The WOW's of Wellington

The Farmer's Market

Every Sunday morning, the parking lot directly across the street from my flat (you can see it from the window) is packed in with tables upon tables of fresh local fruits and vegetables. The best part- it is actually significantly cheaper than the produce bought in a grocery store. Each weekend, I fill my bag to the brim with bananas and spinach and carrots and blueberries to last me a week, spending no more than $12NZ ($8USD). 8 DOLLARS.

The Conversion Rate

Let's talk about this 2/3 conversion rate. Every price I see immediately strikes me as a little expensive, but then I realize I need to take 30% off to get the USD price. As my girl Kai pointed out- it feels as if everything is ON SALE all the time. A $15 meal suddenly becomes $10, $30 tickets are actually only $20, and $4 coffee is reduced to $2.60. It makes money a lot easier to spend... Maybe this is actually a bad thing?

Nahhhhhh.

The Wind

Now this one may not be a 100% positive WOW, but the wind here certainly blows my mind (lol). While I though Chicago and Madison were windy, they've got NOTHING on windy Wellington. Just walking down the street sometimes takes effort, and I'm not even talking about when I'm along the waterfront. It's when the weather app actually predicts wind in the forecast that you really need to worry, though. That's when things get real. Let's just say I don't leave my hair down very much anymore.

The Waffle Stand

There is a Belgian Waffle stand just blocks away from my flat. They're amazing.

The Sushi

The Sushi deals in this town are a HUGE win that I only recently discovered. Every day at 4pm, almost every sushi place drops prices by 40-50% to get rid of their fresh rolls. My favorite spot is Sushi Bi, located just down the street from my flat. The rolls are displayed buffet style and you are free to pick and choose your pieces with a pair of tongs, filling you plate with as much as you can afford. Which is A LOT after 4:00. The tray pictured to the right was $5.20NZ ($3.40USD). Needless to say, this is a common stop on my walk home from work.

The Coffee

I looooove coffee and Welly has soooo much of it to offer. Every restaurant, bakery and cafe I enter advertises great coffee, and I have yet to be disappointed. Around here, if you order a normal espresso drink, baristas will automatically make it with two shots of espresso- that's just the norm. Not only does that make the coffee here an even better deal, but it tastes like heaven and keeps me going all day long. Just be careful not to order a double!

The Free Store

Wellington is home to the world's first retail food waste redistributor- and I pass it every day on my way to work. The free store collects surplus food from 63 different cafes, bakeries, restaurants and catering companies around the area and gives it away for free at a little shack on Willis street to anyone and everyone who walks up. Students, elderly, homeless and unemployed alike all benefit greatly from this service and while I have not partaken (I'd rather leave the goods to those more in need), seeing the line at the window everyday makes me a little proud of humans.

The Hikes

Wellington is a busy city surrounded by beautiful scenery. The trail head to the Mount Victoria lookout is just a 20 minute walk from my flat, and the hike up to the peak is isolated and forested, opening up to a beautiful view of Wellington and the surrounding area. Nature walks around the outskirts of the city are also prevalent and can lead to some beautiful views of cliffs, bays, greenery, wildlife and the Cook Strait. I haven't found the time to do a lot of these hikes, but I look forward to exploring more.

The Waterfront

I love being on the water. That is something that both Chicago and Madison have, and I am so happy to have that same pleasure here in Welly. The walk along the waterfront is speckled with shops, cafes and restaurants, and the city beach is just a short stroll down the Warf. If you're not keen to walk along the water, though, you could also run. Every Tuesday evening in the summer, there is a Waterfront 5k that donates all proceeds to charity. The run goes down and back along the waterfront and offers beautiful views of the bay the entire way. I was a bit out of shape for my first one (after indulging in several weeks of winter break laziness) but I could still appreciate the sillouettes of mountains in the distance the sound of crashing waves, just audible over my wheezing.

The Kindness

People are just nice. Almost every morning, I witness someone on the street offering food to a homeless person. Almost every day, patients at the clinic are asking about my life and my goals as if they're interested. Almost every night, restaurant or cafe employees will have full conversations with me about my day, giving me tips and advice about the area, and may even wave the extra cents owed for my food or drink just to reduce the handle of cash. The whole city just gives off happy vibes.