Napier
After a massive earthquake in 1931, the city of Napier rebuilt itself in the hip Art Deco style of the time. The city has retained much of this architecture through the years, and thus contains a different bit of charm than many of our destinations on this voyage. Many modern companies have taken over old buildings, but kept the beautiful shapes, tiles, and colors. For example, a major bank is a destination on a walking tour, due to the elaborate ceiling in the building. Things we would never normally look at are necessary stops due to the buildings that house them. A band shell sits on the beach, while many fountains and archways frame our views. Combine these sights with the knowledge of our local guides, and a wonderful morning was had by all.
In the afternoon, we divided into groups of different interests. This region of New Zealand is famous for its wine production, and many of us visited two different wineries. Here, we learned about what makes this region so excellent for certain types of wine, the process of harvesting, and the making of the wines. But of course, the most important part was the tasting, and we were treated to quite a few fantastic varieties of wines.
The rest of us set off to explore some other sights in Napier, including the aquarium. Here was a collection of fish and reptiles from all over the world, including quite a few of the New Zealand endemic species. It was nice to see some of the species we had been eating on this trip! A highlight for many was the kiwi they had in captivity, which they have tricked into thinking that day is night. Actively feeding, it was great to see one of these elusive birds.
To top off our day, many of us entered Opossum World. Throughout this trip we have learned about the scourge of the introduced opossum from Australia, and this spot was not only educational but quite humorous to many of us.
