But first, The Flight
I arrived at 8am this morning, after a very restful (ha) 13h flight from L.A. What made the flight to NZ bearable was the free socks. No earplugs or handiwipes for the flyers of Qantas Airlines! But everyone gets a pair of cozy socks so they can walk the aisles in comfort. An idea whose time has come.

Mistake not to make on the plane: Say “yes, I’ll have the Danish” when they ask you what breakfast snack you’d like, for the warm, steaming bun will not be filled with stickiness, cream and jam, but rather with sheep cheese and chicken.

The Day
My first view of Wellington was through rain striped windows onto a choppy green sea. Wellington seemed to be layered in hills of warm hued houses snuggled together against the rain and wind. It’s winter here, 45 degrees, and crazy windy. Yet there are palm trees, smiling shop keepers, and students seated outside at cafes in their boots, winter hats, and black coats. New Zealand has a good attitude.

I explored the streets and shops of Wellington. It’s artsy, smart, young, and easily walkable. I spent most of the afternoon at Te Papa – their national museum.

Fun facts from Te Papa:
1. A “weta” is a giant cricket-like insect that exists only in New Zealand.
To give you an indication of how much it weighs: 1 giant weta = 3 mice.
That’s one BIG Jiminy Cricket.

2. In many ways the kiwi bird is more like a hedgehog than a bird. Oh, so true.

3. In the Maori tradition (the tradition of the indigenous peoples of New Zealand), a rakau whakapapa is a “geneology staff”. It’s a long stick with notches equal to the generations of a tribe. I love the idea of counting generations as grooves on a sacred stick, and I also love the idea that there is a stick with “whakapapa” in its name.

Mistake not to make in a ladies’ public restroom: Try to dry your hands underneath the tampon and pad dispenser (which has a shape surprisingly modern and much like the high-powered hand dryers). It will not blow air on your hands.

Tomorrow: A tour of Victoria U. of Wellington!