Wellington and a Tui

 Some photos taken by my GKB and me as we wandered around the area of Wellington we were staying in last week. The hotel we stayed in overlooked Oriental Bay and our room was on the 11th floor overlooking the bay/harbour. We got a shot of the Bluebridge Ferry departing one evening for the South Island and saw lots of small yachts out sailing another evening, we must have been near a yacht club we think.

Street scenes.

The Michael Fowler Centre, where I spent most of my time.

Parliament building aka The Beehive.

Three different views from our hotel window.

My GKB at the bayside after lunch at Te Papa.

And this beautiful Tui was sitting on a flax bush outside Te Papa, 

the national museum.

Celebrations in Wellington

We flew up to Wellington last week to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Aglow in New Zealand. We'd already had our local celebration and now it was time for the national one. Women and men came from all over New Zealand, Australia and the Pacific Islands and we had a wonderful few days, and evenings, together. Our first event was afternoon tea at the Beehive, or more correctly, at Parliament Buildings. 

It began two hours after our plane flew in, which gave me just enough time to get to our hotel and store our luggage and catch a cab to parliament. I had no idea where I was going and the taxi driver didn't know where to drop me off either so we just went to the front entrance where I ran into another three people who were just as lost as I was. So we went looking together. 

 Afternoon tea was served in the Grand Hall. As we were going in the press were just dismantling their equipment and one of the party leaders was walking through so I guess they had just finished a news  conference of some sort. Tea and cakes was preceded by welcome and speeches, brief. The Grand Hall is quite impressive, the colours are not dark but nice and light. Mind you I'm not sure which part of the building we were in, the old or the new.

My GKB went for a wander around the area near the hotel while I socialised and he waited for our room to be ready. We had a lovely room, on the 11th floor overlooking Oriental Bay.

The rest of the conference was held in the Michael Fowler Centre and it was only a twenty minute walk from my hotel so I walked there and back. Once more I really didn't know where I was going so when I saw three ladies who looked like they might be going there I stopped them and asked the way. Yes that's where they were going and when I said I was lost one of them laughed and said turn around.  I was across the road from the entrance with my back to it!

Mostly I had a great time but the first night when our group sat at the back I couldn't make out anything the key speaker was talking about. That improved when we managed to get seats nearer the front for the remainder of the time. All in all it was a wonderful few days although I wasn't much company for my GKB when I arrived back at the hotel in the evenings. Late nights (late for me anyway) and early mornings meant I pretty well fell into bed when I got back.

In the foyer of the MF Centre were two beautifully carved Pou (pawh). I wish I had taken a photo of a section of one of them as they are very intricate. The eyes are whole polished paua shells.

I have to admit it was nice to get back home and sleep in my own bed when it was all over though. I had a great sleep that first night home, I didn't realise I was so tired. :)

Now I need to go and catch up on some blog reading.

Keep well, I'll see you again soon.

Diana

Capital snapshots

 Some snaps taken by my GKB
on a wet and misty Wellington day.

A day of sightseeing finished off with delicious hot chocolate.

******************

Wishing everyone a joyful Easter weekend.

*******************

joining Debbie over at Breathing in Grace

for friday foto friends

Terracotta Warriors

In March my GKB and I went up to Wellington for a long weekend

 - conference for me, R&R for him. Wellington is the capital city of our fair land and home to the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa. It is known locally, as in throughout the country, as Te Papa. Te Papa Tongarewa translates from the Maori to 'Container of Treasures'. We decided we had to visit as there were two exhibitions we particularly wanted to see, so while I conferenced my GKB went sight seeing. Later we visited Te Papa together. Twice.

Outside Te Papa on a wet, windy ,cold Wellington day

The second time we were there to see The Terracotta Warriors from China. This was really fascinating once we got in. Entry was once an hour and you bought your tickets earlier. We hadn't realized how the system worked, bought our tickets and then had to wait over half an hour till we could go in. Never mind, we had a coffee and went back and discovered the queue was very long waiting to go in. Well worth it though.

One of the lions on guard outside the exhibition.

She has a cub under her foot and represents nurture.

There was a male lion on the opposite of the entrance,

 also on guard.

There were a lot of artifacts on display including this ceremonial dagger. The handle was gold inlaid with turquoise. There was one display which we missed altogether as the people were several deep and moving extremely slowly...and we had a plane to catch! I'm still curious as to what they all found so fascinating though.

This is a half size replica of the carriage, horses

and driver who would transport the emperor around

 his celestial realms in the afterlife. The attention to

 detail was amazing, everything was very lifelike.

And finally we reached the warriors, ten in all approx. 2 metres tall, with two full size horses. All made of terracotta. They ranged from the lowly foot soldier at the front through the different ranks and then two generals. One in battle dress, one in formal dress. You could see where they had been holding weapons but because of their age these had rotted away being made of wood. Can I say again, I found it amazing. If ever you get the chance to see any part of this treasure, please do.

If you click on the blue print near the top of the post

it will take you to links with more info if you're interested.

I'm so glad we made the effort to go, we knew we wouldn't have another chance as they all head back to China in a few days.

Then we got our bags out of the check-in, crossed the road and caught a taxi and headed to the airport. And that's another story :)

I said at the top this was our second visit to the museum

 and I'll tell you about the first one a bit later.


Have a great week
Diana

Joining Deb over at Breathing in Grace
to share in Friday foto friends