DAY 47-WELLINGTON, NEW ZEALAND

 Our position today is docked at pier in Wellington, the capital of NZ.  At 9:00 am the temperature outside was 65F and looks to be a mostly sunny day.  It was in the low 70's in mid afternoon and there was very little wind today.

BACKGROUND INFO:
        Wellington with it population of 400,000 is NZ’s second most populous urban area and also its capital since being moved here from Auckland in 1865.  The thinking back then was they wanted their capital closer to the more populous South Island.
        Wellington is positioned  southwestern tip of the North Island with a large harbor.  It sits on the Cook Strait that separates the North Island from the South Island with just 22 miles separating the two islands.  Wellington is the southern most capital city in the world and also the most remote, furthest away from any other capital city.  It is also known as “Windy Wellington”, the world’s windiest city with an average wind speed of 17 mph.  It’s marine temperate climate is generally moderate all year with high temperatures rarely above 77F and low temps rarely below 40F.  Hence it is referred to as the “coolest little capital in the world”.
        Of course being the capital of NZ, the economy here is driven by the government sector.  Wellington’s median income is well above the average of the rest of the country.  Tourism also plays a major part in its economy.

WHAT WE DID TODAY:

 Our tour for today.  Our tour guide/driver thanked us for bring the good weather and no winds with us.

 We boarded our coach and after leaving the port drove along the bay on the edge of the city.

 We drove up to the top on Mt Victoria (600 feet above sea level) for some panoramic views overlooking the bay and Wellington.  Our bus driver/guide was having trouble with the coach as it would not go into 2nd gear.  This was start of problems with it!!

An enterprising man with coffee truck up at view point on Mt Victoria.

 From Mt Victoria we drove back down and into the downtown area where we were to take a cable car ride up the hill.  The business part of city on on flat land surrounding the bay but the houses were built on the sides of the hills surrounding the city.

 Two cable cars operate here.  One departs top at same time one leaves lower level and they pass each other in the middle shown above.

 Taken at top cable car station.  Our bus driver brought the coach up here to pick us up.

                 Next we drove to the Wellington Botanical Gardens.

                                        Over 100 different roses

       From the gardens we were suppose to continue on for a stop and visit at Old St Paul's Church which was completed in 1866 and is an example of Colonial Gothic architecture.  It was constructed entirely of timber.  Then we were suppose to have a photo stop outside of Wellington's Parliament buildings which house the executive offices of the Prime Minister and Cabinet Ministers.  BUT, our bus had more mechanical problems and lost the air ride feature.  So now it seemed we were riding in a log wagon.  So the driver took us back to the ship without visiting the above two stops of our tour. So no more photos.
       We liked Wellington and the way people lived on the hill sides.  They had a major earthquake here a year ago but most building are now earthquake proof.  Damage was done to the docks so cruise ships now have to dock at other end of the pier.  We have found all the cities we have visited here in NZ to be very clean and the people are wonderful.  Rebecca says she could live here!!
       Speaking of Rebecca, she had a bad night again.  After showing some improvement with her breathing problems during the night, she had a lot of difficulty last night breathing through her nose. I am making her go back to see the doctor during "sick call" hours this evening.
       We will be sailing at 5:00 pm for Akaroa, NZ, which is on the south island.  Our dinner up in Sette Mari last night was not a good dining experience.  The service was not up to par and not sure what was wrong.  We will be dining back down in Compass Rose tonight.  Not going to the show as it features the ship's singers and dancers who we do not care for.