Welcome to New Zealand - Lake Tekapo

 I'm busy touring the other side of the planet with Mr. Crafty Bitch, here the days are getting longer and flowers are blooming. It will be shock to the system to go back into winter when we get home...

We flew into Christchurch, and then drove down to an old family town - Timaru. Word to the wise, do not, after flying for 20 hours, rent a stick shift car, and drive on the wrong side of the road. To be clear, I'm not a total amateur. I've owned manual transmission cars before, even if I've never achieved a real grace in driving them. However, when the driving side is flipped the stick side is as well, and I keep flailing around with my right hand searching for the gear shift. I also have been turning on the windshield wipers instead of signaling. At least I can see clearly out the front eh?

So, after recovering from Jet Lag for a day or two, I decided to buck up and try driving a stick, on the other side of the road, up a windy mountain pass. Well worth it I'd say...

 This is a very old church on the shores of the lake, a little tiny thing. But instead of an alter or a pulpit, there is a big window which looks out on the Southern Alps. A lot nicer than some dusty saints I'd say...

 The water was strikingly blue! A deep turquoise that made the sky look dull, and the white of the snow capped mountains made for a fantastic view! It was rather windy and chilly however, even in the bright sun.

 There was a statue commemorating the working sheep dogs, probably the most important pioneers to come over from Europe!

Behind that hillside, hiding in the clouds, would be Mt. Cook. Tallest peak on the Islands. On that hill side, one is looking for a very different type of view. The air here is very clear, and the little town is the only nearby settlement. All the street lights here are hooded, so their light shines only straight down. There is an observatory on the hill top, and it's considered a fantastic stargazing site.

A great way to dip our toes into the sights of the south!