” Don’t eat the carton! ” His grandpa said, laughing at the boy. ” Why ya eating the carton?”
The boy was enjoying an ice cream on what probably was to them, a hot day.
The metlink to Wellington from Upper Hutt stopped at every spot along the way. When we got to Petone again, I felt like all I was doing was going in circles. One of the attendants came up and this time I paid for my fare. She seemed tired and slightly annoyed that I had to pay, which was odd considering I couldn’t pay at a terminal or ticket booth. Her coworker, the nice happy one who had answered my question earlier came up. The two of them sat down; I was again facing the opposite direction of the way the train was going, but again by the window, and the grumpy one sat in the perpendicular seats in front of me while her friend sat in the bicycle/ wheelchair accessible seats.
” I think it was New Years, ” started the nice one. She had kind of a limp, I wondered how that had happened. ” There were these two people, all drunk, and sorts. Couldn’t wake ’em up, you know. ”
Grumpy was smiling, sorta, and listening.
” Me and Steve were workin’ – both of us tried, but couldn’t wake ’em up. We let them sleep it off, ya know, and later they woke up all confused. I suppose I would have preferred them that way as opposed to the other, spewing and such. ”
I hope you can imagine all these quotes, and comments from people in English accents, or, Australian/English. It’s been a challenge trying to talk, I think I’m glad to be somewhere that isn’t a completely different language – I’ll save that one for when I’m with people and we can be lost together.
Several stops later we arrived at Wellington Station. I got off and it was kind of like a regular train station, but I hadn’t seen actual train-trains. Tall arched ceilings, fancy Art Deco, etc. I walked outside and took some photos.
More photos from my Journey down Lambton Quay.
Now I hadn’t planned on it, but I decided to try for the Cable Car and Botanical Gardens. I found that I was right where I had started yesterday when I had attempted it before. This time I was going down Lambton Quay for another cafe. I hadn’t eaten, and was getting hungry again.
Down the street I went, the very busy street that is. It was 1pm now, I had left Upper Hutt on the train at 11:30. I passed by some currency exchange shops, (ha!) and some more clothing retailers. I didn’t recognize any names of the retailers, I keep forgetting that American stuff isn’t common here; we’re considered “imports”. The best I can describe the street is this: imagine a less snobby Rodeo Drive; or a mall outside. There were some indoor mall areas but very few. Downtown Wellington is actually really well laid out, and organized when you take a look at it. You can get lost in it without actually being lost “She types as she got lost trying to find a Cable Car entrance…” I found a corner cafe called Gloria’s and went in.
After another reaction to my card (it’s a credit card people!), I had another hot chocolate and a spinach quiche. I sat down by the window where I promptly took a photo and sent it to Jay using this app he’s gotten me into called “SnapChat”. It takes a photo, and it only lasts for a few seconds and then deletes it. I typed in “Cafe #2” and sent it. Then I took another photo and typed “I mean Cafe #3”. I’m losing track already!
Taking advantage of the Lambton Square free wifi ( I’ve never seen so many free wifi zones…), I did some google mapping to figure out where the cable car and gardens might be. It appeared to be down and to the right, then straight, and to the right again.
I spent about an hour sitting there slowly drinking the giant hot chocolate. I think every place I’ve gone has given me the same white and pink marshmallows on the side, and each cup with the frothy top shaped into some sort of heart. Someone get a bit creative please. I’ll take the “Cat” one or Dali’s clock, k thanks!
After deciding to attempt the search again, I packed up and went about my day, hoping for some kind of adventure. I went down the street and saw a nice sign that said in a big booming voice : To the cable car! Okay, it didn’t really say that, but that’s how I imagined it. I followed the arrow.
At the next corner, I looked for another sign but found none. A crowd was gathering across the street. I looked up about four or five feet above my line of sight, to see a model cable car on a pole. It was placed in front of a tiny alley way, hidden off the street by people. Boy, way to be obvious to short people New Zealand.
I crossed – you should know I’ve learned to cross now without waiting for the crosswalks or signals. Cars pass by so infrequently that it’s just not a problem. I have yet to see a cop car.
I went up, bought my ticket, and walked into a room, not unlike some rides at Disneyland with winding lines and dividers. The difference between the two? The wait was only ten minutes.
