Linda Hall: Two cities, two weekends

Morgan Lincoln, hair stylist, one of the retailers who decorated their front window in support of the All Blacks. Photo / Duncan Brown

I was in Napier on Saturday afternoon and the place was buzzing.

The All Blacks had been in town all week and you could almost feel the anticipation for the evening game against Argentina in the air.

There were people everywhere. What a fantastic bonus for retailers. Cafes were full, people were carrying shopping bags, there were buskers dancing and singing, and people doing magic tricks. At least I think that's what they were doing, I couldn't get close enough to see what was actually happening, but the crowd was applauding and cheering.

The sky was grey and every now and then there would be a squally shower, then the sun would peak out lifting hopes of a dry test match.

There was certainly no dampening the spirits of the hundreds of people walking the streets of Napier.

Back in Hastings I ventured into town to see if the "All Black buzz" had reached its arms across the twin cities.

Alas, apart from the supermarkets which were doing a roaring trade, there didn't seem to be many people about.

Admittedly it was later in the day and the shops may have been busier earlier.

I'm sorry to say but Hastings really did look like the poor sister city on Saturday.

The one thing Napier has over Hastings which has nothing to do with shops, food or Art Deco is the sea. I don't know about you but I love looking at the sea.

No matter which direction you drive into Napier from the first thing you see is the sea. I could look at it for hours, (if I only had time). No matter what mood the ocean is in it does something to my soul (crikey I'm getting all deep and meaningful now).

It can be flat as a pancake with the sun glistening off it, choppy, or raging with huge waves crashing ashore, it doesn't matter.

I love watching it, walking beside it or swimming in it.

On the other hand when you drive into Hastings there's nothing at all as spectacular to look at.

In fact if you come from the north once you get past the Hawke's Bay Showgrounds it gets a bit rough.

Karamu Rd from just past the showgrounds looks like a patchwork quilt and it's bumpy as hell.

I can't count the number of times the road has been dug up and patched up for one reason or another over the past few years.

Every time it rains harder than a gentle shower potholes appear. They are patched up adding another bump to a stretch of road that should be a showcase into Hastings.

Why can't the council fix it up properly once and for all?

Yes it would be a nuisance for motorists and businesses, but it would be worth it in the long run.

Hastings needs to do everything it can to attract tourists. We want them to stop, shop, eat, sleep, and go home and tell all their friends and relations what a great place Hastings is.

This week it's Hastings' turn to shine with the Blossom Festival. Hopefully on Saturday the streets will be full of people shopping and eating before and after the blossom parade.

And hopefully Mother Nature will be kind and let the sun shine. The All Blacks can get away with the wet look but rain, kids, and paper blossoms won't look so appealing.

• Linda Hall is assistant editor at Hawke's Bay Today.