Visiting Te Papa

We had rooms next to one another on the 7th floor. We all slept pretty well our first night in Wellington. We adults would have probably preferred to sleep about another hour, but the boys were up and at it. 

I went down to the lobby for three flat whites and then we had our breakfast in our room. Jeanne and I had run over to a supermarket after dinner last night and bought cereal, milk, juice, bread, p-nut butter and jelly, yogurt, etc. It was a fun breakfast. 

We took our time and were ready to leave the room about 10 a.m. I think. 

This wind howled all night long. Because of it's position on the Cook Straight, some surf writers have called it 'the windiest city in the world', although this may or may not be completely accurate.
This is looking down Featherston.

This is looking straight out from our balcony. 

And this is looking up Featherston.

Our hotel is only a block from the marina. This was the scene as we begin to follow the wharf toward Te Papa.

Looking across the bay. This picture doesn't do it justice. In your mind also add a fairly brisk breeze, seagulls crying,  and a sun that already feels rather hot on your face,.

These are meant to represent sea urchins. 

Allie and the boys ride a whale at a playground we passed along the way. 

As you can see,this waterfront doesn't much resemble the one filmed in On the Waterfront. 

This one is teeming with tourists, not longshoremen.

Everyone seems to be in high spirits. The adults' spirits lifted even more when we discovered as we walked through the doors, that the museum is free!  (They suggested a very modest donation.)

I was impressed and thrilled to see a pygmy blue whale skeleton. The largest blue whale adult can be about 100 feet long. This one was a adolescent male when it was killed and 68 feet long.
There is an interesting and shocking story behind this skeleton. A container ship, coming into Auckland, hit the whale and it became wrapped around the prow of the ship. Upon docking, it was removed and examined. It was discovered then, from the condition of it's body, that a pod of killer whales had been attacking it. The skeleton was eventually donated to Te Papa. 

I wonder if this whale may have thrown itself in front of the ship in a last ditch effort to evade the pod that was killing it? 

This, they told us, is the only giant squid on display in the world. I don't know the story behind how the museum acquired this one, but it was not as dramatic as the whale story. 

This is a 1,570 lb. ball of stone floating on .2mm of water that is being forced up from the fountain. Surprisingly easy to make it spin

Leaving the museum, planning for some dinner.

Allie fired up her smart phone, located Cuba Street, and off we went.

"Here it is boys, one of the most picturesque streets in Wellington. A must see for every tourist." 

Even a fast-food place is classy here.

Arram was quite impressed that his dinner came with a cool dessert.  Now THAT'S the way to serve an ice cream cone. Those are marshmallow eyes and a chocolate smile of course. 

The boys were very pleased with the room. The hotel offered a 'pillow menu.'  Allie selected lavender pillows and the boys ended their busy day with some quiet time on their i-pads.