Friday 13th again! And I saw Freddy Krueger at breakfast....

Today was our last day in New Zealand, fittingly in the capital, Wellington. We were just coming into the harbour when we woke up. By the time we had finished breakfast, the ship was all secure on the berth and we could go ashore.

We had nothing particular planned for the day other than to ride the cable car, see the Botanical gardens, have a walk around the city centre and most importantly get online and try and chat to the girls. Managed to get it all done.

We got the shuttle bus into the city centre which was not far, perhaps 8 minutes on the bus. Walkable definitely. It was still early and the shops weren't open so we decided to find wifi first. Our initial impressions were of a very pleasant city, compact and easily walkable about, situated on a truly enormous harbour bay with hills climbing up behind the shore line. Most of the buildings were modern skyscrapers but there were still historic Victorian dwellings dotted amongst them. The main department store was Kirkcaldie and Someone and looked like a miniature version of Harrods. We found a Starbucks and set up base camp there. Managed to get a Facetime call going with Daisy which was lovely but the reception really wasn't good enough so in the end we reverted to the mobile. Also managed to upload all the back photos so completely up to date with that.

After chatting with Daisy we got the funicular railway up to the hill behind the central business district which has the Botanical Garden on top. We had heard that was a lovely place to visit and then walk down through back to the shops. The view was indeed lovely and the gardens superb. Wonderful tree specimens of many different types all mature and also lovely shade gardens, tree ferns, a succulent garden and a rose garden. About half way down there was a visitor centre which we visited and found seats with more wifi. We had another chat with Daisy and Bob caught Lucy on the night bus home from a whiskey event so we arranged to FT her in 30 minutes. However, half the cruise ship turned up and the wifi was not up to it so we said we would try again when we got to the bottom of the hill. Walked steadily downhill through the gardens. The last section was the old settlers cemetery now preserved there. It was very interesting and some stones told their own tale. Families where five children all under 5 are buried with the parents, probably victims of some epidemic. Many died very young by our standards. Brought it home how tenuous life was before the advent of vaccines and antibiotics. The cemetery was consciously interdenominational although each religion: Protestant, Catholic, Jewish, had their own area of consecrated ground.

Managed to get a strong wifi signal outside a restaurant and called Lu who was in bed by then. Had a very long chat stood in a seedy alley leading to the kitchens!!!!! Must have looked very odd. Anyway, it was lovely to talk to them both and catch up. Lu is about to go off to Ireland for 4 days on a pretty frenetic press trip organised mainly by Jamiesons for St Patrick's Day. The itinerary looks amazing.

Some sad news as well that Terry Pratchett has died after his long struggle with PCO, a variant of Altzheimers. He was tremendously brave and did so much good by publicising his illness and removing some of the taboo of silence around dementia. When one day, a cure or at least a workable treatment is found, he will have played his part in the success. Just a pity it was not in time for him and so many others.

Loaded up a good few new books onto my Kindle for the 4 sea days ahead. There is a library on board which isn't too bad but it's all hardcover books and they seem such a "lugaround" LOL. The capitano came on at 1815 just as we were leaving the quay. Apparently the cyclone Pam is still bearing down on NZ and going to hit the north tonight. We are going through the Cook Strait and up the west coast to avoid it and he does not expect us to feel any effects tonight or tomorrow. He's not sure about the day after though….. his parting remark (you must imagine his Italian accent) "and so enjoy a wonderful dinner tonight on Aurora. Perhaps in two days we will dance upon the sea…."

Yikes! Pray he means a tropical deck party.......