Friday, February 13, 2009

12th February- An interesting day in Wanaka and Haast

It was a bit grey when we awoke and it was our plan to travel on the road from Wanaka to Haast which we did on our travel last year. This was a beautiful journey last time we did it and that is why we had planned to do it again only last time it was full sun.

It then started to rain as we left the camp site and headed off up through the mountains and via the many lakes which are of huge proportions. It looked very different this time because of the different weather conditions but overall it was a nice journey. We had our home made lunch of bread and cheese in Haast, really exiting to the reader, but good for us and then drove back taking some photos en-route.

We arrived back in Wanaka around 4.30 pm and put our head in the door of the local cinema called ‘Cinema Paradiso’ and there was an interesting film on that night and not only that but they had a small café which was great. So we booked tickets for a film called ‘The Band’ and then headed to the internet shop to do some Blogging and Photo updates.

As we arrived back at the Cinema café they were just bringing out freshly baked chocolate chip cookies and a few minutes later the cinema emptied and people purchased cookies whilst others quickly devoured pizzas and Lasagnes and then ten minutes later went back in to the cinema again. What’s this all about we thought?

We had both ordered Lasagne and then thought blow it lets have a glass of wine as well. It was great music in the background and a good atmosphere with many old film posters covering every little space available. Even the loo’s were covered the same way.

We then entered the cinema to see the film and this place is incredible.

The seating in the cinema comprises of old lounge settees, ex airline chairs, old cinema seats and finally and old Volkswagen open top Beatle where you could also sit. Immediately people started taking photos until the film started which was a film about an Egyptian Police Band that got lost in Israel and their experiences and the people that helped them. It was quite funny in places and we understand that it has won many awards.

About fifteen minutes or so before the film ended, there was an intermission and most people left to obtain their cookies and some people also brought back recently cooked pizzas. Wine and glasses were also allowed in the cinema. Most unusual but this was a very enjoyable evening with a good film, some wine and finally a very good Lasagne.

For information on this wonderful cinema please visit

http://www.paradiso.net.nz/

We do not really like the current camp site as it is ,what you might call, unfinished and it was also very dusty and we believe somebody, perhaps the manager, had sprayed diesel or similar on the paths to stop the dust rising and when it rained you could really smell it. Also the kitchen facilities were a bit basic and so earlier when at the internet café we decided to leave one day earlier from here and stay the night in an HOTEL in Twizel en-route to Christchurch.

So back to the camp we went,it was beginning to get cold again.