I Want to Be a Kiwi!

Auckland is thriving. There was so much construction going on downtown, I did not recognize the city. Streets are torn up for a new subway project and high rises are reaching for the sky on every block. It's a boom town. 

Walking around was fun....come to a street corner and go in any direction. Jay-walking is widely accepted, but, do not upset the people who control pedestrian traffic. They are very serious about requiring you to "stand behind the white line” and crossing with the light. We did not risk anyones ire.

A special event for world cruise guests was held at The Auckland War Memorial Museum “Tāmaki Paenga Hira.” It is one of New Zealand's most important museums and war memorials. Its collections concentrate on New Zealand history, natural history, and military history from World Wars I and II. (Wikipedia)

We were transferred from the pier to the Museum, which is an impressive building constructed in a massive crater of an extinct volcano, now a city park. We snaked through the galleries of the closed museum and took two elevators to a reach the glass enclosed roof top event space with a 360 degree panoramic view of Auckland. It was stunning!

We met Hobbits, listened to fabulous live music and enjoyed a delicious meal with exquisite wines, poured freely. It was a happy party for about 300 guests. We had a wonderful evening.

Today, we docked Tauranga, New Zealand, our first visit to this port. What a delightful city! We eschewed our scheduled 6:50 a.m., nine hour excursion for a walk to town. En route, we took another “detour” and hopped in a taxi with our friends, Claire and Dee. (See their watercolor portraits in my previous post “It's a Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood.”) We were heading to an historic village, but, once again, we got side tracked. 

This day, with its plans upended, was delightful. Being spontaneous and flexible brings rewards which included McLaren Falls where thrill seekers swim in pools of water created by enormous boulders. At every turn, Claire exclaimed delight at the stunning trees and "became one" with the Canadian Geese, honking in unison about her hometown of Montreal. We passed Marshall Animal Farm. It was closed, not allowing us to “converse” with the residents living behind the gates. We passed groves of kiwi's nearly ripened on vines that look more like small trees and viewed the Bay of Plenty from a panoramic spot high on a mountain top. 

Weather-wise, this was a “Top 10 Day!” It was perfect...perfect temp, perfect sun, perfect breeze and perfectly wonderful friends with whom we shared this experience. 

We finally did pull up at the historic town with most of its store fronts empty and/or closed. We were so glad we just let the day unfold. It set us on a grand adventure and gave birth to my new motto... plan to be flexible!

Tauranga, NZ

McLaren Falls Park...more photos to follow, courtesy of Dee!

Here it is, our world cruise rain coat.  It's terrific and we used it in Auckland!

Our laundry is returned in a gray box!

And, our undies are pressed and wrapped in tissue paper!  How can I ever go home!?!?