Friday, August 8th 2003 – Day 171
I decided to nothing today. Thinking of a tandem skydive from 12,000ft and a bungee but decided to relax and walk by the lake. I saw need to slow down the spending. Its quite expensive here and I have 7 months to go. I also went to see Jackass – the movie which was poor. It was just like one big long TV episode with more cursing.
I slept for a while as I wanted to hit the pubs tonight. I passed Holy Cow, upstairs at Tongariro and Tuwharetoa streets at 9.30pm. It is definitely the happening place for the young crowd. Anything goes, especially dancing on the tables.
It was singles night (annual thing, did not know it was on) and you were meant to have got tickets before hnd but a friendly world to the massive Maori bouncers got me in free. It was heaving and it was nothing you would see in Ireland. I should have learned off a few Kiwi words and expressions before I came in.
There was a guy hosting and the competitions were unreal. It s a small town and everybody knows everyone. Competitions included people getting topless. Another was simply who would get all their clothes off fastest. All to win 20 Euro. It was pretty wild and more people were on the tables and on the floor. It was good fun and I stayed there until 3.30am. Mets lots of interesting locals.
Saturday, August 9th 2003 – Day 171
I was VERY hungover but had to check out at 10.00am. Ouch! I had breakfast and bought a ticket for Napier for 38 AUS. The first bus out was at 1.00pm and it takes 2 hours.
Napier is bursting at the seams with pride, and so it should be: It is the prettiest little city in New Zealand. It has an unbeatable combination of fabulous climate, elegant Art Deco architecture, as much award-winning wine as anyone could want, plus sea, surf, and pretty vineyards–and, combined with Hastings and Havelock North, the best selection of unique boutique accommodations in the country.
It hasn’t always been this good. Back in 1931, a massive earthquake demolished the whole of Napier and nearby Hastings, killing hundreds of people. But like the phoenix, Napier rose again, this time on new ground lifted out of the harbor by the force of the earthquake. Rebuilt during the Depression, the town opted for the Art Deco and Spanish mission architecture so popular at the time. As a result, Napier (pop. 54,298) easily claims the world’s largest collection of buildings in these styles.
Nice town on the coast. Its a bit warmer here too. Booked it my chosen hostel called Criterion Backpackers Inn . The hostel is set in the town centre, on the first floor of a famous art deco building, formerly a hotel. Free pick-up from the bus station. Anyway its is 18 AUS per night in a dorm. Its a really nice hostel with lots of space. I did not do much for the rest of the evening. I went out for a few drinks as the South Africa Vs the All blacks game was on at 7.30pm. It was held in the South Island but a lot of people were out watching it on TV. It was a good game of rugby and the All blacks won.
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Click on the picture to see it in its original size
Napier – New Zealand – Art Deco (09-08-2003)
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Click on the picture to see it in its original size
Napier – New Zealand – Art Deco (09-08-2003)
Again some wild and wonderful people in the pubs. Some scary characters as well. I like these straight talking Kiwis. I was in O’Flaherty’s Irish Pub, on Hastings Street, which had live music. More Irish fun was to be had at Rosie O’Grady’s Irish Bar.
Sunday, August 10th 2003 – Day 173
I was up early to go on an Art Deco walking tour. It leaves at 10.00am every day from the tourist office. It lasts about an hour. There were 17 people doing the tour and it costs 8 AUS. Another tour leaves the Art Deco Shop at 2.0opm. They have a video to show and it costs 12 AUS. The tour was good and we saw why this town is famous. Not just the earthquake but the rebuilding effort.
The morning of February 3, 1931, was warm and sunny in the Hawkes Bay province. But at 10.45am, an earthquake measuring 7.8 on the Richter scale struck the seaside town of Napier, and within two minutes, many of the town’s buildings had crumbled, leaving many dead and thousands homeless. But art deco was in the air. Architectural journals of the day were full of illustrations of art deco buildings. It was the major enthusiasm of young graduates from the Auckland University School of Architecture who flocked to Napier, eager to take up the opportunity to work as the Depression deepened. They were quickly taken on by local practices swamped with work far beyond their pre-earthquake capacities.
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Click on the picture to see it in its original size
Napier – New Zealand – Art Deco (10-08-2003)
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Click on the picture to see it in its original size
Napier – New Zealand – Art Deco (10-08-2003)
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Click on the picture to see it in its original size
Napier – New Zealand – Art Deco (10-08-2003)
More information on Art Deco in napier here. The official Art Deco trust site is excellent. It has all the information including the full brochure we got for the walk and pictures OF ALL the Art Deco buildings. I took pictures but this site has everything.
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Click on the picture to see it in its original size
Napier – New Zealand – The town after the earthquake(10-08-2003)
Anyway after that I went back to the hostel for a shower and I then walked up to BLUFF HILL overlooking the town. Its aqward to get to as you have to take a few side roads. The views are good of the commercial harbor but not of the town itself. It was a sunny day ad I lay on the grass reading for a while. I then went down to the beach which us supposed to be one of the most dangereous in NZ. The waves were massive and came from no where.
I walked back to town and went on the NET for an hour. I went back to the hostel and played pool with other guests for about an hour. I then saw Bone Collector in the TV room. It s poor thriller but had 2 Korean girls covering their eyes for most of the film. Its a really nice hostel. There was only one other person in my dorm tonight.