Franz Josef. No photos!

I arrived in Franz Josef last evening after a pleasant and unhurried morning in Greymouth. I gauged it about right as any longer and I would have run out of things to do. Their library has free wireless Internet so I was able to upload some photos and complete a blog page. That is proving more difficult here.

Franz Josef is here because of the glacier and no other reason that I can determine. It is a little touristy and busy. I had dinner in one place and took a walk afterwards and was looking at a menu at another place (maybe tomorrow I thought) There were two ladies who were quite vocal in their warning that I not eat there. This was much to the annoyance of the waitress (Understandable) but they thought they had lousy food in small quantity (if it is bad food who needs plenty of it!). Anyway we moved on and had a beer at the place where I had eaten. One of them is a pilot for Southwest based in Baltimore and the other is a (now unemployed business consultant) They have both volunteered on projects in Bolivia and we talked about Habitat and various issues and generally had a fun evening.

The views of the surrounding mountains and the glacier are astounding. I am conscious of the constant use of superlatives in my blog, but they are justified and my photographic skills constantly under whelm me.

I think a separate post on the glacier is the best plan.

I have mentioned that food is fairly expensive, particularly eating out. When I was in Greymouth I bought a “Cold bag” basically an insulated carrier and some food that I carry with me. All the hostels have fridges and you write your name on your stuff and your leaving date and prepare what you need. At a minimum I am doing breakfast and some lunches this way and the occasional dinner. There might be the occasional beer that finds it’s way in to the cooler, but generally not for long!

I am probably saving $20 or $25 a day this way with minimal effort. I am on the bus again tomorrow for the long haul to Queenstown. It is basically 8 hours.

There is some prospect that I may be able to pick up a rental car that needs to go back to Wellington, and there is a website where you can check. Often these cars can be had for the price of the gas and maybe a few $$ a day. I loke the bus travel for the people connections and ability to look at the countryside, but you cannot stop at will to take pictures so a car for part of the journey is somewhat attractive. I have not driven since I left home over 2 months ago so I am a little out of practice and they drive on the left!! We will see what happens.