It is the evening of the 23rd.  I’m going to write about the last two days but I’m feeling pretty frustrated right now. The camera seems to work intermittently and I can usually get it to turn on if I am patient. But when I tried to connect it to either the MacBook or the iPad, it totally fails.  So even though I haven’t taken many  photos in the past two days. I cannot upload anything.  Oh well, I will have to add the photos via an alternate connection method when I get home in a couple of weeks.   I’m going to continue writing toes because this is my journal and I will forget what happened if I wait. Beginning tomorrow I will likely switch to the iPhone camera only. Bummer.

Yesterday we flew from Queenstown to Nelson via Christchurch.  There are no direct flights.  Each flight was very short and it was easy.  Jan and had window seats and the views were spectacular.  I don’t usually take photos from planes but Jan took many.  We crossed over farm land and many, many mountains.  We were never at a high altitude so we really got a feel for the changes in the landscape.

We checked into the Tasman Bay Backpackers and it is very nice.  Our room has a view; the kitchen and living room space are very pleasant; and it even has an outdoor garden area.

Last night we walked the short distance to the town.  The stores were closed so we decided to go out for dinner and then a movie.  The theater has an exterior which needs some repair.  Most of the interior has been redone. We saw the French movie “Juliette.” The acting was wonderful and although it was a sad movie, I really enjoyed it.  I think my movie group would really like discussing it.

Today I  walked to town with Jan. First we went to the farmer’s market and bought veggies (asparagus, tomatoes and snap peas) to add to what we already had stored in the fridge for dinner.   Jan took the vegetables to our place and I went to the bicycle shop. I was looking into renting a bike for tomorrow.  Our plan for today was to go to a couple of the craft and art places. Then I decided I would rather just take a walk.

Jan and I went to lunch  at the Greek place that was closed last night because I really wanted to have some fresh spanakopita.  It was delicious.

Jan went to the art galories and I checked out the map for some walks.

First I stopped in the handmade wool and yarn shop called Cruellas.  What a treat it was to find another skein of yarn that might match the three I had bought in Queenstown.   The best part is they had a pattern for a Shrug that was exactly what I thought I needed.  So I went back to the backpackers place to check if the dye lot was going to be the same as the yarn I had in my suitcase.  Yea – it was – so I called the store and asked them to hold it.

I walked up a hill to a place they call the Center of a NZ.  There are several local people who use that hill for exercise.  I enjoyed the views of the entire city and the ocean at the top and  I spent a bit of  time talking with other tourists who were up at the top.

Then I walked down to the river. It was very peaceful and I had fun watching the teenagers swimming and using the rope swing to jump into the water. Yes, it was a warm day – the warmest we’ve had so far.

I walked back into town to purchase the yarn and pattern.  It turned out that this pattern is for a shrug that can be worn either short or long by turning it over.   I made a sweater like that before and I love it.

On the way back to the river I found Queens Garden.  So I took a detour through it and photographed trees and the bridge in the Chinese Garden section. It also had a very beautiful rose garden.

I returned to the river and continued walking to mouth of it at the ocean.  I bet it was pretty tired by then and found my way back to Tasman Backpackers.

Jan and I ate our vegetable dinner and partook of the free chocolate fudge brownies and ice cream that they serve here every night a 8:00.

It sure takes less time to write without uploading the photos, but disappointing.