26.-01.05.2018 NELSON & PICTON
When I arrived at the hostel in Nelson, Otto’s Backpacker, the German receptionist May was just making hummus. It was quite a small hostel and quite a few of the people staying there were long-termers working in Nelson. I was in a room with the Brit Chris, an American girl and a Spanish guy. That day I applied for my university accommodation and finally made Birmingham my firm choice, then went to bed fairly early. In the morning, I talked to Selma for quite a while and then went into town.
In the middle of Nelson, there’s a big cathedral with a free hanging organ (I am yet to find out how the organist gets up there), called “Christ Church Cathdral”. I learned that the bishop’s seat is what distinguishes a church from a cathedral and talked shortly with the priest who just finished the morning mass in the chapel.
Next, I went to the Nelson Provincial Museum: They had a Maori art exhibit and one about the first settlers, as always focussing on personal stories. On the second floor, there was a National Geographics exhibit. They showed what they consider to be the 50 best photos in the world. I found it extremely interesting to read the stories behind the pictures, either the way they came to be or something about what is shown.
Walking through Nelson, I went into a few small boutiques and handmade art stores, then to The Suter Art Gallery on the other side of town. I liked walking through there, but what was shown wasn’t quite for me – I understood what the artists were trying to say, but they mostly weren’t standing up for causes that meant something to me: The artist exhibiting in the central area of the gallery wanted to express his opinion on how to best use the space in other art galleries or buildings, by painting his recommendations in red. The exhibition consisted of pictures of exactly that and how they then implemented the changes.
I then went to Queen’s Garden and had lunch there.
After a little bit of walking, I reached the alleged “Center of New Zealand” on top of a hill in Branford Park. Even though it was quite cloudy, I still really enjoyed the view of Nelson with the North Island in the background and on the other side, a view inland, further South on the South Island.
When I came back to the hostel, I had a quick dinner and then got talking to some people. They were all staying at the hostel long-term and became good friends over time, somehow I felt part of that group from the first moment on. They showed me the “secret garden” of the hostel: Behind the hostel, you had to take quite a few stairs until you arrive at a small flat area nestled in the slope with three chairs from with you could enjoy the view. Granted, it was a shitty view, but it was dark already anyway and you could still see over Nelson a little. Kinda. After playing some games and a couple beers, we all went out together, first to “Club Paradox” and then to some other club (that trip covered all night life options available in Nelson just in case you were wondering). They were pretty much exactly how you might expect the two clubs in a town like this to be, not great but it’s something.
The next day was pretty uneventful, I spent it doing my laundry, talking to the French and the British guys and watching a movie called “Wildernesspeople” on the living room TV. I also made friends with two little kids who were on vacation with their dad, I showed them where in New Zealand I have been already and where I want to go.
I wasn’t in a hurry at all the day afterwards either, the only thing I had to do is get to Picton, where my ferry to Wellington would leave from. The morning I stayed at the hostel for some more time, eating amazing pumpkin soup the French guy made, then took the bus to Picton. I stayed at a Backpacker’s really close to the port and had a whole 7-bed dorm to myself. After picking “Deception Point” from their book shelf, I spent the rest of the day reading next to the fire place heating the whole hostel. Later, I was chatted up by the “professional backgammon player” Dan, but wasn’t really in the mood for talking.
After checking out in the morning, I walked around the port and met Herbert, a 50yo German who’s been living in Picton for 25 years and just wanted to talk to someone in German. He had to take care of some things on his son’s boat and then we went for coffee, he was VERY talkative. Then it was already time for me to get my bags from the hostel and walk to the ferry terminal, from where we were brought to the harbour by shuttle bus. The ferry was huge, we had to walk through a labyrinth of decks and staircases to reach the passenger deck (maybe also just not the best design?). There they had a restaurant, movie rooms, lounges, a bar… So I didn’t even mind the weather hindering the drive from being as “scenic” as advertised.