Akaroa

This past weekend I drove to Akaroa. Akaroa means long harbor in Maori. It was the site of the country's first French settlement. Akaroa held a French festival on Saturday. One of the professors in the department owns a home in Akaroa and let me stay in their batch (rustic guest house). I had a lovely time. I wandered the streets of the city during the morning. I even saw a dog in the window of a local shop, no he wasn't for sale. Slightly before noon I went on a dolphin watching expedition. Akaroa harbor is home to one of the rarest breed of dolphins, the hector dolphin. Hector dolphins are much smaller than bottle-nosed dolphins. They are extremely friendly and inquisitive. I saw several along our cruise. Unfortunately, none stuck around long enough for me to swim with the dolphins. I did have the opportunity swim in the Pacific Ocean, in a full wetsuit. It was a bit chilly and rough, but well worth it as it was the first time I swam in open waters. Upon my return to dry land I visited the fair grounds for lunch and wine tasting. The evening concluded with a spectacular aerial show by local performers.

Original New Zealand Carnival Game, Laughing Clowns

Horse across the street from the batch

Kaka's beak plant at the front of the property

Very friendly horse down the street from the batch

Sheep across the street from the batch

Cow down the street from the batch

Akaroa Harbor (can you spot the hector dolphin?)