BTDU

With a definite Groundhog Day feel about it we were blessed by waking to another blue sky day, with a forecast set to peak at c.27C…again😎🇳🇿

After having had our now “fave” breakfast of “Eggs Bene” with smoked salmon (the Kiwis definitely like to be economical with their syllables, this being Eggs Benedict, of course, and “I’ll have a Sav, mate” translates to “I’ll have a glass of Sauvignon Blanc please” 🥂🍷🇳🇿😉

It took us 24 hrs to realize that we could use the external wooden stairs to get down to our car, so after a couple of “posie” shots of my “glamourous assistant” taken by her favorite “pap” we left, heading for Napier…

Napier is the centre of the world renowned International Art Deco Festival, which was starting today…

So, seeing as we like the music etc. of that period we couldn’t wait to get along to see if Napier lived up to it’s reputation😉

The approach, along Marine Parade, did not disappoint…

…and the chippie on the corner where we parked up for the day left passers-by in no doubt as to what his specialty was…

…and the Six Sisters, a well loved icon of Napier that survived the 1931 Earthquake, showed that their sorority was still going strong…

As we walked along the shore, towards the compact city centre, we found the recently created municipal gardens in full bloom…

…and a golf course perfect for my swing…

As part of the celebration of all things Art Deco, each year many owners of vintage vehicles and the like turn up to display their wares both formally (in the organized parades) and informally; we saw plenty of the latter …

…but perhaps the most stunning exhibit was this beautifully preserved French car of, I’d estimate, the roaring 20s…😉

i.e. 2012 to 2014….but I am biased, so must declare an interest!

After being served by a very appropriately dressed couple at the information centre…

…it was time to raise our gaze skywards and admire the Art Deco buildings, of which there are quite a few…

Having seen the standard of dress many visitors were wearing we sought out the first vintage shop; fortunately, with a combination of hiring and buying, we got sorted…

We then came across a Great Gatsby Party that was just kicking off…

We got back to Mangapapa Hotel c.6 pm as June & Bill were joining us at 7 pm for dinner

With the temperature still c.25 C Julie thought there was only one way to cool off…

On J & B’s arrival we elected for the 5 course Menu, as it looked so damn good!

All that remained was for us to have one final drink before we said Au Revoir until Sunday…

Phew….still 3 more full days of the Art Deco Festival to go…😉