Monday, March 07, 2005
Napier Nonsense
We have moved from windy Wellington to natty Napier. Napier is an art deco mecca. It was devastated by an major earthquake in 1928 which destroyed most of the stone buildings and started a fire that demolished most of the wooden structures. The city residents decided to undertake a massive rebuilding and also decided to proceed in the art deco style (think of pictures of Miami or Santa Barbara). Today the forsight, resilience and hard work of those citizens has created a major tourist attraction.
We went on a self guided tour today of many of the art deco commercial buildings. 4 hours later we gave up, unfinished but too tired to continue. I probably have 50 photos of buildings or architectural details. That should be enough to recall the experience.
Barry, when reading the guide book, told us with a straight face that Napier was an approximate translation of the Maori name for the place - the Maori name being Takitaki.
Good one, huh?
Tomorrow we go back by Lake Taupo (see earlier blog - hole left by big volcanic explosion) on our way to Touranga and the Bay of Plenty.
We went on a self guided tour today of many of the art deco commercial buildings. 4 hours later we gave up, unfinished but too tired to continue. I probably have 50 photos of buildings or architectural details. That should be enough to recall the experience.
Barry, when reading the guide book, told us with a straight face that Napier was an approximate translation of the Maori name for the place - the Maori name being Takitaki.
Good one, huh?
Tomorrow we go back by Lake Taupo (see earlier blog - hole left by big volcanic explosion) on our way to Touranga and the Bay of Plenty.
