Yummy Candy Floss - Right before our very Eyes!!!!

Mmmmm... candy floss bigger than your head!!!!

Two Saturday's ago we went into Wellington just for a day's outing with no dance classes to go to.

We went nice and early to make the most of it, the weather wasn't the best though but it wasn't raining.

Our first port of call was the Underground Market at Frank Kitts Park.

We had a look around getting lots of ideas and wishing we had heaps of money.

Then we cam upon the Candy Floss Lady.

Fresh candy floss is always a favourite.

As we are huge fans of candy floss we had to get one!!!!

It was a lovely blue blueberry flavoured floss which she very kindly sprinkled hundreds and thousand on as we had to wait a little for the machine to warm up.  It only took a minute or too.

Talk about yummy!!!!!  Not that I had much of it as Salem devoured it all.

Salem has his, now mine is being made.

Last weekend just gone, we went back.  It was a beautiful sunny day, just right for eating candy floss while walking along the waterfront.

This time it was pink candy floss and I had to have my own as I am no longer sharing with Salem.
All I can say is "YUM YUM YUM!!!!!!!".

Victoria Street Farmer's Market, Wellington

A couple of Sundays ago, we went bright and early into Wellington as Salem had a ballet class with the Royal New Zealand Ballet, and because of catching trains and making sure we got in to town with plenty of time to spare in case something goes wrong (which has happened in the past), we had time to visit the farmer's market in Victoria Street.

They have the market every Sunday morning in a large car parking area, Salem couldn't believe his eyes at how much produce was there and all the different types.
He had never been to this market before.

There was lots of great bargins including three pineapples for $5.  It was a real shame we couldn't really buy anything or else we would have had to carry it around in our backpacks all day.

Another reason for going to the market was to see a friend of ours who does the fish van, but he wasn't there this time, someone else was.  Salem had to check out what was on offer.

We found someone selling some beautiful orchids.

Salem couldn't believe his eyes.  

They were so big (the orchids that is) as Salem grows tiny native orchids and had never seen big "normal" ones before.

Well, he has but can't remember because they have some at the Begonia House at the Wellington Botanic Gardens.

We will definitely be making another trip into Wellington on a Sunday again to visit this market again!!!!

At the Botanic Gardens While the Earth Moves In Wellington

A lone flowering Tulip

On Friday we had decided it was about time that we went into Wellington again.
We needed a fix of city hustle and bustle and then our usual wander through the Wellington Botanic Gardens.
Little did we know it would turn out to be a bit of an adventure.

One of the tulip beds

The tulip beds were devoid of flowers, all except one lone tulip, but growing well in preparation for the Spring Tulip Festival later on.  But there was plenty of magnolias in bloom along with other pretty little flowers and the spring bulbs doing their thing rather early, it is still winter.

Relaxing on the grass while Wellington shakes

I found myself a nice possie next to the Joy Fountain on the grass and sat down while Salem went running about.  I felt the ground move under me and thought that it was either a small earthquake or a truck or bus going by. I didn't see either.  I mentioned it to Salem but he didn't feel anything.  He was too busy running around and exploring in the trees.

This was taken just after a large earthquake

Soon after heaps of people started walking through the gardens and I thought it must have been the usual after work crowd of people walking home........Little did we know!!!!!
Wellington had been rattled by some rather large earthquakes.
I have written about our adventure on our Ballet Boy NZ blog so check out our story at http://balletboynz.blogspot.co.nz/2013/08/dancing-on-shaky-ground-and-costume.html.
We were totally oblivious to the earthquakes and had a really nice afternoon at the gardens.

Cable Car Station is to be Replaced

We found out recently that the cable car station/ terminal is to be demolished to make way for a new "improved" and up-to-date terminal.

We don't like the plans that they have published and like the charm of the station that is already there.

This was built in 1979 but will be gone by late April.

Salem and I thought we had better go and take some photos of our beloved station before it is gone.
It was a beautiful day and as there was two cruise ships in town, we couldn't actually ride the cable car up the hill as there was a queue of hundreds of tourists down at the Lambton Quay (city) terminal.
So we caught the bus up the hill and then went for a lovely walk through the Botanic Gardens.

Some articles about the cable car:

http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/8215715/Cable-cars-new-Kelburn-terminal-to-cost-1-3m

http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/5527315/Cable-car-building-to-get-make-over

http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/local-papers/the-wellingtonian/4411008/A-decade-of-riding-the-cable-car

And website:  http://www.wellingtoncablecar.co.nz./

Giant Bugs at The Botanic Gardens

On our way through the Wellington Botanic Gardens, we encountered some magical beasties.

It was a very nice surprise.  The Botanic Gardens have some amazing lighting displays and there was lighting rigged up around the giant bugs.

They must look amazing all lit up at night.  It's a pity we can't get to see them at night.

But they look amazing in the sunlight.  This is all part of the displays that are put on every summer.

I wonder what our next summer treat will be??????

A Symphony of Colour at the Lady Norwood Rose Gardens

As promised, here are some pics of the most gorgeous display of roses I have ever seen.
The sheer amount of blooms was amazing.
I only managed to photograph a small amount, not even near a quarter of the roses that were there.

When approaching the gardens, we got hit with the most delicious and heady perfume.
We knew we were in for a treat.

It was such a contrast to when we were last here a few weeks before.
It really was a magnificent display.

There were bus loads of tourists arriving all the time, all with their cameras clicking away.
I tried to get as many photos of the roses as possible but I am afraid I got all "rosed out"!!!
I think I managed to actually look at nearly half the roses on display, it was really a lot to take in.

Salem was taking photos today with his vintage film camera but only managed to get three or four photos of the roses as he ran out of film.
We should have bought more with us.
He used two films that day as it was, but we now now to bring many more.

So after we had "Rose Overload" we found a nice place to sit down with the ducks, pigeons and sparrows.
They were all lazing in the sun in the rose beds.
They didn't mind us hanging out with them.

I took lots of photos of the birds and will share them with you tomorrow.
Enjoy the rest of the photos of these beautiful roses, you will just have to imagine the glorious perfume that we were lucky to be enveloped in........

......Bliss....

Before the Blooms at the Lady Norwood Rose Gardens

These photos were taken a few weeks before the annual Rose Festival at the Lady Norwood Gardens at the Wellington Botanic Gardens.

The rose bushes were mostly bare with a very few early blooms adding a small splash of colour here and there.

Most of the bushes were budding up quite nicely.
It was amazing to think that in a few weeks time they would be in full bloom ready for the Rose Festival.

The Rose Festival was held from the 23rd November until the 26th November 2012.

Unfortunately we were not able to get into Wellington for the organised walks and talks etc during that time due to dancing commitments.

But we did manage to get in and see the wonderful mass display of magnificent roses a few days after the festival and boy, we were not disappointed.

But you will have to wait until tomorrow before I share the gorgeous photos with you.
See you then.............