Welcome to Lake Te Anau

Left Dunedin this morning and we took a ride through very pretty and increasingly green land toward our destination Lake Te Anau.

Found our motel which is pretty darn spiffy with a nice kitchenette and huge bathroom. All of our accommodations have been quite impressive. Even the Penguin Place Lodge which was a “bring your own linens” place had a communal kitchen with about everything you could need or want and a big refrigerator to stash your pile of food (not shared). This one has a small frig, two burner range, sink and enough dishes and glasses and utensils to do nicely for most people. We used the microwave tonight to prepare some frozen Indian dinners that we brought back from a nearby grocery and we lunched on a salad with smoked turkey and fresh lettuce and other stuff. Our meals eaten in and out have been quite nice. Oh and as you might expect when you get tea out, it’s made with boiling water, often in a two cup pot with real tea. Milk and sugar on the side.

But enough of the culinary report.

First up, a photo from yesterday’s outing to the Otago Settlers Museum. This is a table where bank customers would pause to fill out their deposit slips etc before proceeding to a teller.

The museum was a shining example of incorporating technology into displays. There was a welcoming large video that was about the creation of the world from the Maori view and went smoothly into the coming of new peoples to this land, to prepare you for what you were going to see. There was a big room that was hung floor to ceiling with painted and photographic portraits of settlers. Interesting enough, but there were four table-like digital displays that let you choose one of the paintings on the wall you were facing and learn more. Also a good way to look at things too high up! There were also videos with a variety of people who told stories of their families’ past.

After arriving here today, we walked around, went to the grocery store and enjoyed the ability to watch the lake and other walkers. This is a Eucalyptus tree, one of a row of really large ones near the water.

Eventually evening came and spread itself over the lake. We readied ourselves for tomorrow’s adventure, so stay tuned!