The City of Sails
Yesterday David and I landed in New Zealand feeling not like death warmed over (unlike when we landed in Palau and I couldn't tell right from left, although David says that I can never tell right from left).
The people of New Zealand are the nicest people on this planet--there was even free tea and coffee waiting for the international arrivals between immigration and customs! I could go on and on about how nice the people are in this country, but then this would be a boring post.
We made it to our hostel after two busrides, checked in, then walked through our neighbourhood (Parnell) to downtown Auckland. We went to the Maritime Museum (lots on the America's cup), saw lots of grand old buildings (in the process of being renovated by the city), ate lunch on the harbour (fresh fresh fresh scallops and mussels), and made our way back up to the Auckland Museum to learn about the Maori.
(As a side note--we discovered that the old main train station had been turned into apartments and a cafe for college students here in Auckland--how cool is that?!)
We were asleep by 7:30 last night.
Today, after getting twelve hours of sleep in the horizontal position (no more airplane sleeping for a week!), we took an early ferry to the island of Rangitoto. There we hiked up a 600 year old volcano (the youngest in Auckland, although scientists claim that it is "dead"), and caught the spectacular views of the city and surrounding area. Not a cloud in the sky.
After returning to the City of Sails, we made our way to Victoria Market, to peruse some shops. We even got Simon his birthday present! BEFORE his birthday!
So, first impressions:
Auckland is just like Seattle. Seattle has the Space Needle, Auckland has the Sky Tower (did the same guy design both?). Seattle has tons of coffee shops, Auckland has tons of coffee shops (today I had a filtered coffee from a Seattle-themed shop). Seattle is built on hills, Auckland is built on hills. Seattle has views of Puget Sound, Auckland has views of the harbour and the Pacific.
Differences of note: they drive on the wrong side of the road here, there are many different accents (not just the New Zealander accent), the sun shines all day (albeit the temperature is chilly), and my Coco Pops are really just Coco Krispies.
All in all, a good way to start a great vacation. Now onto the west coast and caves lit by glowworms!
The people of New Zealand are the nicest people on this planet--there was even free tea and coffee waiting for the international arrivals between immigration and customs! I could go on and on about how nice the people are in this country, but then this would be a boring post.
We made it to our hostel after two busrides, checked in, then walked through our neighbourhood (Parnell) to downtown Auckland. We went to the Maritime Museum (lots on the America's cup), saw lots of grand old buildings (in the process of being renovated by the city), ate lunch on the harbour (fresh fresh fresh scallops and mussels), and made our way back up to the Auckland Museum to learn about the Maori.
(As a side note--we discovered that the old main train station had been turned into apartments and a cafe for college students here in Auckland--how cool is that?!)
We were asleep by 7:30 last night.
Today, after getting twelve hours of sleep in the horizontal position (no more airplane sleeping for a week!), we took an early ferry to the island of Rangitoto. There we hiked up a 600 year old volcano (the youngest in Auckland, although scientists claim that it is "dead"), and caught the spectacular views of the city and surrounding area. Not a cloud in the sky.
After returning to the City of Sails, we made our way to Victoria Market, to peruse some shops. We even got Simon his birthday present! BEFORE his birthday!
So, first impressions:
Auckland is just like Seattle. Seattle has the Space Needle, Auckland has the Sky Tower (did the same guy design both?). Seattle has tons of coffee shops, Auckland has tons of coffee shops (today I had a filtered coffee from a Seattle-themed shop). Seattle is built on hills, Auckland is built on hills. Seattle has views of Puget Sound, Auckland has views of the harbour and the Pacific.
Differences of note: they drive on the wrong side of the road here, there are many different accents (not just the New Zealander accent), the sun shines all day (albeit the temperature is chilly), and my Coco Pops are really just Coco Krispies.
All in all, a good way to start a great vacation. Now onto the west coast and caves lit by glowworms!
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My secret word today is "jeobugy," which is the closest I've ever come to a real word.