Day 15.Tax summit in Australia, Tory Party Conference in Manchester, Bombing deaths in Mogadishu, More indecisive meetings of European politicians-meanwhile sliding markets pass their judgement and people in Napier continue to do whatever people in Napier do.
It is now one of the rugby supporter cross-over towns. South African,Australian,Irish and Welsh fans are heading south for quarter-finals in windy Wellington whilst English, French, Argentinian and of course the ubiqitous All Black army of followers focus on doing battle(especially English and French) in Auckland. Those teams defeated at the pool stage have gone home. The domiciled supporters of the eliminated pacific Island teams peel off their home country colours and emerge All Black. Conversation in the Irish bars(are there any characteristic New Zealand pubs??) are muted with no contention imminent here and each side ponders its injury challenges and how they are likely to go against the opposition they have drawn.
The Art Deco architecture is striking and supported by specialist shops selling 1920s fashions and fripperies. Flatter chest? Cloche hats? neck to Knee pearls? This is the place girls.
EVEN A PERIOD MOTOR ??
x;
EVEN THE PHARMACY
Even the girly bar and escort agency is 'a la mode'. Also, much of the signage is in a style and typeface that fits a 1920s Californian/Hollywood ambience. One expects a gangster car to scream around a corner with Cagney on the running board, Tommy gun at the ready.But not really, this is Napier and there is unlikely to be anyone here brewing hooch in a garage or tuning a bike to beat a land speed record.
EVEN IN A SIDE ALLEY
The architecture is easy to experience and take in, but much harder to photograph as the stylistic decoration on most of the buildings is above canopy level and contemporary vehicles parked beneath detract from the purity of the theme. Must be quite an experience when the summertime Art Deco festival is in full swing.
At several strategic places around the centre there are photograph boards showing what the devestation was like immediately after the 1931earthquake. For quite a period most retail and other business was conducted in a great "tin-market" building made of corrugated iron and even a Catholic church housed professional offices.
An impressive hotel(MASONIC) building has the dubious distinction of having been rebuilt twice-once after a fire and then after an earthquake and fire.
EVEN IN THE INDUSTRIAL/HARBOUR ZONE
As Christchurch struggles to make its revival a reality it might be heartened and enthused by what Napier achieved before it faced the additional challenge of once more sending its men to fight in another European instigated war. Those were the days. They were some people!
WHAT A WOMAN. ALAS RUGBY CALLS-BYE!
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