Send Bail Money

So I spent yesterday in the Napier Prison...I swear, i didn't kill that guy...he had it coming anyway.

Seriously though, I toured the old Napier Prison yesterday. It has recently been converted into a hostel. I didn't stay there, i stayed at the cozy stables lodge backpackers which was (astonishingly) horse themed. anyway..the prison. This is New Zealand's oldest prison, it was open from the late 1880's until 1994, when it was abandoned. a couple of years ago, a local couple decided to convert it into a backpackers and have kept it as original as possible. Travelers can sleep in the cells, eat in the mess hall and meet a few of the old ghosts...allegedly. I took a one hour tour through the old cells. The place was ripe with morbid irony. The old hanging yard had been converted into the laundry lines, there was a stone wall built over the head of the grave of a man hung on site, and a sign in the showers warned "don't drop the soap". It takes a special sort to appreciate the humor. I laughed and laughed and took really cool pictures. The walls of the cells are still covered in graffiti form the men and women housed there. Mongrel mob members and minor offenders stayed together in the tiny stone cells. For those unaware, the mongrel mob is one of New Zealand's biggest and most dangerous gangs. I saw a member in town today. You can pick them out by the HUGE "Mongrel mob" jackets. Very Hell's Angels style. This prison was very easy to escape from, however, most people who broke out, broke back in a few days later. They would go out for weekend, pick up some drugs and break back in to sell them after they finished partying. I was entertained :)

The rest of Napier, though not so macabre, was also very interesting. The town was flattened in 1931 by an earthquake, and when it was rebuilt, they built it all in Art Deco style. Central Napier was very cool. There were lots of Vintage/Retro type shops, so i spent hours just looking at things and taking pictures. If only I had a million dollars and lots of suitcases, the stuff I could home with. So many awesome hats...I was almost in physical pain...

I am traveling alone now, i left Bretton and Aleah in Taupo. They are headed south to hike the Abel Tasman walk over Christmas, and I am currently north of Napier in a town called Tuai. The also couple of days on my own have been interesting. Not bad at all, just different. Luckily, someone I had met in Rotorua was also staying at my hostel in Napier. I have found it a little easier to meet people when i am traveling alone versus with others. You are more apt to talk to people. Georg, who i had met in Rotorua was a cool person to talk to. I ended up hanging out with a bout 6 or 7 Germans. We sat talking at the hostel talking for a bit and then the group moved down to the beach and watched the moon rise over the beach. It was nice to hang out with people. didn't matter who you were, where you'd come from or what language you spoke, we were all just sitting on the beach, having a few drinks and enjoying Napier. Sweet as.

I'm staying at my Aunt and Uncle's house right now, and I'll be here until Christmas. They live in the teeny town of Tuai outside of the slightly less teeny town of Wairoa, which is north of the city of Napier. I haven't seen them in about 6 years, so it's nice to see them again.
Merry Christmas to you
Love you all
Sydney :)