Hey All,

I got up early the next morning and walked to the iSite in Nelson and hopped on the bus. I had a wonderfully intriguing conversation with a Canadian Mechanical Engineer who was becoming a Kiwi. I had already taken this Bus, so the scenery wasn’t anything new.

I arrived in Picton and it was a helleva lot colder than in Nelson. I mosied around the town for an hour waiting for the train. I boarded the train and the weather was nice, but cold. The train was fine, I again sat in only a two seater section, but the views were spectacular.

I got some wonderful pictures of the rolling hills and coastline from the open platform at the back.

About 2 hours into the 5.5 hr journey it started raining. This was unfortunate but you could still see most of the countryside, but pictures and the viewing platform not so much. I really enjoy the train rides as they show the rural part of NZ that you would otherwise not get to see. It is also very relaxing and allows for fairly good conversation.

We arrived in CC about 45 minutes late due to assorted delays. It was also cold here. My baggage was close to the last off and I didn’t have transportation arranged. Luckily there was this asian guy with a van and I got in with some other travwellors and proceeded to the city centre. I had never done anything like this, it was dark and I just kinda got into the minivan, but it wasn’t scary really just different. He dropped me off in the Cathedral Square and I found my way to the Hostel.

It is a nice place with wonderful owners and I stayed in a share room (4 people) in a bunk bed in a seperate unit. I went back out and got dinner at a random chinese serve yourself place and explored the town at night. I went back later and watched some TV in the common area and talked with a few people. Most of the travellors are well older than me and I don’t know exactly why. Maybe because US schools and such are still in School? Ohh well. I started on some more psotcards and then went to bed.

I woke up at around 8, took a shower, and then went to the city. I hit the Cathedral , the Museum, the Arts Center, the Arts Gallery, and the Botanical Gardens. They were all free and wonderfully set up the attractions.s The Cathedral was interesting with beautiful wood and I walked to the top of the tower to get some wonderful views of the square.

The Arts Center was my ncext stop and it had tons of Cafes and Art Gallery’s, but not too much else of my interest. I learned a little more about Art from a Gallery owner. That was cool.

The Museseum was wonderfully done and had lots to see. Some of it was similar material to Te Papa in Wellington so I skipped that but they had a lot of cool new things, like a replica street of the 19th century, a bad ass mummy, stuff about antartica, the Poa Shell House, Victorian era clothing, and even more. It was really quite cool.

The Botanical gardens were wonderfully done and I enjoyed seeing the variety of flora. The roses were cool and the Greenhouses. Everything was beautiful. The weather was still cold, three layers, but the sun was nice.

The Arts Center was cool with a variety of exhibitions. I learned a little more about my preferences for art. I really dont like modernist stuff (not modern art) and I really like landscapes and sceneries.

Afterwards (About 4 oclock) I walked the city shops just walking in and out of stores. At 5:30 I ate dinner and had a Slavakia or something. It was kind of like a kebab and made by a Frenchman. The chili sauce in it was delicious as was the interesting cola that accompanied it.

I then went to get some food at Pac and Save, took the free trolley back to the city and hit the tourist shops which are the only things open past 5:30. Literally like 75% of the place shuts down and it is only the tourists shops left open. I hit about 6 or 7 of those and some mini marts looking for an ace bandange (My foot hurts) and I ended up in this interenet cafe.

Tommorrow I am off on the train to Greymouth and the Bus to Franz Josef Glacier!

All the best and much love!

-Mathias