Willkommen KIWI

    With a laughing and a crying eye we leave Melbourne. We will remember Melbourne as a lively, hectic, versatile modern city. Many small shops line the streets of the city center. Their facades resemble film sets and do not fit into the picture of the architecturally interesting skyscrapers at first glance. But it is precisely this discrepancy between old and new that enlivens the scenery. And what sets these skyscrapers apart from those in Singapore and Sydney are the wonderful colors of the blue-violet palette. 

On the weekend it got a little quieter. The hectic hustle and bustle surprised us a bit - or have we already reached the relaxation mode? Our apartment alone on the 52nd floor was already great. When we visited the highest viewing platform in the southern hemisphere, we barely held on to the railing ;-) 

2 hours later a thunderstorm passed over the city, which would have made the view of this big city gray only. 

The visit to the Victoria Market - one of the largest open-air markets in the world - was another highlight. There you can also find dishes from all over the world. Great impressions for the eyes and nose. The fish market only offered non-living specimens. When you think of Latvia? On a trip to Latvia in November, there was clearly more movement at the stalls. 

On Sunday we went to bed early because we didn't want to miss our 6 o'clock bus to the airport. 

With the flight to Christchurch, we now added the remaining two hours up to the date line. 

We took over our camper - a ship on wheels - shortly after five o'clock. The first stage - we ‚plan’ the destination of the day spontaneously - fulfilled some clichés. Unpaved, narrow roads, sheep on the road, lush meadows, we were served cattle and horses, all surrounded by relatively high mountains. A dream picture! We definitely wanted to reach the planned campsite before nightfall. Finally, in Pigeon Bay, we were able to pull the handbrake and switch the camper to night operation. Apart from a pitch, not much was on offer, but our camper is fully equipped with toilet, shower, kitchen, so we, 2 sailors, believed that it would be enough. It doesn't work in 5 minutes the first time. Tired from the journey and the sound of the sea three meters away, we surrendered to Morpheus arms. 

In the morning we were greeted by the sun, the chirping of birds, chirping crickets and the sea at very pleasant temperatures. However, we had to realize that apart from us, at least 4 other guests populated the campsite. In Australia, one would probably have spoken of a pretty crowded place. At noon we decided to visit a campsite with electricity, showers, Wi-Fi, barbecue facilities and a TV room for a change. Now we are enjoying this luxury. We are currently in Duvauchelle, not far from Akaroa. The unusually milky blue color of the sea remains in one's memory. Since this area was first settled by French immigrants, there are numerous French place names, streets, and cafes. 

We discovered the enchanting bays of the Bank Peninsula by chance, but would recommend them again and again. We plan to continue exploring the southern island clockwise.