We stayed close to home today.  The clouds cleared finally and the typical, glorious New Zealand summer day presented itself just in time for the solstice.  We had lunch and dinner outside overlooking Lake Wanaka, surrounded by these impossible tall mountains. We beached on the shores of Lake Wanaka.  I swam in the 54 degree water.  I remain unsure if I got used to the water temperature or everything just went numb.  The next few days will be hectic, so it was nice to have a breather.     

Blue, everything here is so blue.  The color temperature seems unimaginably cranked up.  The sky is blue, the water is blue, which I guess in turn makes the sky even bluer when the sunlight reflects back up.  The blueness comes from the deceptively direct sun.  You burn quickly, and I’m sure the hole in the ozone layer — which they say is over New Zealand this time of year — doesn’t help.  Kids on school recess always wear their “floppies,” which are these fun sun hats which protect their skin.  I tried on a floppy but I looked ridiculous.  Clearly being 5 has its fashion advantages. 

Time passes slowly here.  Often I think it’ll be late afternoon only to find it’s 11 AM.  My internal clock ticks too fast.  I’m always pleased to discover we have more time than I thought we did.