Dolphins and loads of wine
The day before yesterday we arrived in Christchurch, after a short stop in Kaikoura. Can't really say anything about Christchurch except that we found one CD-store, that had one T-shirt, which might be bought later. Christchurch is basically your regular small town, like Malmoe and Gothenburg (which for the non swedish readers, are suburbs to Stockholm).
Yesterday we travelled by bus to a place called Akaroa, to swim with the Hector Dolphins, which are the worlds smallest dolphins. An adult dolphin is approximately 1.5 meters. Although it sounds cool, we felt that it was sort of overrated. First off, you were not allowed to touch the dolphins, because they would die if you did (we are not making this up, the guide actually said this). It sure makes you wonder how this animal managed to evolve at all... if they are set to "die on touch", how do they... you know... fornicate (... for the non adult readers: when the stork comes to visit...)?
Second, once we spotted some dolphins that seemed interested in us, we jumped in the water, which was really cold (even through our wet suits), and basically aimlessly floated around (because you were not really allowed to swim either), making weird dolphins noises with our snorkel in order to attract them to us.
Of course, most of the time they didn't really care, and when they did care, they usually got within 3-4 meters, and then turned back. We did, however, get one swimming up between us half a meter away, and that was great, but on the whole, we felt it was a kind of dissapointing afternoon.
Weather on the whole up to that point had been great, but as we left with the bus, it started pouring down hail from the sky. Luckily, we drove right through the hail storm, because once we got back to Christchurch, the weather was again great.
Today was definately a more rewarding day, since we spent the last 6 hours being driven around in a van in Waipara Valley, to 5 different vineyards, tasting more than 30 wines. We also had a delicious lunch in the garden of the second vineyard.
The first stop, Pegasus Bay, was by far the best one. However, at this place, at 11 in the morning, we tasted 8 wines, and after that it got sort of foggy, and our palates got a bit numb. The other places we visited were probably great as well, its just that we probably couldn't tell. But yeah, we are a bit sauced up at the moment.
Anyway, too bad that Systembolaget only have 2 Kiwi wines (Hedvig und Carl: Haben sie die Weisse neu zealandische wein gesmasket?)
Tomorrow we'll get our rental car and head for Mt Cook, for two nights, and some hiking, before we head to Queenstown.
Akaroa
Yesterday we travelled by bus to a place called Akaroa, to swim with the Hector Dolphins, which are the worlds smallest dolphins. An adult dolphin is approximately 1.5 meters. Although it sounds cool, we felt that it was sort of overrated. First off, you were not allowed to touch the dolphins, because they would die if you did (we are not making this up, the guide actually said this). It sure makes you wonder how this animal managed to evolve at all... if they are set to "die on touch", how do they... you know... fornicate (... for the non adult readers: when the stork comes to visit...)?
Sophie getting up close and personal with Hector (who later died)
Second, once we spotted some dolphins that seemed interested in us, we jumped in the water, which was really cold (even through our wet suits), and basically aimlessly floated around (because you were not really allowed to swim either), making weird dolphins noises with our snorkel in order to attract them to us.
Of course, most of the time they didn't really care, and when they did care, they usually got within 3-4 meters, and then turned back. We did, however, get one swimming up between us half a meter away, and that was great, but on the whole, we felt it was a kind of dissapointing afternoon.
Weather on the whole up to that point had been great, but as we left with the bus, it started pouring down hail from the sky. Luckily, we drove right through the hail storm, because once we got back to Christchurch, the weather was again great.
"Of course I know what I'm doing"
Today was definately a more rewarding day, since we spent the last 6 hours being driven around in a van in Waipara Valley, to 5 different vineyards, tasting more than 30 wines. We also had a delicious lunch in the garden of the second vineyard.
The pretties vineyard, the Daniel Schuster - estate (we think, but memory is a bit foggy)
The first stop, Pegasus Bay, was by far the best one. However, at this place, at 11 in the morning, we tasted 8 wines, and after that it got sort of foggy, and our palates got a bit numb. The other places we visited were probably great as well, its just that we probably couldn't tell. But yeah, we are a bit sauced up at the moment.
Lunch in the garden drinking a Riesling 2008... heavy eyelids, and not because of the sun... and anxiously awaiting the bringing in of the Chardonnay
Anyway, too bad that Systembolaget only have 2 Kiwi wines (Hedvig und Carl: Haben sie die Weisse neu zealandische wein gesmasket?)
Tomorrow we'll get our rental car and head for Mt Cook, for two nights, and some hiking, before we head to Queenstown.
Labels: New Zealand
posted by Joakim at 10:38 PM
3 Comments:
Ja ni verkar ju ha det väldans najsigt! Här sitter jag på ett tomt kontor och häller i mig te för att slippa frysa när jag plöjer igenom julhelgens mailskörd... Jätteskoj såklart men NZ skulle ju inte vara helt fel...
Nice and interesting reading.
Carry on! Have fun and take care.
Ulf
Hanna:
urk, later inte som att det ar riktigt lika kul pa jobbet som det ar har ;)
hmm, kan vara sa att jag har glomt alla mina losenord nar jag kommer tillbaks... blir intressant att se.
hoppas de har satt igang varmen uppe i matsalen sa att man inte fryser ihjal.
/Sophie
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