April 13 - 6 pm

Started a new book yesterday- Hemingway's For Whom The Bell Tolls. I'm sitting in the reading loft at Hogwartz - my hostel in Dunedin, it's a really neat old building. It was actually the Catholic bishop's home from the 1870s. No bunk beds! And really nice bathrooms! Exciting! But it was a hard journey from the bus stop to the hostel..
I first had to walk to the bus stop this morning in Cromwell. A long walk, but along a flat, straight road. The 3.5 hour ride to Dunedin was a scenic one. Like all of my bus trips. Green pastures, fall colors, hills and mountains, never a dull view. But then we arrived at the bus terminal. I started my trek toward the city centre. Started out flat, suddenly started to climb a little, then a bit more, and then I was hiking. And sweating. And aching. It took me about 30 minutes. Through the city centre, uphill all the way. The whole way I was wishing I had called a taxi.. But I made it. And it was worth it to be in this hostel I think. But I might need to get a massage when I get home.
I walked around downtown Dunedin a bit, around the Octagon, which is the city centre, and down George St. And some of the surrounding areas. Lots of young people, lots of cool boutique shopping and trendy skate brand shops and cafes. I was hungry for lunch, but had a hard time finding a place I wanted to go to (or could afford that wasn't McDonald's). But a burger sounded good (as usual) and I went to Velvet Burger. Kinda like a Fergburger or Burger Fuel - I had a lamb burger that was like a gyro on a bun. Lamb patty, cucumber and yoghurt sauce, tomato and lettuce. But it was really good. Accompanied by a world famous L&P soda (only famous in New Zealand). I love that NZ soda and I will miss it when I get back to America..
Went to the library for Internet, talked to mom and pop on the phone, and went grocery shopping. I needed Weetbix and milk.. Another NZ staple I will miss dearly.
No plans yet for tonight. I'll probably go out and walk around, see what the people of Dunedin are up to on this Saturday night. Gotta live it up - second to last Saturday down under!