After her horrid flight over, it seemed only fitting that I take my niece straight to the Hell Hole of the Pacific. It was easy compared to her prior three days of travel. Just a short car drive and a quick passenger ferry and we were there, in the former heartbeat of the Hell Hole of the Pacific.
Take a look at Russell, New Zealand today:
The Hell Hole of the Pacific . . . Today
View Across the Bay:
Christ Church – New Zealand’s Oldest Church, established 1836:
Duke of Marlborough – New Zealand’s First Licensed hotel, established 1827:
Old Whaling Pots:
Hard to believe that back in the lawless days of the early 1800s the first American and Europeans ships arrived in New Zealand. More specifically they were ocean whaling boats, and when they needed a break, they came ashore to the safe and protected harbor of Russell to rest and trade their firearms, alcohol and more. Reading the history I am not sure that safety or trade were their primary motivation, but rather to partake in this town loaded with liquor, prostitution and limited, if any, laws.
Honestly, it’s difficult to stand in stunning Russell, New Zealand and imagine it was once referred to as the Hell Hole of the Pacific.
A Sewing Machine in a Tree – A Silly Story
And since it is Silly Sunday, I thought I would share silly story told to us by our waiter at the famous Duke of Marlborough Hotel. About 170 years ago (he didn’t have an exact date) a fire broke out in the hotel. As the hotel burned, someone tried to save a big heavy sewing machine by throwing it out the window. Unfortunately it landed in the tree outside, which is where it stayed. The tree continued to grow up around it. Now you can only see little bits of the metal. Being a travel photographer, I had to get a shot of this tree . . . take a close look . . .
What do you think, could you spot the sewing machine, or do you think he made up the entire story?
Silly Sunday is a blog hop
Please, add your link here – any funny story is welcome old or new, so if you have an old post that didn’t get enough attention, add it now. And don’t forget to stop by some of the other silly posts linked up here.
Related Links:
More on Russell at Wikipedia
Funny Road Signs - Driving In New Zealand is Hilarious!
Awesome Afternoon at Rippon – New Zealand Wine Tasting
We Went to Tui Breweries to Meet the Gorgeous Women . . . See What We Found
All photos on this page ©Rhonda Albom 2013
Travel with us as we laugh our way around the globe. I am Rhonda Albom, wife, mom, photographer and blogger, sharing the lighter side of our traveling family's life with two teens. 
Sorry, but I’m not seeing the sewing machine. I wish I was there visiting you, like your niece. One day.
Joyce recently posted..School Projects
Yay! That was for the “one day.” And hopefully it will be one day soon
I see it…down toward the left and this is definitely a good one for Silly Sunday! I also love you in the big cauldron!
Happy weekend you guys!
Jackie recently posted..I’m Back With Birds, Critters And Even A Haven
Nicely done.
When you invited my daughter to come to New Zealand “for a meal or two” – I didn’t think you meant as the main course! – LOL
LOL – Do you remember about eight years ago when Dad came to visit, and I climbed into the pot – He called it “Sachs stew.”
Hi Rhonda .. great that your niece is already into sightseeing mode … and the sewing machine in the tree story … very likely I’d say … or more probably from a storm -
But fun photos and story line .. cheers Hilary
Hilary recently posted..Malingering not! – Winter 1962/3 – more weather stories and memories … floods, storm surges, Dracula, Thames Barrier …
Could be a storm, but the fire made a better story for the waiter to tell
Great photos, and I’m sure that your niece is having a blast with you as her tour guide! I didn’t see the sewing machine, but love the story behind it.
LOL – I didn’t see the sewing machine either when I first looked at the tree, but I agree I love the story.
This is funny because not too long ago a bicycle was growing in the trunk of the tree, no joke.
Where was that tree?
I’ve looked and now returned and looked I give in I don’t see a sewing machine LOL
Have a sewing machineless week
stevebethere recently posted..Wordless Wednesday – The Wish
Maybe the waiter made the story up