Wellington

I am a big fan of Wellington. It’s a city that reminds me a bit of Austin; vibrant culture (film & music), big university, seat of government, eclectic mix of people, and some really good restaurants. The major differences between Austin and Wellington were the traffic and weather. Traffic didn’t seem nearly as bad in Wellington, however, the weather is MUCH warmer in Austin.

Anywho, we arrived back in Wellington on Friday afternoon via ferry. We were quite excited because we had found a restaurant that we were anxious to try, Viva Mexico. Can you believe it, another Mexican joint?! I make no apologies, we love Mexican food and we miss the heck out of it! And Viva Mexico turned out to be the culinary score of a lifetime. We feasted on the most delicious cheese enchiladas imaginable, at a fraction of the cost of our Flying Burrito Brothers meal. Granted, Viva Mexico was devoid of an extensive bar, and of swank décor and lighting, but silly aesthetics be damned, Viva Mexico’s food was utterly muy delicisio! A mother and daughter from Mexico City own (and run) the restaurant, and besides being extremely talented in the kitchen they are such nice people.

We were so impressed that we went back for lunch the next day. Let me just say that it was even better the second time around! The meal kept us energized for our day of exploring the Te Papa Museum, which is dubbed the ‘Museum of New Zealand’. It was an impressive place; filled with some great art and an even better historical exhibit. Perhaps the coolest thing we saw was a colossal squid, a gigantic beast that lives literally in the oceans deepest and darkest reaches.