slivka.com - Trips - New Zealand 2002

slivka.com > Trips > New Zealand 2002 > Sat Dec-28

Sat

Dec-28

Christchurch Botanic Garden, Pescatore
Lisa got up and went for an 11 mile run, while the rest of us drove around downtown for a bit until we stumbled across an open coffee shop, The Daily Grind. We had very nice blueberry and raspberry muffins, the kids had cold chocolates (like a chocolate soda) and Ben had a blueberry, kiwifruit, and banana smoothie. Then we drove back to The George, caught up with Lisa, and we all walked over to the Botanic Garden and had a light lunch.

While Ben and Nate walked back to the George for some quiet time, Lisa, Max, and Lauren went punting on the Avon. Then Ben and the kids walked back to the cycle car rental location, only to find it had just closed for the day, so they took a ride on the tram, took in the exterior of Christchurch Cathedral, and walked back to the ranch.

The kids had room service, and the adults enjoyed a peaceful prix fixe dinner at Pescatore at the George, including a bottle of 1998 Coniglio (a reserve Chardonnay) from Morton Estate. Rated five stars by Michael Cooper, we found it missing in the middle and a bit thin overall -- more sophisticated than the 2000 Morton Estate Hawkes Bay Chardonnay, perhaps, but at NZ$170 it was overpriced compared to the yummy NZ$36 2000 Marsden Black Rocks Chardonnay!