Our accommodations in Napier are small but fully functional for 2 people. We have a full-size fridge, stove and microwave in the kitchen, a washing machine, a TV and 1 bedroom, with a shaded patio outside the kitchen, featuring a table, chairs and a hammock. We are only about 70 vertical feet up the hill, a 15 minute walk from the centre of town, and a 30 minute walk from the Cafes in Ahuriri, so in the middle of everything.
Marlene relaxing on the patio
After checking the local newspaper and Trademe website, and finding nothing suitable, we decided to purchase a pair of cheap ($99) bikes for our time in Napier. The store was undergoing renovations and they could not tell us when they could assemble the bikes, so we nixed that idea. But my cousin Maureen came to the rescue, offering us her sister's bike (Denzil hasn't been able to ride for a few months) and also borrowing a second bike from a friend. So by Thursday we had wheels and were ready to take on the wider area.
Friday was our first day out on the bikes, and we left home at 9:20 am, giving us almost 2 1/2 hours before lunch with Maureen and Denzil in Ahuriri. We set off through back streets, and connected onto the waterfront bike path. There were very few people on the bike path, and by 10 am as we had reached the southern end of the paved portion of the path, we decided to head back towards Ahuriri, with a plan to ride around the estuary before lunch - this biking stuff is really easy. How wrong we were. On the ride down we had been helped by a tail wind averaging 35 kph, meaning the ride back was straight into that same wind. Sometimes it felt like we were standing still. After several stops along the way to catch our breath, we made it to Ahuriri at 11:40, just in time for lunch. I will be checking the wind forecast before our next biking adventure.
Taking a break from the bikes
We hear a lot these days about clean energy, electric vehicles, etc., but one enterprising person in Napier seems to have found a much simpler way to reduce their carbon footprint, but it probably will not catch on - a wind-up car.
Wind-up Car
As indicated in my previous post, Napier was largely destroyed on February 3rd, 1931 when a strong earthquake struck the city which was built on a hill with very little flat area around it. The surrounding land rose about 5 feet in the earthquake, allowing the city to expand onto a large plain that was previously under water most of the time.
The art deco style of architecture was popular in the 1930s, and as Napier was rebuilt with so many art deco buildings it claims to be the art deco capital of the world. Although totally oblivious when we made our bookings, our first week in Napier just happens to be art deco week, when the locals dress up in 1930s styles and host many events with a 1930s theme. Must be the luck of the Irish!
Art deco week began on Wednesday, but the major events were at the weekend. The locals dress up in their 1930s finery to take in the vintage car parade, soapbox derby, street party, Gatsby picnic, and various evening dining and dancing events. For those wanting to dress down a little, there is also a depression dinner, reminding us that the dirty 30s were not all glitz and glamour. We watched the vintage cars, the soapboxes and wandered through the picnic area, which were all great events, but I took way too many photos to post on one page. So after I finish this post, I will post the photos of these events separately to give you some flavour for art deco week.
On Emerson Street there is a piano in the street, with an invitation for passing people to play it. You hear mainly chopsticks, twinkle twinkle, etc., mainly off-key, as passing people play a few notes. But on Saturday as we headed home, there was a crowd gathered around the piano and the music was very good, especially given that the pianist was a young boy. I tried posting a video but that did not work, so look at the photo below and imagine the sweet notes of the 1930s.
Young boy playing piano
All in all, we had a great first week in Napier, and are looking forward to our remaining 3 weeks here.
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