Windy Wellington

Random notes and first impressions from a light fog of jet lag: (otherwise fine)

• New Zealand continues to take its biosecurity seriously, although they didn't spray the plane cabin before we got off plane, as they did in the 80's. Also many reminders to not spit in garbage bins.


• Pleasant walk between terminals at AKL as sun was rising. I was reminded how powerful a sense smell is by a memory of "that smell" - moist, mossy, rich - from so many years ago.


• "Windy Wellington" is living up to its name and made for a very rough approach to landing at WLG. Memories of an aborted landing at Bellingham airport in similar wind conditions flashed through my mind.


• The area around WLG airport is very much like South San Francisco and SFO area.


• Wellington southern suburbs have a very small-town-England feel and look to them.


• Wifi in this hotel is horribly slow!


• Cooking show on the telly is encouraging folks to use Marmite as an acceptable substitute for tamari. Inevitable "what about Vegemite" debate ensues.

Trinity Hotel is lovely so far, reasonably priced, quiet, very clean, easy to find, let me check in early. So there's a plug for them.

So far so good! All flights on time, relatively uncomplicated getting out of airports, easy public transit to downtown. Now to get oriented!

(photo is of Auckland airport in the pre-dawn light, April 30, 2010)