quirks

This of course rubs me the wrong way for so many reasons, but hey, dif'rent strokes.. I'm still getting used to looking the proper direction when stepping off a curb. Now I have to worry about this?

Something else that strikes me as odd/antiquated is public transit bus drivers giving out change. Great for tourists, of course, but can you imagine this happening in Vancouver? Un-like-ly. Bus drivers here have an entire tray of money open...do they not get ripped off?

One problem I still have several days into the trip is recognizing a $2 coin. Lame, I know. Yes, it's larger than their $1 coin and that is, of course, perfectly logical. However, their $2 is almost the exact shape/size/colour as our Canadian looney, so I have "one dollar" imprinted on the brain.

I am digging the no tipping thing, though. And seeing a listed price being the actual price! No sticker shock in terms of hidden taxes, etc.

And have I mentioned the inexpensive wine? Contrary to what I might be leading you to believe, I haven't been consuming that much, but that may or may not change once I hit the Hawkes Bay area in a few days.

One More Sleep

As I walked down East Broadway this morning I noticed how much greener and fuller the trees are this year considering it's still April. I also thought back to one of my first impressions of New Zealand when I was there in the 80's: how very green the grass, how very black the asphalt on the roads. And so many sheep.

Starting to get some butterflies, seems strange to think that tomorrow evening I'll be boarding an airplane for a 14-hour flight. 14 hours. Guess that means I'll be angling for an aisle seat, if my polite hints for a first-class seat are disregarded..

April 29 will also in effect disappear, for me at least. It will be April 28 when I leave, April 30 when I arrive in Auckland. Hmm..

Yesterday I went to Vancouver Bullion and bought some New Zealand currency in denominations from $5 to $50. Except $20 bills, which they didn't have in stock.
Very crisp and pretty bills - see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Zealand_dollar#Banknotes
Note that they've ditched 1 and 5 cent coins! No more messing about with pennies - hurrah.