Coffee Capital
by fishandchips
Wellington is certainly the coffee capital of New Zealand and probably of Oceania with Australia a long way behind. With such great places as Cafe Laffare, Iona, Plum and Mojo Wellington has major competition for the best cup of coffee. This situation is enhanced with the central city being quite compact so you need only walk 400 metres or so and you are at a new place to relax for a cuppa. The measure of any coffee house is the quality of its espresso or short black as it gets called in many spots. This is my drink of preference first thing in the day with the latter drinks often a Moccha (Laffare put a stick of chocolate in theirs!!!). I'm normally in too much of a rush to sit and enjoy my morning drink unless I'm on holiday so bring on the hoilidays!!
NZ and its psyche
by Assenczo
Russell Brown, an author with the Lonely Planet travel guide, has made a point of looking at the NZ national psyche and has discovered that its most apparent manifestation is the question: “So, what do you think of New Zealand?”. While reading it, the text might feel like a well-peppered story worthy to attract the reader’s attention and arouse his curiosity about the subject. Another matter is the feeling of revelation when you as visitor, albeit not an important one, are asked the same question. It becomes a palpable reality and an impetus to not just stare at NZ’s nature but comprehend the psyche of its inhabitants. Quickly one realizes that it is within the boundaries of “great proud and creeping doubt” with the accent on the latter. No measure of “biculturalism” is going to shift it to the first.
Enjoy the artwork
by eMeReS
One of the things that I noticed while in Wellington was that there was a lot of artwork around. Although not all were to my taste it was wonderful to see so many expressions of creativity in the streets.
On the website of the Wellington Sculpture Trust you'll find information on a number of the larger sculptures, including their location, so you can actively seek them out. Or you can just enjoy the ones you happen to come across while roaming the city.
St. Mary of the Angels: Windows from Germany
by Kakapo2
This impressive Catholic church, towering at an elevated position over the city, stands on reclaimed land in Boulcott Street and is the place of worship of a small parish (Te Aro) in the CBD. It is already the third church on this site. The first one was built in 1843, three years after the arrival of the first ships of the New Zealand Company. The second and already more impressive one was erected in 1873 but destroyed by a fire in 1918.
In the hard times after the First World War construction of the church you see today started in 1920 and took until 1922. It was blessed on 26 March 1922. The architect was Frederick de Jersey Clere. It was the first neo-gothic style building that was constructed from reinforced concrete, and is a double steepled church, the spires looking a bit like those of Notre Dame in Paris, just to get an idea of the style.
Thanks to a major exterior refurbishment, completed in November 2004, the church is a striking beauty of the city centre. One of its major features are the beautiful stained glass windows, many of them coming from Germany. They were constructed in the famous foundry of F.X. Zettler in Munich. On some of them you can read this name at eye level. BTW Also The Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament in Christchurch has stained glass windows of this maker.
The parishioners of St. Mary of the Angels are Marists, followers of the Society of Mary that was founded in Lyon (France) by Jean-Claude Colin. The first Marists to leave France came to the South Pacific and were based in New Zealand. They arrived in 1838, and were present at the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi.
Mass hours:
Mon – Fri 7.30am, 12.05pm, 5.15pm
Sat 11am
Sunday 7am, 9am, 11am, 5pm
Address: 17 Boulcott Street, Wellington
Email: office@stmaryoftheangels.wellington.net.nz
Chow
by fishandchips about Chow
Situated above Burger King on Tory street/Courtenay Place corner, Chow is a good spot for a bit of Asian food or just a drink. We popped in here after work for a quick drink and the place got very busy very quickly after 6pm as people came in for either the 2 for 1 coctails (wednesday night) or the more serious business of eating.
If you come here for lunch you can opt for the $12 special which gives you a long plate of food with rice and Miso soup. Very reasonable and very tasty. I've been here with mates and shared Eel rolls, Prawn dumplings and NZ Scallops - all really good.
Prices here are slightly above average though the Tiger beer I'm having was $7 a bottle so about what you might expect. Smart casual
Sign in with Facebook
Santa Parade 2009.
Entrance.
View of Wellington Harbor from Mt. Victoria
The T Bone - Mobile beside for comparison
