Travel Story «Nelson »

Well after a very scenic and smooth crossing form the north island to the south we headed for Nelson on the north west coast. Now Nelson and Napier battle it out in New Zealand for getting the best meaning the hottest weather. Now Nelson did not disappoint us it was lovely and sunny while we were there. the drive down was very scenic as well but really in New Zealand no matter where you drive it is bloody scenic so it goes with out saying! When we arrived we decided that what else could we do but go on a wine tour! As Nelson is smack bang in the middle of the Marlborgh wine region. So after a wonderful Mexican meal cooked by miss Carroll and a game of gin rummy which If I remember correctly I think was the first ever game of gin rummy I won I have to say it was a proud moment for me and I would like to say my friends and teachers of the games felt the same but there was no little grasshopper comments and i haven't won a game since! We hit the hay for a bit of rest before our wine and culture tour as we like to call them.

Of course the tour didn’t start till 12 so we got a bit of a lie on which is always nice I nearly lost my life as the slowest cleaner ever was cleaning the kitchen the hostel all bloody morning as I had a lie on kitchen is cleaned at 10. Seriously I thought I was going to die of starvation. Of course people who know me know this does happen on a regular basis and all I had to keep me going was dry muesli people! Anyway we got into our wine chariot a mini bus and meet one of our other tour members a English guy who we soon discovered had a opinion on everything that happened to be the correct opinion. Well we went and picked up our last companion for our tour he was Canadian and of course when we said we where Irish surprise surprise so was he! Now I have to say this guy was hilarious I told us in the first few minutes of meeting us that he felt he didn’t fit in Canada and had heard the Irish have a Lust for Life type of lifestyle! Yes tourism Ireland must be telling some porkies somewhere well of course we tried to describe Irish lifestyle not easy. Actually now that I remember I think it was me and Grainne sitting closest to him while Aisling and Emily tried to ignore/laugh/ and pretend they couldn’t hear him! Anyway that just sets the tone of the day for you so we had many meaningful conversations along the road, which the four of us tried to stay out of.

Our First winery was beautiful weather lovely setting outside right by the vines with a platter of food tasting wine! It was a little like paradise. We picked up some tips on colour of wine and reinforced our opinions as to what we like and don’t like. Also our guide got us to eat certain foods and then taste wine and do it again with other foods have to say it was really interesting even though I know I dislike olives still tried them again and I still don’t like them

Our next winery was a lovely little place with the cutest dog. It is also the place that made what our guide called liquid gold, which is a sweet wine that had only been made twice before ever in New Zealand and would send you back a few hundred euro at home! And do you think for the life of me I can remember the name of it! But by god was it sweet but nice to have tired it.

The next place we went to was a little commercial haven as they had gift shop, woollen mill, oil and liqueur shop as well as wine tasting. I have to say this was my least favourite wine of the day. But the oil shop made up for it where we got an amazing salad dressing really nice. Then of course there was the handmade truffles as well they were delicious I have to say.

The last winery of the day was really nice they also grew olives so we got to taste a range of olive oils. Dumbass here thought there, as only one type but there is not we also got to taste some lovely chutney, which Miss Lewis purchased and was amazing in cheese sambos. Oh and of course we got to taste wine.

After that we were on our way home no I have left out an invitation that our Canadian travel buddy offered to have a bbq at his hostel we supply some lamb etc now the English guy got out of it by saying he was going to cinema but we were shocked into silence when asked so had to make an awkward get away with excuses of leftovers from the night before and a little help for our guide who knew right well we didn’t want to go. But we escaped and headed back to hostel where we did indeed eat leftovers and sample some of purchases for the day.