The Windy City

The crossing is nothing amazing - mostly because we can see about a metre ahead, and most of that's grey! And in Wellington it's blowing a gale - unsuprising for those who know the city, but a bit of a shock when I almost get taken out and slammed into a building as a strong gust pummels into my rucksack! Still, I manage to navigate the city buses without any further incidents and finally reach the YHA, a massive 300-bed hostel situated almost on the waterfront, just off Courtenay Place and a stone's throw from Cuba Street. The area is generally viewed (well, by guidebooks, I'm sure there's another area far away from the tourist hordes which is far more hidden and cooler) as the 'alternative' quarter of Wellington, crammed with cafes, vintage clothes shops, surf shops and normally busy on a sunny day with buskers and people hanging about on the benches or at the pavement cafe tables.

I chill out in the reading room that night - the hostel is packed with people sheltering from the sudden onset of monsoon rain in addition to the pummelling winds - taking a moment to mourn the loss of my towel, which I've just realised is still hanging on the back of my dorm door in Picton...

written by  LizIsHere on March 24, 2010 from Wellington, New Zealand
from the travel blog: New Zealand & Australia 2010
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