Wellington Botanical Gardens - Part II

They have barkless trees, like the arbutus trees in BC.

You can't beat Wellington on a good day

Apparently that's an expression here. Though they warn there are only four good days a year. In terms of weather, one was May 11 - which was perfect.



No, I did not buy fabric... but I did buy a jacket and screen printed stockings with NZ birds.





They've got these great sort of verandas on Cuba St (which my Rough Guide calls the 'alternative area'). It's where I found craft books of the how-to-sell-online variety, and indie fashion from recycled vintage, a lot of vintage clothes, a tiny shop with prints and vinyl toys, and a lot of patios. Part of the street is pedestrianized, with no car traffic (though watch for bikes). KS recommends Fidel's coffee at the top of the hill. It's red, of course.



Back down the hill to the harbour:

reflections

When I was about 9 years old, I took a class at the Art Gallery of Ontario. They gave us a canvas and acrylic paints and some mirrors, to make self-portraits. I took two mirrors at about a 60 degree angle and painted half-a-dozen of me.

These are me in the sculptures in front of Te Papa and the courtyard viewed from our conference room. (The figure walking rapidly away is my friend KS).

the view from here

and down the street...


then up Cuba St.