Napier (2018-03-15)

We have now been in Napier for 3 weeks and have settled into an active but relaxing lifestyle - bike rides, walks, trips into Napier city, and the almost daily ritual of coffee at a local cafe.  Some of our favourite cafes from previous years have fallen from grace, but others have upped their game, as if in compensation.  Locally, Cafe Ahuriri gets top billing, and in Napier, St. Germain Cafe is our number one choice.

Most mornings are very still until at least 11 am, so we tend to be on the bikes as early as possible, before the wind picks up.  We have biked as far as Silky Oak Chocolate Factory (40 km round trip) and Clive (36 km round trip), and made several trips around the local wetlands, so our biking muscles are now not protesting as much as they were 3 weeks ago.

Ahuriri Marina and Bike Path

As a farewell to my sister Tricia, we three and my cousins Maureen and Denzil had lunch at the Mission Estate Winery.  We had eaten there several years ago, and at the time I declared that meal to be my best meal ever.  I was not disappointed this time around either, and it is good value for money, compared to other higher-end restaurants that we have eaten in, and with wonderful views. 

Vineyard & Napier Hill from Mission Estate Winery

On our walks and rides we enjoy seeing all the sea-themed murals around town, with one even decorating the inside of a parking garage.  It is nice to see a little colour on otherwise drab walls.

Mural on Ahuriri Light

Mural in Parking Garage

I brought my super-duper "listen to anything" radio on this trip, so when not busy with other activities, I enjoy listening to the chatter between the harbour pilots and the tug boats, as they manoeuvre the larger ships in and out of the port. 

This past week Napier had a visit from M.S. Noordam, which we fondly remember from a Caribbean cruise that we did four years ago to celebrate Marlene's Mum's birthday. She is a large beast (Noordam not Marlene's Mum) for such a small port, and the tugs had to rotate her and bring her in backwards.

M.S. Noordam with tugs Te Mata and Ahuriri 

Tonight we are having fish and chips with Maureen and Denzil, and tomorrow my sister Margaret arrives for a 4-day visit, so the fun continues.

p.s. the bottom row on my computer keyboard is causing me grief, so if I have missed any letters please insert z, x, c, v, or m as appropriate.