Monday 9th March
Today was a lengthy bus trip South to meet up with my sister Clare and our chauffeur for the next few weeks Paul. (Seriously how he puts up with us two non drivers is amazing, thanks for that).
As hinted yesterday the alarm system was the first highlight of the day. Rather than being some buzzer or radio, this modern hotel gives you sunrise at your own chosen time. Seriously, about 15 minutes before the time you choose the room starts getting lighter, then some light noise of birds singing begins until it reaches a noise and brightness that will wake you at about the time you specified. In case you want to doze it continues getting brighter, though not noisier, forcing you up. A more natural alarm you won't find.
Anyway off I went to get the bus. Which wasn't a big bus, more of a minibus, but it left on time. Booking it had been easy, those nice people in the tourist office did it for me while I waited for the hotel to confirm yesterday. Anyway it was a long journey, but very enjoyable, with amazing views around every corner. Well once we got out of Christchurch, which finally seemed to have turned all the Zombie ducks back into commuters. For a small place rush hour was fairly busy. Anyway once on our way we drove through some great scenery, including views of Mt Cook, stopping in a number of really nice villages for refreshments. (As it was my first day of NZ I hadn't yet realised that all trips in NZ are like this).
Using the wonders of modern technology I was able to keep Clare updated as to my ETA, and lo and behod when I stepped off the bus in Queenstown, there she was. I hadn't seen my sister in 10 months, so needless to say the rest of the day was taken up with catching up and a few drinks, before back to the apartment in the centre of town which would be our home for the next 6 days (and fait play to Clare who organised it, its about as central as you can get).
Today was a lengthy bus trip South to meet up with my sister Clare and our chauffeur for the next few weeks Paul. (Seriously how he puts up with us two non drivers is amazing, thanks for that).
As hinted yesterday the alarm system was the first highlight of the day. Rather than being some buzzer or radio, this modern hotel gives you sunrise at your own chosen time. Seriously, about 15 minutes before the time you choose the room starts getting lighter, then some light noise of birds singing begins until it reaches a noise and brightness that will wake you at about the time you specified. In case you want to doze it continues getting brighter, though not noisier, forcing you up. A more natural alarm you won't find.
Anyway off I went to get the bus. Which wasn't a big bus, more of a minibus, but it left on time. Booking it had been easy, those nice people in the tourist office did it for me while I waited for the hotel to confirm yesterday. Anyway it was a long journey, but very enjoyable, with amazing views around every corner. Well once we got out of Christchurch, which finally seemed to have turned all the Zombie ducks back into commuters. For a small place rush hour was fairly busy. Anyway once on our way we drove through some great scenery, including views of Mt Cook, stopping in a number of really nice villages for refreshments. (As it was my first day of NZ I hadn't yet realised that all trips in NZ are like this).
Using the wonders of modern technology I was able to keep Clare updated as to my ETA, and lo and behod when I stepped off the bus in Queenstown, there she was. I hadn't seen my sister in 10 months, so needless to say the rest of the day was taken up with catching up and a few drinks, before back to the apartment in the centre of town which would be our home for the next 6 days (and fait play to Clare who organised it, its about as central as you can get).
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