Today was our last day in Wellington. I fly home to California tomorrow. It's another windy day and there is intermittent light rain. Some of us walk along the harbor to the Te Papa Tongarewa National Museum, some take a taxi.
Watch this guy jump in the cold, cold water for a swim!
The Te Papa Tongarewa is a spectacular museum, thoughtfully planned, and extremely innovative. We have a wonderfully-energetic guide named Roger, who Sue tells us is a popular broadcaster, now retired. (His laugh reminded me of Nathan Lane from the movie Bird Cage.)
Looking up...
Looking down...
He speaks of tectonic plate movements and the volatile geology of NZ, so crossed with earthquake faults.
There are displays of the Prehistoric Animals
and the Maori myth of creation, Mother Earth "Papatuanuku"
Then Roger speaks of the migration of native Polynesians from islands in the west Pacific hundreds of thousands of years ago. Then some peoples headed north to Hawaii and another group headed south to New Zealand and were the forefathers of the Maori.
Imagine what the Europeans thought when they first met the native peoples...
Artist depiction of Maori wharenui (meeting house)
The real thing... a wharenui
Even the Maori women had facial tattoos (ta moko) -- most often on their chins.
Roger also led us through the displays of natural history -- flora and fauna.
Te Papa displays a Giant Squid encased in silicone caught in 2003 in Antarctica and thawed 5 years later for display. When caught it was thought the squid measured 33 feet, but the tentacles shrank considerably after death and measured only 14 feet. The eye alone was 12-14 inches in diameter.
The exploration areas for children were inviting to adults, too. Here is a life-size model of a Blue Whale's heart.
On the grounds, a restful Japanese garden
After our tour, Aline and I walked in the misty rain over to Cuba Street - full of shops and places to eat.
We stop at the R & S Satay Noodle House and I order Wonton Soup with BBQ Pork -- comfort food at its best.
Cuba Street's famous Bucket Fountain
We get turned around a few times as we search for Lambton Quay near our hotel, the Wellington Travelodge. Tonight we all gather for the Farewell Dinner. It's John and Anne's 14th wedding anniversary, so Sue assists them in renewing their vows and also highlights our travel adventures with us. And Ed and Susan dance. I will miss this heartygroup of "ratbaggers." It's been great fun.
It's beefsteak (no eggs this time), "mash" and raspberry cheesecake for dessert.
No comments:
Post a Comment