1876 and Tanoshi Japanese Bistro

The van dropped off a few of us at 1876 which is just a few blocks, 7 min walk to my apartment. Charlie said this a most popular local hangout and she especially likes it because you can sit outside and it gets a lot off sun. This beautiful stone building was the original courthouse built in 1876, and Charlie's grandfather worked here back in the day. The judge's stand is still present.

As soon as we got off the van, Charlie confessed that she has been a mystery shopper all day, and she works for a competitor. She polled us about our thoughts on the wine tour and how we found the tour. She loves her job wondering around town scouting marketing campaigns and going on tours.

Kate, Charlie and Charlie gave me lots of recommendations for what to do and where to go. Don't miss Fergburger. These are great restaurants, the best clubs... Here are my notes from the conversation...

Cowboy- has a mechanical bull
Next door there is an ice bar am for Marco. Below zero
Bungalow

Barmuda
Bunca!
Ballarat! Aka "the rat"
Rinos- up and coming
Polk mahone Irish bar
Little black wood

Boat house Cafe

Soda,  on the water. happy hour

At their recommendation, I stopped at the tiniest little Japanese Bistro. I sat at the bar, sipping my warm sake and eating fried tofu and vegetable dumplings and began talking to the beautiful 70 year old woman sitting next to me. We talked about a lot of things. She is not happy with Trump; says he is for Putin and his dealings with NATO are hurting New Zealand. I just listened. Politics aside she reminded me a lot of Aunt Wanda: worldly, well traveled, polished, wealthy, husband who is traveling and likely a prominent person. Her hair was perfectly slicked back tight in a low bun and her skin glistened with the perfect amount of cream makeup. Born in 1956, she was youthful. Her grandma name is Didi.

My new restaurant friend, Diane, talked as I repeatedly dropped soy sauce and food in my lap. Dumplings and tofu, crispy outside but mushy inside, are not the easiest things to eat with chopsticks. She told me I needed to see the botanical gardens, local hiking trails, and I could walk to the gondola.

I have much to see and do in Queenstown.Read more