23/2/15
Dear Diary,
I wake up with the alarm and get ready to move on to Dunedin. I’m still angry at losing my jumper at the game yesterday and I come to the conclusion that I have decided to dislike Christchurch. I’ve been here twice now and both times have left me feeling less than happy for various reasons. The first time was back for the opening game of the World Cup where I was banished to sleeping in a ‘bed in a shed’ miles away from the rest of the family luxury accommodation. I also picked up some pretty impressive sunburn from that opening game (despite it being a cold and overcast day) and spent the remain time between that visit and this visit peeling the dead and dying skin off of my face.
This time I’ve watched Scotland lose to a weakened England side in what most people thought would be our best chance to beat them so far in history (I can't help feeling that it was a missed opportunity from Scotland but it could have been so different if a few early chances went our way ... ugh, frustration is so frustrating!) had crap accommodation again, was lied to about how far away the cricket ground was, lost my jumper at the ground AND, despite lathering on the sunscreen like paint and wearing a big wide brimmed hat still managed to pick up a new batch of sunburn !!!
Right, that's it Christchurch, I know you've had it tough ever since the earthquake hit four years ago but now you're going to have to deal with some more bad news because ... I am officially naming you my Least Favourite City in New Zealand for this trip.
Time to move on . Better times surely await in Dunedin.
My mood improves the further away from Christchurch I get. I’ve done this coast road between Christchurch and Dunedin three time now and it’s beautiful every time especially the stretch between Oamaru (where the bus stops for a food break and I bought a basket of the best hot chips in the world) and Dunedin. Some lovely coastal vistas and beaches that look so pristine that it’s hard to imagine that anyone has ever walked along them and on the other side of the bus, stunning mountain peaks that disappear into the clouds.
Cresting the corner of the massive hill that descends into Dunedin takes my breath away (again) and as I find my way to the B and B I’ve booked into it feel like I’m home.
This Accommodation does not claim to be anywhere near the cricket ground but it does claim to have a nice view of the city and I’m delighted to find out that it does indeed have a spectacular view of the whole city of Dunedin and the harbour front too. If I had seen this view before the view from my Wellington place I would have thought it impossible to improve upon. Its a pretty spectacular second place. Even though it claims to be nowhere near the ground I bet its closer than the Christchurch one was. And there's a cat here too. Things are looking up.
A brief walk around the local area to shake out the cobwebs and to buy milk (win) sees me struggling with the steep hills and out of breath quickly but as I turn back toward the city I‘m greeted by one of natures magical beautiful sights, a double rainbow framing the city below it.
I don't know what it means but it fills me with wonder and optimism and leads me to think “This Dunedin place. Quite wonderful really.”
"Look for the ridiculous in everything and you will find it." Jules Renard - (1864 - 1910)