Whenever somebody, at least in case of a traveller, arrives in a new city his or her mind will instinctively try to make a comparison with cities visited before. For example, Montreal could be a combination between Chicago, Paris and Berlin. A raw and formerly industrious French speaking city on the North American continent with a definite own identity. In Wellington I really needed some time to think the capital of New Zealand through. The downtown area is in no way comparable to its suburbs and there are no too many cities in more or less tropical areas with a predominantly white population where I have been. Located on the cool strait foul winds are supposed to gush through the streets, although I haven’t experienced that yet. The strait has the same kind of landscape on the North Island as on the South Island, although the South Island’s part is way less populated. I enter by ferry on a rainy evening and while I stand on the deck I can only really compare it with the sight on Halifax in Canada. Semi-skyscraper buildings dominate the scenery and the rain helps me remember Halifax as well. Once Phill and Laina pick me up we drive to their house in the hilly suburbs. Strangely enough the view in the morning only reminds me of Panama City’s suburbs, but less poor. The wooden buildings on the lush and bushy flanks of the hills and no real look out on the skyline all of a sudden surprise me. Like in the Panamanian capital’s outskirts most houses are build out of wood and the temperature, apparently that day one of the colder days this winter, does not even remotely remind you of winter in the Netherlands or Canada.

That morning Phill drives me around in the downtown area. Although I created a certain picture in my mind the city confuses me once again. Phill points out that most buildings in the city centre have distinct colonial features and, although not as much as in Napier, a city I visited later, many are built in art deco style. Thinking back on that, the only other places where I encountered that were Miami and Los Angeles and as a matter of fact it does bring a slight touch of Americana to the streets. One could easily be mistaken of being in a the American 60’s.

Once you get to the pedestrian area all the sidewalks and shopping streets are covered by roofs to protect you from the rain. This is a common thing in any provincial city in Western Europe and although it sadly enough hides the cool architecture on the higher floors in does make me feel at home. Wellington’s streets are a lot more lively though. Buskers are integrated in Cuba Street’s exterior and there is an abundance of book shops, which pleases me. New Zealand is an amazing country and I don’t think I have ever encountered this much natural beauty, but until now the cultural aspect was sort of lacking to my opinion. Wellington makes up for that with all those book shops, restaurants, cafes, cinemas and museums. It has everything you, or at least I, look for in a city. It is relaxed, located on the coast, nice weather, English speaking and beautiful nature is always close. One important thing ruins it though. It is located on the exact other side of the world from Europe. If you ask me where you can compare Wellington with, I would probably say: Wellington. I had never been in Christchurch before the earthquakes, but I think, although it is based on little, the same cultural awareness and innovativeness must have made that city’s heart beat as well….