Napier art deco goes off

Our days off coincided this week so we took off to Napier to have a look at the art deco week. Each year Napier goes off with all things art deco. From the cars, motorbikes, clothes, music, you name it, its art deco styling.

It wasn’t until I had seen how gorgeous the art noveau and art deco style can be via the streets of Paris that I realised what a treasure we have in Napier. A week of celebrating these treasures is truly unique and inspiring.

It takes around 2 hours from Taupo to Napier. It truly is a rather boring drive with very few places to stop however once you get into the hills that is where the scenery starts to liven up. Believe me an hour or more of the forestry lands or in this case what was left of the forestry land after milling has been done, it truly is rather a bore.

Although the art deco week really started on the Friday night kick off we did get a glimpse of the events and the time that would be had by many that have traveled there this weekend. Where ever you looked people were walking about in 30’s clothing with amazing vehicles tootling by. Next year I would love to be able to join in with a wee dress up and get myself into a big band party for a bit of the jitterbug.

We stayed the night at The Tennyson (located on Tennyson Street). Cheapish and cheerful but more importantly has free parking and a short walk from the city centre.

The art deco buildings are abundant on Tennyson Street leading into town then into Hastings and Emerson Street. Along Marine Parade you have the Napier Sound Shell, lovely gardens and nice dining at many of the restaurants in the area.

Next year this celebration is definitely on my list to visit for a great week away living the 30’s dream.
http://www.artdeconapier.com/default.aspx

How many days left of summer?

Can you believe it? Summer apparently is almost over. I am loving the sunny days here in Taupo, even if I am working most of them during the week.

Sparkling water, sun shining, heat pounding down, loving it! I actually even noticed the other day that I no longer look sickly pale. Sure the legs still glow white but it’s a catch 22 situation. Show my legs to the sunlight and get laughed out of town or keep them under wraps? Yes, I know there are tanning products available but seriously I’m not that fussed. I think a benefit of getting older is the care factor of other peoples opinions starts to decrease. However, I am still vain enough to not want to be pointed and laughed at too much 🙂

The other day we went to Taupo DeBretts for a hot mineral spa. Yes, I realise the absurdity of this given my above comments regarding the great hot weather and then going for a hot spa. There are some days when you just gotta relax and doing the hot spa is the way to go.

I hadn’t been to Taupo DeBretts before given that the pricing is slightly more than the Taupo AC Baths. However DeBretts is literally up the road from us and their mineral pools are rather good looking. Their price also includes entry to the other pools on site as well. The mineral pools are private so you can have one all to yourself or as in the one we took it would appear that you could easily fit at least 10 people in the pool. With a little shower to cool off with it was a lovely and relaxing alternative to the AC Baths which are really just spas filled with hot mineral water. At DeBretts the mineral pools have a lovely entry into the water with pebble tiling and different level of height seating. Looking up the ceiling is open to the air which is lovely on a clear summer night or I could imagine in winter it would be nice and toasty with a great little chill coming in from above. At $16 per person for as long as you like (if you dare brave more than the recommended 45 minutes) it was well worth the extra bit of money splashed out for an evening of relaxation. The private pools are placed away from the main pools in a tranquil bush setting and hopefully if you’re lucky enough the occupants of the other spas will not be noisy children! 🙂

http://www.taupohotsprings.com/