We took our normal bus route all the way to New Brighton, which is the stop right next to the water. The beach was bustling with families...children are currently on holiday from school (which I imagine is similar to our spring breaks). There were even many surfers in the water. I was bundled up and couldn't even imagine how cold the water must have been after feeling the air temperature! The water was a beautiful clear-blue-green and off in the distance were the majestic snow-capped mountains. We talked about how in the US, there are few places were you can be on a sandy beach and looking at snowy mountains. It was pretty incredible, and a wonderful reminder of what NZ is all about, which is easy to forget living in the suburbs.
They had a long walkway built above the water, which we trekked out on, despite the gusty wind. The view was spectacular, and something you have to see for yourself...my words can barely describe it! The beach town area itself was similar to those in the US: random shops, tiny cafes further in, with the nicer ones right on the water. There was a huge library right on the beach with a two-floor cafe and restaurant, Salt on the Pier, where we stopped to warm up and take in the scenery without the wind. After hearing several Chris Isaak and David Gray songs in the restaurant, I was delighted to hear Counting Crow's Omaha, a nice reminder of back home...somewhere in middle America.
I also spent a little bit of time playing with Amadeus, Tranquil Lodge's resident cat. Our window was open to the room, and he probably would have jumped right on in, had I let him and Bret not been allergic. He was rolling around outside in the sunshine (oh, to be a lazy cat!) and was so into it, he rolled right off the step. He just looked at me like 'I meant to do that'. Cats are not smart, from my overall experience, but entertaining nonetheless!
Rolling, rolling, gone!
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