Coming right up! I'm currently luxuriating in the extra couple of hours of private space before ~25 hrs in public (or public-ish) spaces. People are fucking exhausting.

It was exactly as delicious as you think it would be. I regret nothing.

A Nanaimo bar slice sitting on its bakery bag on a hotel room desk, with my hand beside it for scale. (Note: I have quite large hands.) The layers are right: a chocolate crumb & coconut base; a shocking yellow, custard-powder-and-icing-sugar middle, and a layer of chocolate on top. (The shredded coconut on the chocolate is not traditional, but I'll allow it.) Each layer is about twice as thick as a traditional Nanaimo bar's, and the whole thing is about 5 cm/2 in wide and 15 cm/6 in long, and 4 cm/1.5 in thick. That's a *lot* of Nanaimo bar.

I have tried a Nanaimo bar slice (i.e., in the form of a popular type of dessert here), and it's a faithful rendition of my home's sweet treat, but y'all, this is too damn much Nanaimo bar.

Oh, and I may have some wine to get through, as well. Canada Customs' allowance for bringing wine back is, in the words of the Aussie woman I met on the wine tour yesterday, "remarkably stingy".

Going back here for breakfast tomorrow, because 1. I have a late checkout (thanks, past me!) and 2. their Turkish eggs are ridiculously good. In consideration of my fellow passengers, I may have to go for something less garlic- & chilli-laden, though. Or not. www.c1espresso.co.nz

Photo from the Sweet Soul Patisserie website: a vanilla cinnamon mousse apple with a shiny red glaze, a chocolate stem, and a crumble base. Inside the base is a spoonful of apple compote. It was ludicrously expensive and very, very delicious.

Last night in Aoteroa New Zealand, so I went for a ludicrous dessert (I mean, really, look at this thing) and a probably-too-strong-for-evening coffee. Now to finish postcards, pack my shit, and try to eat the grazing food that remains in the hotel room fridge.

The outside of a hotel on a sunny day. Above the doorway is a plain black sign with "Commit no nuisance" in white capital letters. Behind that is a green sign with "To Oxford St." in small letters, and "The British" in large, cream-coloured capital letters with a black drop shadow.

I am disappointed to learn that this is not, in fact, where they keep the British. I'm sure the fine people of Lyttelton are relieved, though.

Also, the number 8 bus runs there from downtown--the same bus that takes you to the gondola--so although it's ~30-40 mins out of town, it's cheap & easy to get to.

There's a lovely little info centre, where they'll give you all kinds of maps & history & tell you about the variety of walks available, & ferries run to Ōtamahua/Quail Island, Ripapa Island & Diamond Harbour. If I'd had more time, I'd've visited Quail Island. www.lytteltoninfocentre.nz/quail-island

Lyttelton report! It's a funky little town, definitely a working port. Not much to do in the town itself: I had fish & chips over the water, an excellent coffee in a very hippie/hipster cafe, and did a bit of shopping, which was a lovely afternoon for me but maybe a bit boring for a family. But!

You did not steer me wrong about that mint gelato: it was excellent. Thanks for the tip!

A sign on a post in a bed of shrubbery outside a Boss store. The sign reads, "Standing in one place limited to 3 minutes. For longer standing, use designated zones." In much smaller print in the bottom right corner, it says, "Christchurch City Confusion" beside a logo that is remarkably similar--but not identical--to the Christchurch City Council logo.

Found another one!

I shall report back, for your next visit. A day of cool cafes and sitting on a beach staring at the sea sounds like just the thing after a hectic few weeks.

Have you been to Lyttelton? It looks really cool & is only a 30-40 min bus ride away. I think I'll get up early tomorrow & head there for the day.

and it'll weigh ~1.75 lbs when it's cooked, IME.

I just fake it well. Wait, that came out wrong.

The best use of a day off, IMO.

Surprisingly well; thanks for asking! There were a couple of days where it did not thank me--the caves at Waitomo involved a lot of stairs, and the downhill walk from the cable car was a bit much--but mostly it's been okay. I've brought my knee brace & a tube of Voltaren, which have helped.

View from a round hotel room of part of Cathedral Square in Christchurch: an open space on the left, a tram coming donw the middle, and lots of glass buildings and trees.

I had breakfast there! Not through a pneumatic tube, though--I don't think the poached eggs would have survived the trip. It was an excellent meal, nonetheless.

I'm at the Chch City Hotel, right on Cathedral Square. I've seen the tram, but haven't ridden it yet; maybe tomorrow or Sunday.

Aha! There's one right near my hotel, and I was thinking of checking it out. Thanks for the recommendation!

Yeah, Christchurch is gorgeous. I'm looking forward to spending a few days wandering around, maybe take the bus over to Lyttelton, too.

Now I'm even more delighted! Thanks for the link--I'll keep an eye out for them.

Photo of a large, mock Tudor building with fencing around it. On the lawn in front is a sign reading, "This area is slightly haunted but manageable. Monitoring active." In the bottom right corner, in very small text, it reads, "Christchurch City Confusion".

Duly noted.

A kind of crappy photo of a tube of Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun: Rice + Probiotics sunscreen, SPF 50+.

Oh, and hey, look what I found at a K beauty shop downtown! They'd just got a shipment in--apparently it sells out fast. Thanks for mentioning it way back when: it really is excellent. I'll have to look for more in ChCh.

Thank you!

Two books sitting side by side: David Eagleman's 'Sum: Forty tales from the afterlives', and Taku Ashibe's 'Murder in the House of Omari', apparently a winner of the Mystery Writers of Japan award. It's very good so far, and either one fits neatly into my purse.

I somehow forgot what an essential prop a physical book is to a person (especially a woman, maybe?) travelling alone. Some places it just seems weird to pull out a tablet, but a book? Always appropriate. So thanks, Unity Books, for these. (Sure, now you'll let me post photos. Too little, too late.)

Very much hoping for clear skies for tonight's lunar eclipse. So far, signs point to maybe?

From the alt text in the first photo, in case y'all don't read it: I told the tattoo guy his linework reminded me of Aeon Flux. He had no idea what I was talking about. Because Aeon Flux happened before he was born. LOL so old.

Then walk back down through the Botanic Gardens, which was gorgeous and astounding, and a new view around every corner. I have experienced at least 5 different kinds of weather today. aaand it's not letting me add photos & I'm too tired to figure it out, so it's time to pack for Christchurch.

Wellington as seen from the top of the cable car route: fern trees & the cable tracks in the foreground, then Wellington Harbour, with the houses across the harbour climbing the hill to the right. The sky clearly can't make up its mind: ominous grey cloud in the foreground; fluffy white clouds with bits of blue further away.

Not pictured: Unity Books (always love a good bookstore, and this one is exceptional); walking all the fuck over downtown; getting blown almost sideways by the famous Wellington wind.

Today: cable car to the top...

View 1 of new tattoo of water, using colours from the various waters I've seen so far. I told the guy his linework reminded me of Aeon Flux. He had no idea what I was talking about. Because Aeon Flux happened before he was born. LOL so old.

View 2 of new tattoo: more water, some bubbles/stones?, some orange from the logs at my friend's field camp/the minerals at the Champagne Pool at Wai-O-Tapu.

View 3 of new tattoo: more water/stones/bubbles, with one wave curled in on itself like the Whekī-ponga/Golden tree fern.

Pie! I have had so many pies. This was, uh, smoked brisket? With some kind of cheese? and garlic confit mash with gravy.

Big trip rest evening mini-photodump. So. Here's what I did yesterday (apart from that fabulous bar).