Finally got a vehicle

After days of looking at lots of cars both parked on the side of the street and through the internet, I finally got a new car: A 1996 Nissan Bluebird, a 4 door sedan with a 2L engine. I got such a good deal on this car, I only paid $1700 NZ for it mainly because it had a few non-crucial dents in it. I'm suprised how cheap cars are here compared to the US since it is an Island and all here. I think its because of all the cheap Japanese imports they get tweak the market. This car is mechanically perfect and runs really nice. The inside is immaculate and it has only 139,000 kms on it. It was a really good deal compared to all the cars I looked at in the price range of $2000. Its so new I haven't had a chance to get photos for it so stay tuned.

Rob and Debby's brother-in-law, Bob, knows a ton about cars and takes them apart all the time. He is quite a character, incredibly nice, and really funny. He took me around town for a couple of days and we looked at cars and had a great time. I really am really getting to know Rob, Debby, their son Sam, and now Bob and Shelly really well, what great people!

Bob and Shelly live on top of this huge hill at the end of this totally scary road. It is all blind corners, is barely big enough for one car width and is really steep! Coming down you think you are going to go off the edge, some might get vertigo. Bob has this piece of crap old car thats totally a trip! It runs fine but looks like hell. He uses it for repairing that crazy road of theirs.
(Bob's crazy beat up car that still runs. Its filled with dirt, weeds growing in it, and spider webs)

(Bob and his dog Jack)

(A view from Bob and Shelly's house. The picture doesn't do it justice. Beyond that grass is pretty much a cliff. Down below is the town of Eastbourne, a suburb of Wellington. On a clear day, the mountains of the South Island appear on the horizon in this setting)

Once you get to the top of this place, its like a dream. The view is stunning. On a clear day, you can see the South Island at the end of a long blue carpet of ocean. I just sat out there for 1/2 hour looking at it the first day. People here just don't realize how lucky they are to have views like that. But since there aren't as many people, many people can have nice views I guess.

A couple of days ago I went sailing. It was only for an hour since Rob is just looking after this boat for a friend while he's away. We ran the motor for a while and decided to put the sail out. It was great. No one on the water, we had the whole harbor to ourselves. Its really amazing being in a place where there just aren't people everywhere. Wellington has the feel of a city and suburbs, but its just more laid back and sleepy. I don't feel as rushed. However, driving on the other side of the road is a different story! Wow, talk about different. I don't feel like I know where the boundaries of my car are when I'm driving. I keep reaching for the seatbelt on the left, and I keep turning on the windshield (windscreen if you speak Kiwi) wipers when I want to signal a turn. Backing up is hard too, I can't look back over my left shoulder very well. I'll get it though. I've only driven a few times, and each time it gets a little easier.(Sailing on Eres Tu in Wellington Harbour)
Car insurance here is soooo cheap! I got liability insurance for a whole year for like $150. Full coverage would be around 200-300 bucks for the year with like a 300 deductible.

I'm planning on sticking around Wellington for a few more days while getting ready for a trip up North to explore the North Island. I'm going to have to do a little planning since I want to make it to New Years before I have to work! Talk to you all soon. Oh, and X-prof, are your initials SRO?