New Zealand is Blue, and I Mean that in the Best Possible Way

I had always thought of New Zealand as somewhere intensely green, populated with hobbits, and golden-haired, soft-featured, pointy-eared elves with devastatingly attractive accents.

I went with very little of an idea of what to expect, and really, no plans, as is common with me.

So it’s no surprise I had no idea what shades of intense blue I’d encounter in New Zealand.  I had known I’d be spending a lot of time on water (’tis an island nation, after all), but I could have never imagined the varying shades of blue I’d see, many for the first time in my life, all in the span of just a few minutes while moving along a hiking path, or bumping along the waves on a boat.

I saw so much beauty, and was so moved:

And let’s be frank, I came to New Zealand more than a little blue in the wake of a mistake.  I was happy to finally be moving forward and back on my travel path, but there are always those nagging feelings of regret and of course, the hits to your pride and confidence that come about as a result of your world being shaken.

I left feeling encouraged, excited, and inspired.  Thanks, New Zealand, for bringing back my travel mojo.  Special thanks to my mother as well, for being there through my transition from past to present.