Suzy came knocking around 8:30 a.m.
It was another gorgeous day, sunny, mild, and breezy. We headed for breakfast at "Fidels," a cool cafe downtown. It was the best yet. The walls were painted black, and the windows all had etchings of Castro. But, the food! This was the best breakfast I have had since The English Rose. We both chose the veggie breakfast. This included 2 slices of toasted chibata bread topped with two poached eggs. The yolks of these eggs were the richest orange color. You got two tomato halves, roasted, a potato fritter, a pile of steamed spinach, all topped with a drizzling of Hollandaise sauce. I was in heaven. But, wait, there's more. I ordered a blackberry-mango-chocolate chip vegan muffin for us to share. OMG.
We rolled out of there, off to explore Wellington. First stop, the Mayor's office where Suzy works. This was a palace. Gorgeous rugs, tile floors, marble walls, and huge windows. We climbed the winding staircase, and entered the corridor to her office. We met her boss, a sweet lady who warned Suzy that the Mayor was feeling "a bit grumpy," due to a cold coming on, and that it was good Suzy was taking the day off! I met "Rupert," the guy who was taking Suzy's spot while she was off with me. A nice chap! I spoke with the lady from the play, who works with Suzy, and I told her how amazing she had been. She was so happy to hear this, as she was feeling "inadequate." This seemed to make her day! Next, we explored a nearby concert hall, and the grand ball room where you become a citizen.
Next up, the art museum! We saw a great exhibit by Seraphine Pike, a famous New Zealand Surrealist. This really inspired me, especially after I watched the video about how she works. I want to get back and get started painting in this style again. Suzy said her work reminded her of mine, and that is why she wanted me to see it.
We decided to go see a movie, "Mao's Last Dancer," which turned out to be only so-so, but the theater was worth the price of admission. It was where the third Lord of the Rings movie premiered. The theater was even more grand than the Grand Lake in San Francisco. It was cavernous, with huge seats covered in leather. The fixtures and lighting was amazing, the carpets so lush. I could not believe that they let you eat in there. Each seat had a little ajoining table where an engraved gold label was afixed. Suzy told me that they had completely refurbished the theater for Peter Jackson's opening, and that the names on the labels were of the stars, cast, and crew! I found Frodo and Lilly's in the front row, dead center, and sat there looking up at the huge screen. Colby, where are you?
After the movie, we went to pick up their car, being checked for it's "warranty of fitness." George was there, already, and since the car wasn't quite done, we all went to a little coffee shop nearby for a snack and a drink.
That night, I decided I would join Suzy for her Choir practice, to see just what it was all about. This is a really great concept. I decided it should be an episode of "This American Life." It includes about one hundred people, who meet at a church hall every Wednesday evening. A enthusiastic leader guides them all in songs, he has the words projected up on a wall. He stands at an organ and speaks into a microphone. Everyone devides into sopranos, altos, tenors, and bass, I think it was. What surprised me most is that I decided to join them, and that I was singing and having so much fun! I loved watching all those faces, so full of joy. There were all ages from mid-twenties to the elderly. Everyone pitches in $5 to cover the cost of the hall, and they just sing away. What fun! What a great communal thing it was...
I forgot how I met Pip, Suzy's best friend, when we all met for dinner at "Burger Fuel" before Choir practice. They had a chickpeaa burger on a big sesame seed bun to die for. Pip was so sweet, and played the ukelele at the practice! After the singing, we met Wilson at the movie theater where he had seen a flick with a friend, and George picked us all up and took me back to my hotel. That's it. I am off to Dunedin in the morning...
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