I had great intentions of what I needed to visit before I left but to be honest I have run out of steam! But that is ok. You can't gallop around everything all the time, and I am sure South America is going to be a full on assault of the senses, so I was more than happy to chillax!
After checking in, freaking out slightly about the view from the window, it seems so much higher than 12 floors up! (and I was not impressed to see a 20ft Santa looking at me from across the road - it's only November), I headed out to catch the ferry to Devonport.
It's only a 12 minute trip across the bay, but it's a fairly laid back village, with fab shops and cafés, and an awesome view from Mt Victoria.
After a couple of hours pottering around I headed back and found myself at the flicks. I did, what some may say is sad, tragic even but hopefully it made my brother proud!! I came out of one film and went into another!!!! It felt so geeky, but I love films in a proper cinema and it made me happy!!!! My only mistake was to give in to my need to eat and to accept Burger King as my only option! I do not think I have EVER eaten at Burger King, and there is a very good reason for that: it's rubbish! But hell it was cheap! £2.50 for a chicken burger, fries and a drink. No wonder it attracts so many customers. I dread to think what the quality was like, but it didn't really matter as it took revenge on my digestive system! As penance I tried to spend most of the next day eating only fruit and veggies! But I did crack in the afternoon for a hazelnut ice cream! Tasted of Nutella!!!!
The next morning was a complete write off (I blame Burger King!) I took an age showering, unpacked and re packed my case, wafted generally about the room, watched Strictly snippets on YouTube and organised laundry. I was planning on taking another ferry to Rangitoto Island. No one lives there but there is a volcano that erupted about 600 years ago. But again I couldn't be bothered! The volcanoes in Indonesia were active, this one is dormant, so not the same sense of thrill, and anyway I had seen it from Mt Victoria the day before. That was good enough for me!
So instead I headed out to the Domain, a large park that houses the museum, sports fields, walks, the Fernery and the Winter Garden. It was a lovely warm afternoon, so it was just a case of wandering where the mood took me.
After all of that chilledness it was only right to counter balance with some shopping! Obviously having just re packed my case I should have paid heed to the fact that there is no room! But hey, when did that ever stop me!
Wicked is the top show in town at the moment, and again it is right on my doorstop. So much so that the curtain went up at 6:30pm and I only left my room at 6:12pm, and I still had time to spare!!!
The last full day was spent hopping on and off buses. I went to Ponsonby, a high street close to town but much more hip, cafés, boutiques and dress shops for thin people! Then I was heading back to the hotel and spotted more shops in Newmarket, so stopped the bus to explore. I had not bought a handbag for ages! Hello lovely handbag! Deciding that the only option was to remove myself from temptation I headed to the hotel spa.... and opted for a facial!
Obviously a girls needs to have her treats, so glowing from my facial I donned my new trousers, top and shoes, unwrapped my new handbag and headed to the best (well newest) Japanese restaurant in town!
Being Norma-no-mates they sat me at the bar next to the kitchens, the best spot! I was next to the chef whose only task was to prepare the sashimi. He used about 7 different knives to skin, fillet, carve etc various fish, and watching him put it all together with crushed ice, ice carvings, shaved mouli, flowers, lemon, lime and ginger was quite transfixing. Behind him was the firepit, where two chefs were trying not to get burnt as they cooked the teriaki fish and kebabs etc. I ordered fatty tuna sashimi.
I was introduced to fatty tuna in Japan. It is exactly what it says! Contrary to belief red tuna is not the best, and honestly fatty tuna just melts in your mouth. Salmon with cucumber pickle and sesame seeds, and kumara teriaki followed. Yum, yum, yum! It was awesome! I am really going to miss the prevalence of Japanese food. On the hotel block alone there are 5 Japanese restaurants / stores. Anyway I fear I may be obsessing about the food rather too much!
So that is it really. Another part of the adventure completed. Tomorrow I head for the airport and South America....
Well you showed us the sushi but not the new shoes, trousers or handbag! But of course you are now in Santiago where there will be other shopping opportunities as yet unknown. Enjoy. Motherxx
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