#26 - Flora, Fauna, and Fitness (cont’d)

New Zealand is known for its fresh fruits and vegetables (and of course lamb to keep Jeff happy), and the restaurant chefs are quite skilled at turning them into the most amazing gourmet meals.  Since we had a full kitchen in our cottage, we did quite a bit of shopping in the supermarkets.   In a previous blog I mentioned some of what we found in the markets, like the golden kiwis and Manuka honey, but since then we’ve tried a few foods not found in the U.S..

I love the variety of lettuce and it’s easy to find fresh lettuce.  VERY fresh lettuce.  I purchased this at the supermarket.  It had just been pulled out of the ground and it came with roots, dirt, and all.  It looks a bit wilted in the picture, but it was crisp and delish.

You can buy roasted chickens similar to what we find at Costco or Sam’s Club, but you have a choice of size.  You can select a size 12, 14, or larger.  (The Plus size chickens must sneak out at night and eat more than the others).

There are a ton of wonderful coffee shops and they all serve delicious coffee.  My new favorite is the flat white.  I think the quality of the milk here is far better (creamier and tastier) than what we have in the States.  In fact, Jeff remembers the milk being really good when he visited NZ at the age of 12.  New Zealand exports about 45% of their milk.  So the cows have job security.  

They serve “chips” (French Fries) with almost everything.  If you want potato chips you have to ask for “crisps”.  Fortunately, the word for chocolate is universal and there is no misunderstanding.

We found it interesting that there were multiple shelves in the stores dedicated to all different types of canned tuna.  It was almost impossible to find albacore or even just plain tuna packed in water.  Instead, the shelves are stocked with cans of tuna with added ingredients such as: sweet Thai chili; garlic, lime, and capiscum (peppers); tomato and basil; garlic, lime, and beans; and zesty vinaigrette.  Some sounded okay.  Others put up a red flag for me.  And of course Jeff, with his “Plain Jane” palette, was running as far away as he could from that tuna aisle.

And on the next aisle, it was very reassuring to find out that the maker of Quilton toilet paper “Loves Your Bum” and say so on the inside of every roll of paper.

And we felt especially honored to have a local wine named after us.

Well, regardless of what they eat, the Kiwis in general seem to be a bunch of very fit people.  You see very few obese folk.  That’s probably because they are quite active and get out and enjoy the great outdoors.  

New Zealand is best enjoyed by those young and physically able to hike or bike, to and through, the more than 30,000 square kilometers of national parks.  Everywhere you turn, there seem to be endless coastlines, and a myriad of inland lakes, rivers, streams, and forests.  The mountains have risen as a result of volcanic action and provide the most spectacular scenery.  Opportunities to encounter unique wildlife such as kiwis, penguins, Hector’s dolphins, and fur seals abound.  (More on that later).

If my youth had not already passed me by, I would pitch a tent and camp under the brilliant stars.  I’d strap on a backpack and go tramping for miles into some of the most beautiful countryside on earth.

But if I tried that now, I’d have to bring a Sherpa with me to carry a second pack containing a knee brace (maybe two), a walking stick (or let’s face it, maybe a walker), a pillow topper, my electric toothbrush (you already know I don’t travel without it), multiple tubes of Ben Gay, and a flush toilet.

Thank goodness we’ve found out that we can see much of this country by planes, trains, and automobiles.  My adventure hiking boots will have to stay on the shelf until the elixir of perpetual youth is discovered.