WEDNESDAY 3rd January 2018,
We started off with a relaxing morning as today we were going downtown and meeting up with Kim (Ralph and Eve’s daughter) for coffee at the shopping mall.Actually driving down the hill, we were in the city centre within 10 minutes. There are still lots of shops closed due to the Christmas break but we weren’t exactly here for shopping – although I did get myself 2 new blouses! After coffee, we strolled to the Dunedin station, as I still wanted to get some pictures taken. Luckily at this moment there were no busses parked in front of the station so at least I could get some good shots!
That done, we walked up to the Octagon – this is where both Ralph and Gerry used to hang out after school. But now there are so many café’s and restaurants and by the time we got here it was time for a “brew and a puff” (coffee for us all and a cigarette for Gerry) As we sat outside a pub, the brew became craft beer for the men and cider for me while Eve was the only one who stuck to the “brew” and with our drink we ordered a basket of potato wedges to keep us going through the afternoon.
Then time to take some more pictures – this time of the Dunedin Town Hall – also a memorable place for all three – this is where the Saturday dances were held – on the one side the Rock and Roll for the younger generation while on the other side there was ballroom dancing for the mature generation…….. Of course dances are not held here any longer but there is an auditorium for other functions and I guess there are enough places for the Dunedin youngsters to hang out nowadays. Next to the City hall there is also a beautiful church and in front of the church there is a statue of Robert Burns, the Scottish poet, whose nephew, a Presbyterian minister, travelled to Dunedin with the first Scottish settlers. An interesting remark over the statue of Robert Burns is that he is sitting with his back to the church but facing the pub!!
Gerry was still looking for his third home in Dunedin on the South Street and although the other day we had gone to the point where it should have been, he thought that it was pulled down to make way for the new highway viaduct. But it seemed that his memory was jogged and so we went back to the same spot and although the house was not as he remembered it, it actually was refurbished as a Chinese takeaway!! Later in the evening, Ralph checked the city archives and did actually find the house, as Gerry had known it!
Now Gerry’s memory lane was completed except for one other place – The Dunedin Botanic Gardens! Apparently these gardens are close to the North Road so most of Gerry’s and Ralph’s friends used to hang out here. These are beautiful gardens and I suspect that lots of handholding and first kisses took place here…….. Anyway, the gardens are landscaped against a hill and as it was a warm afternoon, I was quite breathless by the time we made it up to the top part where the aviary was with fantastic native parrot like birds. There were several themes in the garden including the Mediterranean garden, the Cedars of Lebanon as well as a Japanese garden.
After our wandering around the Botanic gardens, we returned to Ralph and Eve’s home for drinks and Eve started preparing “tea” – Kim and Murray were to join us tonight as it is our last night in Dunedin and for this occasion, Eve was preparing fried blue cod, salad and chips! We had a fantastic meal and then time to say goodbyes and pack our gear as the plan was that we would be leaving at 8 am tomorrow morning for Invercargill and then onto Queenstown!
