Stupendous N. Z. scenery

Wow, what day of egregious views! It has also been another great day weather-wise, with some clouds moving in toward dusk, but otherwise near perfect. Leaving Twizel, heading south, we pursued a road of pleasant valleys, interspersed with pastureland where sheep and cattle can be counted in the hundreds (at a time).

It took us about two hours to reach Wanaka, in New Zealand's Lake Country, a land dominated by high peaks, picturesque water basins and fast-flowing rivers.

The town of Wanaka sits on the lake by the same name. It is a destination for New Zealanders, as well as untold numbers of foreigners, understandably. It's populated by only 9,000 inhabitants, but I can easily assume that number triples everyday. It is picturesque, and a haven for eateries of all types. Its environs teem with all sorts of potential activities and amazing vistas.

This is also high-mountain country, the country's premier skiing location in the winter months. Mount Aspiring rises nearly as high as Mt. Cook.

We had a lovely seafood based lunch at the Lake Bar, then drove the 25 kilometers to Cardrona, a historic town of very few souls and where our new rental is located. We were welcomed into town by a very long fence full of hanging bras (yes, brassieres), which gave us, and whoever looks at it a huge chuckle. Women visitors are asked to hang their bra there, in moral support of breast cancer, many are signed and dated; the location, instead of Cardrona is aptly named Bradrona.

If you blink you've missed it; that's how big Cardrona is; its highlight are a couple of old buildings, still open for business as they were when the town was founded.

Our lovely ample home (I know how to pick them), is directly across from the General Merchant, next to a horse-riding stable.

Being too early for horse-back riding, which I would have loved to do, but too early to stay in, we decided to return to Wanaka, where we visited "Puzzling World", a unique museum featuring holograms, gravity-defying displays, illusionary sculptures,a room that shrinks you and a great maze. It was a lot of fun. Do you see the people between the columns?

And what's my wife doing in a roman-era mens' toilet?

But we were not yet done. From here we drove several miles, first to a captivating place called Glendhu Bay...

...the we took a long hike to a small pond named Diamond Lake. Here mountain climbers were attempting to scale a cliff reminiscent of what used to be "Old man in the mountain" in New Hampshire. We stayed on the ground, and thoroughly enjoyed the lakeside verdant trail.

We returned to Wanaka, where I so enjoyed a dish of Pasta alla Puttanesca at Francesca's, and Diane her Pizza Margherita, then strolled along the lake shore, chatted some with three nice ladies from Canada travelling Australia and New Zealand like us, then, as night was falling we headed back to Cardrona and our new lodging quarters.

One final comment. As high as I was about the night sky in Uluru and Philip Island, Australia, last night, in Twizel, I saw the most beautiful starry display ever. Stars as bright and as large as planets, when seen with the naked eye, filled the firmament in all its dimensions. The trip might have been worth it if just for that. And now it's time to say Goodnight, my friends.