Alright so we've been in Napier, which is on the North Island in Hawkes Bay, for the last week. Hawke's Bay is another well-known wine region of New Zealand. We started picking apples last week, but were only able to work for a day and a half. I know, picking apples? Well, we just need a bit more money to finish travelling the North Island. Of course the first day was just as crazy as the first day of work on the vineyard. My first day on the vineyard was ridiculous. I starved because Beate and I got split up and she had the backpack with all our food and water! I was also forced to sing my national anthem at 8 in the morning while I was snipping grapes off the vine. The first day of apple picking was just as crazy. I was up on the ladder picking red fujis when the guy on the tractor ran over my ladder!!! I fell off and screamed at the same time. Ha, luckily I was only a few feet of the ground so I didn't get hurt. Then the van that took us to work dropped us off at a different place in Napier and our rides almost forgot us! I had no clue where we were, so thankfully I had the number of the guy in charge.
We ended up not working much last week since the apples weren't red enough, so we had a few days off to enjoy the beach. Yesterday Beate and I went on a fantastic wine tour to 4 wineries in Hawke's bay: Moana Park (very small, vegetarian wines), Sileni (larger, we had a gourmet food platter and bought chocolates), Ngatarawa (tasted a ton of wines and ended up with a merlot/cab blend), and Mission Estate (which was the first winery established in NZ). We had a wonderful guide that was super knowledgeable about Hawke's Bay and he gave me a list of Syrah's (my fav. wine) from the area that I need to try.
We are staying here in Napier for another week and a half before finishing our travels on the North Island. I am loving this town even though our backpackers is super tiny.
These are the rest of the pictures I took in Christchurch:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2297175&l=2f059&id=10001326
Here are the pictures from Kaikoura:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2297170&l=48c7f&id=10001326
Sunday, March 30, 2008
Monday, March 17, 2008
4 and 1/2 days left in Blenheim!
Alright so I've got a quick update for everyone still reading. The grape harvest should start tomorrow so Beate and I will be picking grapes the rest of the week! Then we're heading up North again. We leave on Saturday and spend the night in Picton again because Wellington is completely booked out...there's a rock concert! Then we head up to Napier which is in Hawke's Bay on Sunday. We're going to stay there for another couple of weeks and work picking some more fruit. From there we'll have a few days at Lake Taupo, one in Rotorua, one or two in Tauranga (Bay of Plenty), then a few in Coromandel, and finally up to Paihia/Bay of Islands before we end in Auckland! Less than six weeks until I'm off to Hawaii!!!
Everthing's been fine here in Blenheim, although we haven't had as much work as we wanted. We've met some cool people and read quite a few books. The weather has been sunny, although not as warm as we would like. We're excited to get moving Saturday though!
Happy St. Patricks Day to eveyone and an early Happy Easter too!
-Lisa
Everthing's been fine here in Blenheim, although we haven't had as much work as we wanted. We've met some cool people and read quite a few books. The weather has been sunny, although not as warm as we would like. We're excited to get moving Saturday though!
Happy St. Patricks Day to eveyone and an early Happy Easter too!
-Lisa
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
I'm exhausted!
Okay so this has to be quick...the internet is still a far away concept in Blenheim. They only have dial up at the backpackers! It took me half an hour the other day to read a couple of e-mails and reply to one! What did we used to do when we only had dial up?
Anyway, we're staying at the Lemon Tree Backpackers in Blenheim and working on vineyards. The work is easy enough, but makes us sore and tired at the end of the day. I'm extra tired because my allergies are really kicking in next to all these plants. Everyone in the hostel is working for some contracting company that sends people to different vineyards, so that's cool. We have to catch a bus at 6:40am and then we work up until 3 or 4pm right now. We'll start picking next week which will then be 10 hour days! Woohoo! Beate and I have decided that we can only take 3 weeks of this and then we'll head up to Hawkes Bay to do 2 more weeks (just in a different place for some variety) and then finish travelling the North Island before leaving April 26th.
I'm not sure how often I'll be able to update the blog over the next couple of months, so don't worry if I haven't written in a week or two...I'm probably working and the internet isn't!
Hope all is well in the U.S. I am looking forward to getting back!
-Lisa
Anyway, we're staying at the Lemon Tree Backpackers in Blenheim and working on vineyards. The work is easy enough, but makes us sore and tired at the end of the day. I'm extra tired because my allergies are really kicking in next to all these plants. Everyone in the hostel is working for some contracting company that sends people to different vineyards, so that's cool. We have to catch a bus at 6:40am and then we work up until 3 or 4pm right now. We'll start picking next week which will then be 10 hour days! Woohoo! Beate and I have decided that we can only take 3 weeks of this and then we'll head up to Hawkes Bay to do 2 more weeks (just in a different place for some variety) and then finish travelling the North Island before leaving April 26th.
