Am. Sun - blue sky. Did washing. Lunch - fish and chip shop - had blue cod. Sad - no sense of taste.
Pm. - walked around harbour up to wooded area, then along to lighthouse. Back to Appt. ate food in fridge. Beautiful sunset.
The history of Akaroa is unique in New Zealand. For much of its history it has been home to the biggest Francophone community in the country. I took to Facebook to explain this to world at large whether wanted to know or not....
Every business in the place seemed to be determined to assert the 'French Connection'.
Even the local petrol station....
A festival of French cinema...
Akaroa's place in the history of French science...
A Tricolor themed craft shop...
and the local bus....
Vive la Republique!
Beyond the tourist tat Akaroa is a truly beautiful spot, the whole peninsular formed into a curiously crinkly flooded coastline, oddly saucer-shaped, clearly the rocky remnants of a long extinct volcano. Our final two days were warm and sunny. We did not do much at all, it was good to simply relax after a month of constant travel. Our sadness at leaving the country was ameliorated by a determination that we would return again.
In the end it is not just the stunning landscape and unique flora that will draw us back, there many beautiful places in the world. What makes New Zealand extra special is the people and the positive inclusive culture....
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