I climbed on, and sat down on a single wooden slatted seat, again facing the opposite of where I was going. I seem to be doing a lot of that. The ride felt kind of like the car was floating but I imagine that’s the cable part. I drew a sample of how the path goes. Please forgive the terrible sketch, I’ll fix it up later.
There was construction at the top; looked like they were redoing the top ticket office. Seemed like we were at the top of a hill again. I had gotten off on the cafe and cable car museum side. I walked around to the other side, where the garden was and read another directional sign. There were a few options: take the downhill walk to parliament, head to the kids’ play area, wander the garden, or visit the observatory. Well, this was where I realized that when I was at parliament the other day, if I had kept walking up the hill – the very tall hill – I would have found the back entrance to the garden. Ha!
Making like it was a “Choose Your Own Adventure” book, I chose the garden path. I took lots of photos, and found myself deep in the middle of dark pathways. I couldn’t hear any people. I must have chosen a path not many go – story of my life.
I kept taking turn off by turn off, crossing random bridges, getting lost in the trees. There were multiple tiny streams around. The paths didn’t seem like paths half the time because they weren’t as worn down as I’d have expected.
A couple of dead ends later, I finally made it back to civilization. I found a tall gazebo where a man was feeding the ducks in the pond. I’ve realized that all the birds here are people-friendly, and I have many photos to prove it.
One could probably wander the garden for a whole day, just getting lost in the trees, bushes, and clouds. I wandered for about an hour and a half, until I had to find a bathroom again. Funny how I forget things like that. I wound around a few grassy picnic areas and climbed up another hill, towards the kids play area.
It was quite the play set, and I kinda wanted to play and swing, but I figured the parents would be uncomfortable with a lone person hanging out with their kids. I saw a group of people coming down the hill – ugh, must be the top where the cable car was. Up I climbed, and around and around I went.
At least there’s shade. I thought, as I sat down on a bench midway up. I could have sat there all day. I almost did too, then I saw this old man come by.
” This way to the gardens, eh? ” He asked. He wore a rumpled tan coat and pants, with a fisherman’s hat to top it off.
“That’s what they tell me.” I replied. As he walked down, I saw he had a backpack on, a Spider-Man back that is.
Claudia! I exclaimed in my head. Those who know Claudia and her daughter would understand that.
I went up and around the path a couple more times till I reached the museum. I wandered in, thinking there’d be more to it but it really only had two levels with two cars, and the rest being a gift shop. I bought some postcards. I’m not mailing any, I just like postcards. Being thirsty, I went to the cafe.
The Boat Cafe was to my right, and up some steps. At the top, I saw the world GOLF in giant letters. There was a giant rack of brochures at the entrance and I picked up several – I had more days to fill and no idea what to do with them, so help was welcomed.
The first thing I saw was a giant basket of yarn. Apparently they have a local craft market with the cafe all the time. Show me yarn, and I’ll show you ideas. I walked down, to the right, and found more handmade clothes and jewelry. I circled back up the steps, and walked into the cafe.
More credit card – fascination antics happened, and I took my newly ordered cookie and bottle of water outside to the patio. There was quite the view, so I took some more photos.
I sat there, trying to do more sketching, but was distracted the people around. One old woman just waiting; another group of senior citizens, one of which kept poking her husband to take a photo of her; and a boy with his father and grandfather.
If you’ve ever seen the English version of “Death at a Funeral”, imagine the uncle in the wheelchair, less ornery and without the chair telling his grandson not to eat the paper of an ice cream cone. That’s the picture I had right then.
I finished up my water, and went to wait for the cable car again. I had no plans after that, but then again, it didn’t really matter. I figured once I got back down the hill, I’d find something to do, even it meant just wandering around again.
I found that I could see a cricket match going on not far down. I think it had been the same field I had seen from Mount Victoria on my first day. I thought about trying to find a way down to watch, but decided a few photos were enough.
As I sat waiting on the car, I watched as others started to get on. Some people seemed a bit lost and weren’t sure if they could get on without paying. A nice elderly man helped them understand that they could pay when they got down the hill. I had bought a return ticket, so I was set. Always thinking, Alicia, good job (this time…)
