The Esmeralda

When I was 8 we moved to live on Beacon Hill Road above the Seatoun tunnel. I loved watching ships and ferries coming and going into Wellington harbour. One day the Esmeralda, a training ship, sailed into our harbour in full sail. We visited the ship when it was berthed and was opened to the public. In the evening thousands of Wellingtonians lined the harbour to see The Esmeralda leave under full sail. After it left, evening came and from our home we could see our beautiful harbour lit up by thousands of car headlights. It was an unforgettable sight and I recall so clearly my mother saying it looked like a diamond necklace.