A Room With A View (or Two)

It is really surprising what a difference a short drive can make. This morning we left a flat plateau and within a few hours we were in the mountains once again. From dry semi-arid pastures to lush and green forest. Amazing.

We stopped several times on our three hour journey and at each stop people kept telling us just how busy it was at this time of year. Busy? Well according to them the shops were rammed, the roads were busy and there was just not enough time in the day to run all of the errands. Admittedly the roads were busier than they have been in recent days, the trickle of cars and wagons swelling into.... a little bit bigger trickle. It's simply not acceptable - we even had to slow down at one point behind a campervan. Tscchh. Busy in NZ terms is not the same as we understand it. 

I would agree though that the shops are busy. But not claustrophobically so, but definitely busier. Mind you, nowhere near as bad as the time we were in Morrisons in Wakefield on Christmas Eve several years ago. Along with seemingly everyone else from West Yorkshire. We grabbed a trolley and joined the river of people snaking up and down the aisles. The current was quite strong and we had no choice but to go with the flow. At one point I noticed that we'd just passed the tinned peas section and needed to go back. It was no use though as the river didn't want to stop or turn. I held out a hand in desperation, hoping to grab a corner of the tin but was carried downstream towards the sauces and condiments section. I failed and we had to spend the festive period pea-less. On a positive note, however, I did manage to grab a selection of mustards by way of compensation.

So there was a bit of push and shove in the shop this afternoon as we stocked up on Christmas food - you know the traditional salad ingredients, smoked salmon and fresh fruit - but nothing like the scrummage we have witnessed in the past.

Everything is laidback and low key. Which brings me onto our chosen accommodation for the next four days. It's absolutely awful. I don't know what we were thinking. Just take a look at the  photos below. How is anyone supposed to spend Christmas in a place like this? I know. Shocking. But we'll do the British thing and tough it out.

So after a couple of cups of tea we're off to a local beach-front restaurant for a meal, a glass or two of wine and a gaze out to sea. Have some pity for us - after all it is forecast to rain sometime in the next few days!

STOP PRESS: No sooner had I pressed 'Publish' when the skies darkened and we had rainfall of tropical proportions. Happy Christmas Eve everyone!