Kiwiland

Its the kind that makes your nose hurt, your eyes water, and your chest hurt from coughing so much... but as i woke up this morning and headed downstairs to the chocolate shop and had a cup of dark hot chocolate over looking the lake in Queenstown, i smiled anyways. I might be sick, but im in New Zealand.

We flew into Christchurch really late on Monday, woke up and spent the day there. We started our day walking around the city - and decided we'd try our hand at punting. No, not the kind of punting that requires kicking a football, the kind where you get in a flat bottom boat and get punted up and down a river. As i took the step into the boat that sat extremely low in the water, i thought to myself, gee i hope we dont tip over. Well, that didnt happen, but as our punter pushed us off of the dock, i felt a gentle squirt of water followed by a huge splash - when we looked back, there was our punter, floating in the water!! he had fallen into the river - did i mention how cold it was in New Zealand? COLD. The poor guy, he hurried back in the boat, trying to play it cool, but we all know the poor thing was dying of embarressment.

The following morning we wqere up early to catch our flight to Queenstown. Being American, makes you hyper airport savy, or at least i thought. But here, arriving to the airport with only 30 minutes before departure is normal, and oh, we ust happened to go through security just for fun, because our gate wasnt even behind a security screening, you can just walk right through and sit on down, but we had no idea, so we took our baggage through security, and then discovered we needed to go back out to get to our gate. Humorous, but nice to be in a place where there is no threat.

It might have only been an hour flight, but it was the worst one ive ever taken. My ears immediately plugged up, and today, two days later, my right one is still plugged. Landing into Queenstown the plane swayed from side to side, mountains surrounded us on everyside - i was personally waiting for the plane to grow skis and for us to land skiing down the mountain. Instead, the pilot took the safe route and landed us nicely on the tarmac, where Todds fishing guide was waiting for him. Now dont forget, my ears are plugged and i cant hear a thing, but i managed to talk to this guide long enough to realize he was just like my husband. I turned to him and said, you dont understand, Todd has been waiting for this forever, nothing else has mattered, until today - he gets to go on his fishing trip. To which Gordy (the guide) responded, "oh i understand." Duh, of course he understands. They offered to take me to my hotel before they were off on their 3 day adventure, so we loaded up in his truck... Behind the truck was a trailer with one of those 4x4 buggee things, to take them im sure, to places most cant get to. Im so excited to hear all about this fishing trip.

I spent the day relaxing at the hotel and wandering around. Then 230 strolled around and my friend Sheree and her mom and dad and son stopped by for a visit! It just so happened that she was arriving in Queenstown the same day, (she lives in Perth, Australia now, but is back in NZ to prepare for her upcoming wedding!!!) Bad perms and horrible clothes... we laughed at the old memories of when we first met. Luckily we've both outgrown the perms! Cooper, Sherees son is adorable. Perfectly round face - big blue eyes, think Gerber baby. We chatted over coffee at Starbucks of all places, before they had to take off to return to Invercargill. If i would have planned better, i couldve stuck around for her wedding, i think its in the middle of November sometime. oh well - Sheree you have to send me photos even if i dont get on Facebook =)

I caught a movie, ate at a local pizza place where the pizza was served on wooden slats and had a delicious sour cream, cream cheese, sort of sauce blobbed on top of it. Holla.

This brings us today. Im feeling better, but decided to not take in any extremem activities. I was close to signing up to go on canyoning tour, or jetboat ride, but i figure i still have tomorrow, i should try to get better first. I did stumble on a fantastic place for PJs, Its called Peter Alexander. I think he's an Australian designer, but i spent a good hour in this store. Tiff - youd LOVE this place. Google it, im sure its on line somewhere. Tonight im thinking about taking a sail on the lake, and taking in the scenery. Did i mention the snow topped mountains are are as beautiful as anything ive seen, and im glad now, as a 28 year old i can finally appreciate the landscape of this country. As an 11 year old the first time i was here, and even as a high schooler the second time - i didnt fully appreciate this place.. but you know what they say, i guess third times a charm.