My 2014 Adventure: Travels to Singapore, Australia & New Zealand: Mini-Introduction to Napier

Not much to report today but I wanted to show some beautiful pictures of Napier, near the Hawke's Bay wine region. We arrived by bus this afternoon and put on our togs (swim suits) to go for a swim in the ocean. When we got there we saw that no one was in the water. Upon further inspection we saw how crazy the waves were, as well as the distinct water color variation where the beach drops off about 30 feet out; needless to say we did not go for a swim today. Instead we did our grocery shopping (we cook all our own meals), took a stroll on the beach, had dinner, and took a night walk around town. Napier is Art Deco themed from the building facades to the font on the street signs. This is because in 1931 an earthquake devastated the city so all new construction was done in the Art Deco architectural style of the 1930s. Also, Napier is a huge sea port where they export fruit (apples, pears, stone fruit), sheep's wool, and timber. Mariel and I are excited to ride bicycles to a few different wineries tomorrow and do some tastings. I almost want to ask if they rent adult sized tricycles, but a bicycle will probably help keep me in check.

Fun fact I wanted to mention: a rugby team checked into our hostel last night in Taupo...40 burly rugby players. I have never seen so many strong, young men in my life. They overtook the bathrooms and the kitchen and the patio... Since we were in a mixed dorm both sexes use the same bathrooms on that floor. In the morning I was brushing my teeth and two guys walked by in nothing but a towel. Mariel, thankfully, had a much different experience; a rugby guy came out of the shower shirtless, saw Mariel, and promptly went back into the shower stall to put a shirt on. We both thought that was very cute!