Te Papa

We have little luck when it comes to the car on this vacation. It's died twice, so dad has marched off to Hertz to yell at them since he was supposed to golf today. I find I'm having trouble with New Zealand cuisine since it is mainly fried and killing my stomach, ugh.....seeking refuge in pasta when possible. We went to the botanical gardens which meant a ride on the cable car to the top of a hill, which was nice. We had a good lunch with a beautiful view of the bay and then walked up and down hills in the gardens (my legs are killing me). It was all so beautiful though, nature itself here is simply astounding with all the dense vegetation growing up hillsides and singing birds (birds don't sing in Japan, it sounds more like they scream). Yesterday we went to Te Papa, the national museum and wandered through about half of it. The place is enormous, 6 floors of exhibits. Right now, their big one is whales, which we didn't get into but will see next time since it's free and just a few blocks from our apartment. A good rainy day activity. Today is gorgeous and Mom and I are going to wander about and shop (I'm looking for a tin whistle to play some irish music on, I've been craving it), granted I don't throw up on the sidewalk and pass out next to Lenny the Loincloth (we've dubbed a bum on the street this, he sits in the same spot we pass every day. He's so tan he looks black, has gray long hair that frizzes all over, wears a black loin cloth, and makes strange growling shouting noises whenever a pretty girl passes).