Napier has weathered many storms as they say. The big typhoid epidemic in the 1800's wiped out a ton of people who were mostly buried in the grave yard pictured here. It encompasses 1845 - 1917. and then the big earthquake and fire of 1931 devastated much of the downtown and another 245 people were killed. So they went 'art deco" in a very vig way after that.

After walking around for several hours it suddenly hit me how really beautiful this town is. I walked much slower for the rest of the day.

The graveyard is also right next to the botanical gardens and aviary right below 'hospital hill' which was where i was staying. The hill is like snakes and ladders with staircases everywhere.

The big boat in Gisborne has started to break up and leak oil and is still stuck.

Pictured to your right:

• art deco building
• art deco building
• beautiful balcony hanging over hospital hill
• downtown napier
• a gravestone of two girls who were washed out to sea in 1876 - seemed poignant
• gravestones in the Napier cemetary that spans 1845 - 1917