Windy Wellington

I was expecting a small town with a few shops and cafes dotted along a city block, what I got was a seriously hip city that boasts more cafes per capita than New York City. Wellington exceeded my expectations last weekend when Jen I visited the very windy capital. The flight from Auckland to Wellington was about 50 minutes. Wellington is along the southern tip of the north island. Someone described the city as vibrant and I have to admit that's a good description of the place. There are restaurants from every country, ample public transportation and plenty of people bopping about decked out in everything from complete Gothic wear to hipster trends. As a city girl, it was good to see.
The place to be is Cuba Street with its hip cafes and indie clothing stores. Jen and I must have walked around that area a dozen times and each time I noticed something different.
Saturday was Guy Fawkes night and Wikipedia tells me he was an Englishman who tried to assassinate King James I to restore a Catholic monarch to the throne. He stockpiled gunpowder for the big plan, but the plot was sniffed out. He was arrested, but committed suicide before he was to be executed. To celebrate the foiled plot fireworks and the occasional burned effigy are used.
Queens Wharf was the backdrop Saturday night as Jen and I settled along the water eating warm doughnuts and taking in the show. (Of course there are pictures below).
Kayaking plans were dashed on Sunday due to high winds and rough waters. So Jen and I jumped on the Wellington cable car. It's one of the oldest and most popular things to do in the city. We took it all the way to the top for a fantastic view of the city. While we were waiting for the 5-minute trip back down, I found a way to keep myself entertained. (Picture below).
Afterwards, Jen and I visited one of the best museums I've ever seen. The Te Papa Museum combined an interactive experience with a thorough telling of the history of New Zealand. They even tackled controversial issues involving homosexuality, women's rights and racial strife among the Maori people. There was also an art section, this was my favorite photo. The painting was so realistic, it looked like a photograph. I could have stared at it for hours.

Lonely Planet said Wellington and Auckland are locked in "an age-old struggle for hip supremacy." After exploring and enjoying both cities, I'm still not sure who gets my vote.

Here are a few photos: