Day 2 - Monday in Dunedin

Woke up to another beautiful day. No clouds in the sky, very slight breeze, very warm 72 degrees. Two wonderful days in a row - let's go for a record. This is quite confusing as we all expected 45 degree mornings, overcast and breezy, probably rainy, high of 54 degrees. It was just last week they had their last snow. So we started with a lazy morning getting more oriented to New Zealand ways. And Zosia and I both slept well, no apparent jet lag. But I did leave the electric blanket on and did not turn it off when we went to bed as one should. So on in the morning it was like emerging from the womb. We have to say our host Joan's home sits on a large hill with a beautiful view of much of the city which sits in a big valley hosting the inlet. Across her street is the beginning of the farmland with horses and fields.

Today we tour the mansion, lunch at the University, go to the Otago Museum, train station, and then a big dinner at Beth's beautiful home on top of the mountain on the other side of the valley.

David Osveston a wealthy Jewish Scottish importer built his wife the manision for his wife, Marie, in 1905 as a anniversary present. The faboulous four-story structure was the most modern home of the day. Electrical, central heating, elevators, adorned with the finest construction and features from Europe and America. The interior wood was of English oak constructed in England, disassembled and reassembled here in Dunedin. Not a nail was used to put it together. They had fabulous art they collected throught the world as it was being built.  The story of the family was fasicinating, told by a docent who was also a Friendship Force member. The daughter Dorothy never married as she was very adventurous (mountain climber), and the son, Edward, went off to WW1 even though he did not have to. He died young of a dibilitaing desease leaving no heir. Dorothy also having heirs gave the mansion to the city and is beautiful crowned jewel to the city (of course at the time the city didn't want it).

Dunedin used to be the largest city in New Zealand because gold was discovered nearby. The rush lasted a long time giving the city wonderful buildings. The fist University was created in 1872 bringing in professors from Scotland. It now sports 20 thousand  students in this city of 120 thousand. Gold is still mined because of the increase in value, but was not worth mining for a long time as it costs $900 to extract an ounce.

At the dinner, everyones showed up with lots of food. A feature was the the Men in Kitchen (MIK). A social group that met each other at a cooking class, but when it came time to graduate, the school wanted more money for the diploma. They all balked and started the club. They meet each week and cook up a storm, drinking beer and cooking for various One of them was the nephew of our host. All decked out in chef uniforms and their special caps they designed, they cooked for three hours and then did all the dishes and clean up. Now this is a social club I can get behind. They all seemed to be in their 40's and come from all occupations, policeman, teacher, small business owner.

The menu was lamb chops, lamb kabob, lamb burgers, great variety of salads, yummy spring potatoes (everyone raved about them). and the fabulous dessert - Pavlovas - which is a New Zealand creation, which Australia keeps trying to claim. Zosia will get the recipe and start making in the States. As we started driving home the full moon rose and shine wonderfully over the inlet. This was a nice day.