But We DID Read the Soin

After all the driving acclimation, after driving three-quarters of the way around the South Island, and after more than two weeks of being tentative tourists here, we finally got honked at today, in Nelson, NZ. As pedestrians.

As we were walking across an intersection--with the light by the way--a car rounded the corner, hit his brakes, honked, and yelled out, "read the soin!"

It's funny though: the sign said "Turning Traffic Give Way to Pedestrians." I know because I went back and checked.


This was the first New Zealander we've met what wasn't all that nice. And we've gotten so soft here that Laura didn't even shake her fist at him.

We can understand though. It must get extremely frustrating if you're in a hurry, trying to get to where you need to be, and you're surrounded by dopey tourists wandering around, lost, with stupid grins on their faces. I'd honk too.