Napier-Hastings

I went to Napier and Hastings on Saturday with Joy. It was beautiful out and Napier made it so much more of a better day. The area is amazing. It's right on the ocean and has all this art deco architecture, and is full of small boutique shops. There are really incredble houses in the area worth tons and tons of money. J said they are worth a "mint".

The beach was all pebbles and not sand. J called them shingles. I didn't buy anything in Napier. J said we would go to Warehouse which is like a Walmart without any fancy displays. I got a cheap black hoodie, two long sleeve shirts, a watch, and cheap as sunglasses for my trip coming up this Friday. I'm going on a Kiwi Experience bus tour of the North and South Island. I am SO stinkin' excited I can hardly stand it. I'm taking a bus up to Auckland on Thursday and staying in a backpacker's hostel that night, then getting up early and getting on a 7 am bus to start the adventure. Kevin, a fellow IU cultural immersions project is taking the journey with me.

After we wandered around the shops we went to East Pier. When I was putting titles ont he pictures so I would know where they were from I ask J where we at when we ate ice cream and she said east pier but I couldn't understand what she was saying so I asked her to spell it. After she did, I felt like an idiot. Anyway, we got icecream at this little shop and it was the BEST ice cream ever! It did not taste like American ice cream I swear. We sat outside at a table and enjoyed our ice cream and cokes. True bliss. I keep saying over and over how beautiful it is but it's true! I've never seen scenery like they have here! I took the following pics while sitting at that table. So, this is my view while sitting and enjoying Saturday afternoon.

I hope to visit again before I leave. It's only about an hour away from Waipukurua. 3 Days until the tour! I'm counting down!