I'm not sure how often I'll be able to update the blog over the next couple of months, so don't worry if I haven't written in a week or two...I'm probably working and the internet isn't!
Hope all is well in the U.S. I am looking forward to getting back!
-Lisa
Sunday, February 24, 2008
Ready to Move on!
Alright so I have worked every day since last weekend at the University and/or at Sticky Fingers. The University job is super easy and not the most engaging, but at least the other temp workers are all fun to talk to. I just finished on Monday and was super happy to have the entire day off yesterday! We were able to hang out with Ed and Andrea last week a couple of times before they left. The last night they were here (Wednesday), we met them for a drink in Sol Square and ended up spending the rest of our crazy night with a "Stag Party" (aka. Bachelor Party). All of the guys were Kiwi's except the groom to be of course was from Texas! Ha, it was a hilarious night that ended well after 2am. The next day I was dead tired at work, but met up with Joyce and Jon for pizza one more time before we leave. We had some super crazy pizza flavours like The Roast with chicken, gravy and potatoes; and Chicken Tandoori with Indian spices! It was great to get one more glimpse of home which will have to last me a few more months!
The rest of the week went fine and everyone at Sticky Fingers couldn't believe I was leaving. Yesterday Beate and I took the tram around the city and we also took the Gondola up the hill to the lookout over Christchurch. It's amazing how much the hillside looked like Eastern Washington! I'll post the pictures later so you can see. We also went to see "27 Dresses" last night which was super cute! The Academy Awards weren't broadcasted here and I honestly don't know why...they don't have anything else on TV that's better!
So we're almost totally packed and ready to leave Christchurch tomorrow. We have booked two nights in Kaikoura and a whale watching tour on Friday. We'll get to Blenheim on Saturday and start the vineyard work on Monday! We are sooooooo excited!
-Lisa
The rest of the week went fine and everyone at Sticky Fingers couldn't believe I was leaving. Yesterday Beate and I took the tram around the city and we also took the Gondola up the hill to the lookout over Christchurch. It's amazing how much the hillside looked like Eastern Washington! I'll post the pictures later so you can see. We also went to see "27 Dresses" last night which was super cute! The Academy Awards weren't broadcasted here and I honestly don't know why...they don't have anything else on TV that's better!
So we're almost totally packed and ready to leave Christchurch tomorrow. We have booked two nights in Kaikoura and a whale watching tour on Friday. We'll get to Blenheim on Saturday and start the vineyard work on Monday! We are sooooooo excited!
-Lisa
Monday, February 18, 2008
Change of Plans!
Alright so this past week the temp agencies finally called and I worked at an accounting firm just answering phones and stuff on Friday and I'm going to work this week for the University helping students fill out forms. Beate's still just working weekends at the German bar and the weather still totally sucks here. I woke up yesterday with a sore throat and today with congestion and exhaustion setting in.
But the good news: We have finally decided to get out of Christchurch! We're not exactly happy here at the moment and I have to say I honestly don't like working at Sticky Fingers and the place we're living is a dump. So why are we still here? No clue! We've decided to leave next Thursday (because that's the day of the week we pay rent) and go up to Kaikoura for a couple of days and whale watch. Then we'll move on to Blenheim, which is in the middle of the Marlborough region which is known for wine! (Especially Sauvignon Blanc) There we're going to spend about 5 weeks working in some of the vineyards! We found a bunch of backpackers and companies that set you up with cheap accommodation and transport to work. We're totally stoked to get going and start another adventure!
After that it will be the beginning of April and we'll travel the North Island before flying out! I think the fresh air (and hopefully some wine-tasting as well) will do us good for the next month or so.
Other than that I have one more story: I had just gone to work last night and about 1/2 hour after I started I turned around and here were Ed and Andrea at the bar! Ha! We didn't even know they were coming into town and they didn't even know we were in Christchurch, let alone that I was working at Sticky Fingers! This place feels sooooo small sometimes! So we're happy to catch up with them later today since they've decided to stay here for awhile.
I also went out on Saturday night with a Dutch girl from work. We had a blast meeting up with some of her friends and acquaintances! There's definitely a crazy bar scene in this town; people of all ages were out! 18 (the drinking age here) up to mid 60s! Fun times!
-Lisa
But the good news: We have finally decided to get out of Christchurch! We're not exactly happy here at the moment and I have to say I honestly don't like working at Sticky Fingers and the place we're living is a dump. So why are we still here? No clue! We've decided to leave next Thursday (because that's the day of the week we pay rent) and go up to Kaikoura for a couple of days and whale watch. Then we'll move on to Blenheim, which is in the middle of the Marlborough region which is known for wine! (Especially Sauvignon Blanc) There we're going to spend about 5 weeks working in some of the vineyards! We found a bunch of backpackers and companies that set you up with cheap accommodation and transport to work. We're totally stoked to get going and start another adventure!
