I had intended to blog about a recent disastrous skirt purchase, but after walking the waterfront this morning, I decided that an open love letter to Wellington was in order. There was just something a bit magical about today, a jumble sale’s worth of mish-mashed activities and things all coming together and reminding me what I love best about Wellington and New Zealand.
My day started like most Sunday mornings. I walk to the Sunday Market almost every week. The Sunday Market is a farmer’s market, first and foremost, but is also a haven for foodies and those who live by the idea of local, organic ingredients. In addition to my onions and broccolini, I can get fresh fish; ethically farmed and butchered venison and lamb; and organic, free-range eggs. I can also enjoy an authentic quesadilla, Cantonese noodles, Roti, Brazilian barbecue, French pastries, and Maori specialities, all while listening to a variety of buskers singing the likes of Elvis, Johnny Cash, and traditional Maori songs.
Placard for a Sunday Market food stall
Brazilian barbecue, anyone?
Delicious jams and cakes for sale!
This is the view that greets me when I leave my apartment and head towards work (or in today’s case) the Sunday market. People say that you can’t beat Wellington on a good day. It’s true.
Wellington, on a gorgeous day.
One of the best parts of my Sunday morning is spotting the markers for the Poet’s Walk. This one perfectly describes what the day starts like in Wellington.
On the wharf, part of the Wellington Poet's Walk
Before I got to the market, though, I came across this.
Of course I had to take a quick glance. A quick glance turned into an hour and the purchase of two signed prints and a new handmade leather journal. But these tickled me. “Hotties” are essential in the winter here. I never understood the joy that is a hot water bottle nestled at your feet until recently. And of course, a hot water bottle by itself is boring. It definitely needs some tarting up!
"hottie" covers, handmade from felted wool.
Finally on my way to the market, I stopped at Te Papa (the national museum of New Zealand) and enjoyed the window displays. In addition to everything else going on, Wellington is also hosting the World of Wearable Art, or WOW. It is a celebration of art displayed on bodies instead of canvases, with endless categories. This is a display of a dress made of ground tarps and bottle caps. Amazing!
One of the previous WOW dresses, made from industrial materials.
Detail of the dress: painted tarp ruffles and bottle caps.
Finally getting to the market, I elbowed my way through the throng and snapped up veggies for the week. Avocados and peppers were on sale (usually $3 and $5 each, respectively this time of year), and I heard the voice of veggie tacos calling.
One of the veggie stalls at the Sunday Market
Care for some Japanese bok choy?
On my way back—ladden as I was with veggies, prints, a new journal, and a chocolate brioche from Simply Paris’s (a gorgeous little French patisserie just down the way from our apartment) market stall, I stumbled across another one of my favorite Poet Walk quotes.
Part of the Wellington Poet's Walk
I reflected on that as I strolled home and I thought about everything I’d see today—the ingenuity, the creativity, the community coming together, and the meld of disparate cultures and ideas, all melding together into one dazzling day—and I realized that’s what I loved best about Wellington, what I love best about New Zealand.
So, to my beautiful Wellington, thank you for always making me smile and for reminding me on a daily basis all that is truly good and wonderful in this life.
Yours,
Kiwijenn
kiwijenn 