Napier, where the buildings are retro chic and the flowers are the size of your head.



See?  I wasn't joking.

 As the title suggests, I'm in Napier. It's yet another beautiful New Zealand town.  But what makes Napier different is that for once it isn't the landscape that makes the city beautiful;  It's the architecture.

After an earthquake and ensuing fires destroyed much of the city in 1931, many of the buildings were rebuilt in the 1930s art deco style and remain that way (hopefully Christchurch will rise from the ashes in similar style).

It's pretty cool to see.



The SoundShell.



A park along the waterfront.




A hostel in downtown Napier.



This is how far from home I am.

Another (moderately) cool fact about Napier -- it's the largest wool centre  in the Southern Hemisphere.

I'm heading off tomorrow and will likely camp somewhere along the road towards Wellington.  I'm heading there so I can take the ferry to the South Island on the 8th.  I'm beginning a job picking grapes in Blenheim on the 10th.  I'll be making peanuts, and it'll be hard, physical work, I'm sure.  But at least I'll be making some money for the first time in six months.