After that it will be the beginning of April and we'll travel the North Island before flying out! I think the fresh air (and hopefully some wine-tasting as well) will do us good for the next month or so.
Other than that I have one more story: I had just gone to work last night and about 1/2 hour after I started I turned around and here were Ed and Andrea at the bar! Ha! We didn't even know they were coming into town and they didn't even know we were in Christchurch, let alone that I was working at Sticky Fingers! This place feels sooooo small sometimes! So we're happy to catch up with them later today since they've decided to stay here for awhile.
I also went out on Saturday night with a Dutch girl from work. We had a blast meeting up with some of her friends and acquaintances! There's definitely a crazy bar scene in this town; people of all ages were out! 18 (the drinking age here) up to mid 60s! Fun times!
-Lisa
Monday, February 11, 2008
Interviews
Alright so last Thursday night Beate and I were able to meet up with Vince & Greg for a couple of hours before they flew out to Australia the next day! I got off of work early and we all hung out in their camper van while Vince cooked dinner. It was great to see them again!
Beate got a job on Saturday working at a German bar in town. I've been working nights mostly at Sticky Fingers and I only occasionally work in the bar now. Yesterday (Sunday) Beate and I met up with Jon & Joyce again for coffee and a look at their little apartment/suite in Christchurch. Then Beate and I walked around the market at the arts center and listened to the Bagpipers at one of the parks. There's always something going on every weekend in this town, which is very cool.
I talked to some people last week about a marketing job when I get home, so that's been very exciting. It's with the accounting firm Moss Adams, and nothing's set in stone yet but they will probably have 2 positions opening up soon. I'm also going today at 1:30 to meet with another temp agency that sounds promising. I'm hoping they have something full time for me so I can make some money in the next couple of months before traveling.
We're staying positive while the job search continues!
-Lisa
Beate got a job on Saturday working at a German bar in town. I've been working nights mostly at Sticky Fingers and I only occasionally work in the bar now. Yesterday (Sunday) Beate and I met up with Jon & Joyce again for coffee and a look at their little apartment/suite in Christchurch. Then Beate and I walked around the market at the arts center and listened to the Bagpipers at one of the parks. There's always something going on every weekend in this town, which is very cool.
I talked to some people last week about a marketing job when I get home, so that's been very exciting. It's with the accounting firm Moss Adams, and nothing's set in stone yet but they will probably have 2 positions opening up soon. I'm also going today at 1:30 to meet with another temp agency that sounds promising. I'm hoping they have something full time for me so I can make some money in the next couple of months before traveling.
We're staying positive while the job search continues!
-Lisa
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
We Found the Americans!
Alright so I am pleased to admit that I rooted for the Giants through the entire Superbowl! Woohoo! Beate and I found a sports bar called "The Holy Grail" and watched the game on a huge TV with pizza and beer. The place was actually packed with people, most of which were American! What a great game! I even saw a guy in the bar that had a WSU hat on! Small world!!!
I've been working at Sticky Fingers part time, usually Wednesday through Thursday and then over the weekend. They have me doing both bar and floor, but mostly floor. It's definitely weird compared to The Ponsonby, but oh well. Beate had a trial at an Irish Bar last night. They're supposed to call her later this week to tell her when she'll work next.
The weather has been all over the place here. Really hot one day and then the next is freezing! I could not get warm at all yesterday and today I'm wearing shorts! Vince and Greg (our French buddies from Ponsonby) are supposed to come into town today so we're excited to catch up with them. Today is also Waitangi day which is like New Zealand day. It's based on the formation of New Zealand so it's a public holiday. I'm sure alot of people will be out and about.
Back to the sunshine!
-Lisa
I've been working at Sticky Fingers part time, usually Wednesday through Thursday and then over the weekend. They have me doing both bar and floor, but mostly floor. It's definitely weird compared to The Ponsonby, but oh well. Beate had a trial at an Irish Bar last night. They're supposed to call her later this week to tell her when she'll work next.
The weather has been all over the place here. Really hot one day and then the next is freezing! I could not get warm at all yesterday and today I'm wearing shorts! Vince and Greg (our French buddies from Ponsonby) are supposed to come into town today so we're excited to catch up with them. Today is also Waitangi day which is like New Zealand day. It's based on the formation of New Zealand so it's a public holiday. I'm sure alot of people will be out and about.
Back to the sunshine!
-Lisa
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