2/14/08: Love is in the air

Hello everyone!

Today was a low-key day. It's Valentine's Day here on the island and there are decorations all around. It makes me miss Matt a lot! I slept in today and Sara and I went power walking this morning out to the peninsula and around Queenstown. That's the closest we get to exercising right now, and it counts. The colors are so vivid here. Green pines covering mountain sides, crystal-clear blue lakes and cottonball-white clouds...I know those colors are everywhere, but it's different here. It is so peaceful and the lifestyle in Queenstown is completely different. Walking down on the Boardwalk right by the lake there are people playing their saxophone and singing some great tunes. Others are juggling or doing tricks with a glass ball. It's a lot different from Eagan, MN or St. Joseph. I'm so lucky to have this opportunity and I am doing as much as possible and trying to see as much as I can!

For lunch Sara and I went to Winnie's bar and supposedly their pizza is to die for and the best in town. I wasn't aware of this until after the fact, but at the time I was craving a good salad and we were searching every cafe for the best, and cheapest options. Winnie's was the place and that's where I enjoyed my Greek salad with tomatos, feta cheese (my favorite), spinach leaves, and vinegarette. Absolutely scrumptious. We walked around the little shops for most of the afternoon and held back the temptation of buying anything foolish. Then we came across an ice cream parlor and I could NOT resist! Second day in a row, yikes! I better take it down a notch...maybe tomorrow I'll be able to resist, but today my huge waffle cone with one scoop of White Chocolate and Hazelnuts and one scoop of Vanilla and Cream satisfied my sweet tooth. Tomorrow looks the same for plans, since it is our last day in New Zealand, we're just planning on laying low. I'll definitely be taking the opportunity to snap some great pictures, even though as I said earlier, you truly have to see this place for yourself. Until next time, peace and love always~

Molly