Fri, 17 Nov: Weather 1; Rick & Deb 0

Dunedin Train Station
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Woke up at 6:30 to pouring down rain.  So we wifi'd a bit, had our daily heart smart oats with "pecan nuts" not "pecans", as we were told by the supermarket cashier.

On a side note we met a woman yesterday during one of our hikes who had to have been a teacher in an earlier life.  Deb mentioned the company "Nestles" in a sentence and was quickly corrected:  "It's pronounced 'Nestels".  To pronounce it your way would require a "y" at the end."  OK, fine.

Weather 1 - Rick & Deb 0

Dunedin Train Station
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We're also enjoying listening to radio broadcasts thru the iTunes software.  Again, another good reason to have the laptop along.  Nice to have in the background while munching on breakfast.

Quite the day...

Drove to the "Octagon", Dunedin's version of the town "square".  After a quick visit to the TI, we headed to the Dunedin Art Gallery.  Had to see their Monet, Gainsborough and Tissot.  No photos allowed.  Nice space.  Only ten years old.

Although leaden skies persisted, the rain let up so Deb and I had a wander thru the town.

Dunedin Train Station - nice stain glass
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Investigated the Dunedin Train Station built in 1906 (see pic).  Designed and built by "Gingerbread George" so named due to all the details he heaped upon this structure.  It's certainly a nice building, but train service in NZ is almost non-existent, so the locals have turned it into the New Zealand Sports Hall of Fame!

After 10 minutes at the station we looked in on the 1st Presbyterian Church, as it is "the finest example of Gothic Architecture in the country".  No sooner had we entered the vestibule when we were invited to attend the free vocal concert going on in the church.  As we could hear the singing we decided we'd give it a try.  There were several singers, each taking their turn singing a Mozart aria, Handel oratorio, or Rossini tune.  What a way to spend an hour as the singers were very good.  Apparently they all attend the local college, and these Friday concerts give them an opportunity to sing for their friends and the public.  Easily the highlight of the day, as you shall soon see...

Dunedin Train Station
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From there we stopped in at the local AA Automotive Club (they have a huge presence over here).  The AA rep gave us some ideas for the afternoon, and best of all put us onto a super sandwich cafe around the corner.  The clerk at the shop said it was rumored that the iceberg floating off the coast was causing all the chilly weather!    Whatever the reason it is unseasonably wet and cold here.  Some people are walking around here with gloves and jackets.  I think the high today was high 40's, low 50's.

Route Fri, 17 Nov: Dunedin ->Otago Peninsula -> Tiyre Repair Shop - > Dunedin
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After lunch we set out to drive around the Otago Peninsula where we hoped to see albatrosses, seals and more penguins.  After a somewhat white knuckle experience (yet with the side mirror sill intact!) we found the Albatross Center at the far end of the peninsula.  After a quick walk thru the visitor center (couldn't see any birds as they are currently roosting, and are shielded from the public til late November) we headed back to the car, to discover we had a flat tire.  And, of course, it was beginning to rain again.  Hmmm.  I opted to call AA to have them fix the flat.  Why not?  Well, after waiting 20 minutes or so a local older guy comes up to the car and offers to help.  He virtually insisted that we should take of  it ourselves.  Nice Guy (Guy was his name).  So I assisted but he did the heavy lifting.  With a new tire we came back into Dunedin and dropped the tire off for repair which we'll pick up in the morning on the way out of town.

Route on 17 Nov: Stayed local
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Meanwhile we'll catch up on email, expenses, and hope that tomorrow's weather is better, however, the forecast is for more of the same thru Sunday.  We leave for Sydney on Monday.