Last weekend a French ambassador and his staff came by the winery for a tasting, but they were over an hour late without calling, then decided to have lunch first and ended up trying two wines. Gerhard was not happy and cursed the French before he went home early. Olivier filled in for him at the tasting and the French people were more interested in Olivier than the wine. The next day was roast lamb at Gerhard's house, then Monday was beer and golf day at the Tui brewery. It was good fun and I got last place of the seven people playing, but I expected that for my second game of golf ever.
Two guys from another winery came by to taste out of the tanks and barrels, and I planned to meet the American one in Auckland in a few days. I left Gladstone for the Masterton bus stop to discover that the bus to Palmerston North didn't run that day, so I spent almost an hour in the cold before I managed to hitch a ride. The first woman who picked me up was from Hawkes Bay and had just been out hunting that day. The second woman was clinically insane. As soon as I got in the messy Lexus she dumped her life story on me: husband kicked her out after 25 years and three kids, doesn't take the meds her psychiatrist prescribes her and people still think she's crazy, doesn't talk to her family because they think she's nuts, and she just bought a house so she could write a book about her screwed up life. I was glad to be away from her and in a hostel with other backpackers again.
On Thursday I caught the bus to Auckland with no problem. It was a 10 hour ride for less than $30US so I can't complain. Two volcanic mountains in the middle of the North Island were covered in snow, and quite beautiful. My hostel in Auckland is full of French people. My roommate works in a French restaurant and speaks French to all the staff. I also met an American couple, and the girl lived in the Bay Area for a while. The kitchen smelled great with all the French people cooking. The chocolate "American" pie and crepes were very good.
I went to dinner at a Western-style restaurant with American pictures on the wall, but good food, but I wasn't about to try the $29 burrito. The next day I went to the museum, saw Pirates 4, and ate at my roommate's French restaurant "Le Garde-Manger". It had great food, good French wine, and good casual atmosphere. The beef bourguinon was delicious with a lemon and sugar crepe for dessert.
I've received a couple more replies from wineries in France, but nothing for sure yet.
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