Pure Imagination

Friday, November 22, 2013

I woke up this morning and wanted to run around singing “I’ve got a golden ticket!” I got to tour the Dunedin Cadbury chocolate factory tour today, and it made me feel as exclusive as Willy Wonka’s lucky prize holders. With the masses of tourists following behind me. I probably didn’t learn as much as I could have because I was so busy stuffing my face with free samples, but I did find the history of the cocoa beach quite interesting. The Aztecs use to use the cocoa bean for currency. 4 beans were worth a pumpkin, 10 were worth a rabbit and 100 cocoa beans could buy you a slave. I think there is something we could all learn here: maybe if we all got paid in chocolate, this would be a much happier world.

After strolling past the University of Otago campus, I found myself at the Botanic Gardens and then continued on to Baldwin Street, or better known as the world’s steepest street in the world. I hiked up the 35% incline or 19 degree gradient, which may not sound like much, but this street will put most roads in San Francisco to shame. At one point when I looked out, I felt so disoriented that the mountains in the distance appeared to be on their side.

The Inch Bar use to be the smallest bar in the world until it “expanded” and added on another tiny little room. I had the pleasure of meeting the new owner, a very friendly gentleman from Stockholm, and he introduced me to all of his regulars. They told me that the Inch Bar is said to be the friendliest bar in Dunedin, and Dunedin is said to be the friendliest city in New Zealand, and New Zealand is said to be the friendliest country in the world, so by default, I had found myself at the friendliest bar in the world. I couldn’t disagree. Although she doesn’t know this yet, I am looking forward to introducing Emily when she meets me in Dunedin Sunday morning.

I carried on to Craft Bar in the Octagon, and met some more colorful Kiwis. A local who was talking to me told me that he invents lollies. No way. A chocolate factory and the candy man all in one day?!