I’ve been living in Wellington now for six weeks here are some thoughts.
- The coffee is really, really good.
- Food in cafes and restaurants is also really good.
- The supermarkets are always open (and sell good meat, fresh mussels and beer and wine).
- Farmers markets are excellent for fruit and veg (but you don’t get a huge amount of variety).
- Cinemas in Wellington (in the suburbs) are fantastic (small, licensed, great food, super comfy).
- International chains are not common here.
- The people are really friendly.
- Everybody knows everybody.
- Everything is really close to you no matter where you are.
- It’s really pretty.
- People are really fit and active here.
- There are hardly any overweight people.
- Old people don’t look or behave like old people.
- The weather is really changeable in the spring.
- The weather isn’t as awful as you imagine (but can still be pretty bad).
- It’s windy … but not all the time.
- There’s not as much salt in food.
- Earthquakes are scary, but not as scary as you imagine.
- The countryside is beautiful.
- Everyone is ecologically aware.
- Not everyone works for Weta / Xero / the Government.
- There are a lot of different nationalities who call Wellington home.
- The TV is awful (yes, worse than Australia).
- Everywhere plays good 80’s and 90’s music.
- There is nothing better than Wellington on a good day.
Make of that what you will.