Wellington, NZ is a bustling little port city. It immediately reminded me of San Francisco. The wind seems more fierce than it was in The Bay, but I found so many similarities as I spent the day exploring. First stop after meeting up with fellow Saratogian Chris; was hiking up Mt. Vic. The views from the top were fantastic. You have a 360˚ view of the entire city including the skyline, harbor, and the Pacific. Mt. Victoria's original Māori name was Tangi Te Keo, though Matairangi is also used.
The first name derives from a legend in which two taniwah tried to escape from Wellington Harbour which was then an enclosed lake. One taniwha became stranded and died, and its spirit turned into a bird named Te Keo, which flew to the top of the mountain and mourned (tangi).
The second name translates as "to examine the sky".
From here we strolled back into the city and walked along Cuba St. Cuba St has lots of shopping and cafes. We stopped at one of Chris favorite places called Fidel's Cafe. And yes, you guessed it, the entire cafe is all things Fidel Castro and Cuban (duh). Ironic we happened to be there yesterday given the recent events and the burial of Castro. From here we walked around the War Memorial and then I headed to Te Papa Tongarewa Museum of New Zealand. This museum is FREE and is 6 stories! I spent a good few hours in there, learning about local Māori culture, seeing some classic and modern art, and lastly venturing through the larger than life Gallipoli war exhibit.
The Milky Way
After my cultural fix, I walked along the waterfront and slowly made my way back to the apartment. This city has artwork on sidewalks, the sides of buildings, store fronts, and in crosswalks. If you don't stop to look around you will miss some of the fantastic gems that are sprinkled throughout the city.
Recreation Centre - Mt Cook
City Centre - Art and Architecture Installations