

And wow, what a market. I think my credit card almost melted.

I did a fair bit of Christmas shopping at the woodcraft gallery - a wooden scarf knitter (sort of like a knitting nancy but a rack rather than a tube); a cotton wheel racer & a pompom maker for young cousins overseas; jewelry boxes for myself & my sister, etc etc etc.

And there is of course the fudge cottage...

There was a range of international food stands to choose from for lunch.

There were some beautiful woollen craft stands but on a gloriously warm day buying woollen goods seemed impossible.

After a late lunch it was across the road to the Canterbury museum to see "The Heart of the Great Alone: Scott, Shackleton & Antarctic Photography." It was a great exhibition and well worth seeing.

The Robert McDougall gallery (where the exhibition is on) is in the Botanic Gardens so a perfect place for a spot of afternoon tea and a rest in the sun before continuing on with my touristing.

After rogan josh at an Indian restaurant near the hotel it was off to Hagley Park for the Christmas concert in the park.

The concert was great - there were thousands of people there, it was a beautiful night to be sitting in a park listening to music.

Christchurch - Day 1

The flight was uneventful - I was flying Virgin Pacific - & it pretty much left on time and landed on time.

I had just taken my suitcase off the xray machine when the airport went silent as the whole building observed a minute's silence for the Pike River Miners.

Caught a shuttle to my hotel (Holiday Inn City Centre) dumped my bags and headed out to gegt my bearings and do a bit of a reconnoitre of the city.

Grabbed a souvlaki for tea from the souvlaki stand in Cathedral Square.

New Zealand - the game day version

So the great birthday escape began before dawn as I waited on Mont Albert station for the 5.07 am train.

It's the first train of the morning, & this is the third time I've caught it, yet it has never been on time. Go figure.

This, of course, meant that I was at the airport ridiculously early but gave me plenty of time to a) earn 2 dollars helping an american lady find where to check in (she was queueing to check in international but her flight was actually domestic.

It also gave me time to bump into a couple of people I used to work with - Michael B & Patti M.

Eventually however i checked in & headed through passport control to the duty free that lay beyond.

There is work going on so it was a quite a trek between the 2 duty free shops but i managed to purchase some food for the journey so i was happy.

Then it was on to the plane & off to Christchurch.

Thank G for holidays

Well I had the day from hell at work today. So crappy that working at Macca's seems preferable.

Now I need to get the hurt & upsetness out of my system cos tomorrow I'm going to New Zealand for 12 days.

Holidays - yeeeeeesssssss.

I cannot wait.

Still need to pack & find my passport (minor details) but I'm almost there.

New Zealand here I come.