So you say "what's that summer like anyhow?"

                           

What's summer like while all you peeps are in your winter? Well. It's.... different. It's not hot I'll tell you that! (as the above photos shows--this was taken one summer night biking back from the store!)

I will borrow a quote from Mark Twain that says something along the lines of ..."The coldest winter I ever had was the summer I spent in San Francisco" Only, change San Fran to Dunedin and that's what is going on here.

But--they can't be blamed for false advertising as New Zealand, or Aotearoa as the Maori call it means "Land of the Long White Cloud" for a pretty good reason. It does seem to always be.....overcast? But beautiful nonetheless!


So, now that my rainy summer rant is over, lets get to the things that are being discovered:


There are two significant things that Darren and I discovered over the summer holidays. The first, Milford Sound and the Second, bun-less hotdogs. The latter of the two a source of stress for the hungry soul searcher who has gone three to four hours beyond appropriate hunger allowance.

For scale of this amazing fiordland, spot the boat in the water. That boat is a cruise ship! 


Darren and I took a nature cruise and were blown away by the beauty of it.Of course the day before we went to see it the weather was horrible and even the drive proved to be nerve racking as the entire two hour drive up was enshrouded in clouds....but as you can see, the clouds are burning off and the views are coming out!!

This is on the way to Te Anau and the Milford Sound. It is true that all the clouds and storms make for extremely dramatic views and silent moments. It is true that the rawness of New Zealand has enough power to shut the mouth and open the eyes. This photo was taken at 9pm, as it stays light in the summertime until 11pm!  

This is a real street sign in Te Anau and yes, it does guide you to the street where all the Chinese food restaurants are--which is where we ate our delicious Christmas meal.

These are the most amazing flowers. They remind me of Blue Bonnets from Texas. The only problem is whenever I see them, and there are many, I stop to smell them and then I have a wicked allergy attack.


Ok. So beyond going to Milford Sound and Christchurch and Auckland and Sydney and Te Anau in the last two months (I admit it, Dron went to Oz, not me)....we have also been enjoying the local cuisine. Which, if I may be honest is something I have had the hardest time adapting to. I basically carry salt with me and know that being a Kiwi means I pay a lot of money for food that will leave me hungry anyways and feeling unsatisfied. And that's putting it nicely! Take for example this next photo:

This is a meal that consists of two hot dogs and potato salad (that cream color brain looking stuff). Now, as I previously mentioned I had passed my appropriate hunger level about two to three hours before getting this meal. You can imagine my surprise when I got two wieners without buns! Who eats the hot dog without the bun!!! Well, I can't say for sure the Kiwi's do because this was served by Germans at a German restaurant, but I can say the following converstaion did not make me happy:


Me (upon seeing the bun-less wieners): Oh.
Darren: Oh no (because he knows me better than I know myself sometimes)
Me: Um...are you going to bring out the buns?
German Waitress: Buns? Zwat? Zwat you want?
Me: A bun? Like a hot dog bun?


...mind you this is a typical American moment.....


German Waitress: Zwat?
Me: Like bread (cupping my hands like a bun)....bread that I can put the sausage in?
German Waitress: Zwat?
Darren: Oh dear
Me (getting frusterated): Like toast, bread, a bun, something to hold the hotdog in?
German Waitress: Ah, you wantz za toast? 
Me: Yes, that would be awesome!
German Waitress: For two yez?
Me: Yes Please.


.....she goes away and returns with one piece of white bread that isn't toasted:

I take a photo. eat it. and walk away because this wasn't the best moment for me and eating a hot dog.