Napier continued

Napier has turned out to be quite a nice city, though much quieter than Auckland or Wellington, as one would probably expect. After checking into our hostel, which once upon a time was probably a great hotel, we saw a poster advertising for trivia at the restaurant/bar downstairs. Thinking it would be fun to just have a drink (as we haven't had a spot of alcohol since we arrived) and and perhaps socialize--we ventured downstairs. Trivia was to start in 2 minutes and the bar was absolutely empty, save for the two old folks who ran the place. We decided not to stay and ventured out to have a stroll in the city center--which was as equally deserted at 7:30 p.m. Most of the stores and cafes closed at 5:00. I imagine this is a similar sight in many cities in the country, but it was a new experience for us having come from the US and the two major cities where plenty can be found to do in the evening. We decided to go to the grocery store instead to stock up for the next few days. 


Now, I head read a few reviews about our hostel, some people saying it was "noisy" at times--though I couldn't understand how that was possible with the whole city closing down at 5. Well, the whole city except for the bar underneath the hostel, apparently. There are sings all over the hostel advertising the places, citing it as one of the "Top 10 Things to Do in Napier." However, having seen the turnout for trivia, I imagine the hostel and bar are in business cahoots, simply trying to get business for both. Nevertheless, at around 9:30 p.m booming music with a thumping base to boot started resonating from downstairs and didn't end til' 12:00 a.m.--hence the "noisiness." From the way it echoed I have a feeling there were very few, if any, people at the bar and I had half a mind to go downstairs myself and, if my suspicions proved correct, ask the owners why they insisted on playing blaring music to an empty room. However, I didn't, and was able to go to sleep despite the thumping music. 


This morning we ventured out to see some sights--gathering TONS of brochures from the local information center and then first trying to stop by the Pick NZ office for Hawkes Bay region in the neighboring town, Hastings. However, once we got there we saw that they were closed and called the local number whose answering machine told us that the office was open from 9 am to noon on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday only. The rest of the time they must be resting from such a grueling schedule. We will have to venture back there next week. On the way back we stopped by at the National Aquarium--a rather small one by most standards, but entertaining and right on the bay.

We also took a trip up to Bluff Point, the highest point in Napier, to get a beautiful look of the town and the bay. Here are some pictures of the view:

For the next few days we have planned our first walking/hiking trips! Tomorrow we are off to an area called the Boundary Stream Reserve on the border of the Hawkes Bay/Bay of Plenty region to go on a short walk 1.5 hour walk to see some waterfalls, then we're headed an hour and half north to Lake Waikaremoana to a nice 30 min trail to see THREE waterfalls. 


On Sunday/Monday we are going on our first tramping experience! (Very low level, I assure you). It's in the Kaweka Forest Park, an hour north of Napier, and the brochure describes it as "an easy walk through grassy river falts, manuka and podocarp forest. Relax in the Mangatainoka Hot Springs, 3 km back the comfortable 26 bunk hut." So yeah, we're not "roughing it" quite yet and this seemed like the perfect first tramp--there are beds, toilets, and even a gas stove at the hut--plus a hot springs! I'm sure I will come back with beautiful pictures to share.