Auckland. New Zealand

Auckland. New Zealand

Auckland has more boats per capita than any other city in the world – and it shows. There are marina and yacht basins everywhere you look. Known as the City of Sails this huge sprawling city is complete with sky scrapers and big city traffic. It was much larger than I was expecting, with a population of over a million. Like the Europeans who got Manhattan from the Indians for a song, the British paid the local Maori $110 for the 3,000 acres that is now Auckland. We arrived in port at about 8 am to perfect weather. There is much to do and see here. Piha beach is known for its black sand, massive Lion Rock and surfing. Auckland Sky Tower is the tallest tower in the Southern Hemisphere.  If Hannah were here we would do the sheep ranch, glow worm cave or perhaps the aquarium with a viewing tunnel you can walk through with fish and sharks swimming all around you. Our agenda however was to take a city and harbor tour then visit the National Maritime Museum. Bah humbug on the city tour.  Our “tour guide” spent about 2 hours driving us through downtown traffic like he was late to work. At first I felt a little sympathy for him as I thought perhaps he was a mute since universities, museums, churches, and government buildings all flew past the bus window unidentified and far too quickly for even the quickest of photographers.  I tell ewe, the sheep ranch tour was starting to look better and better. Then finally he spoke. He told us Japan had produced the “clip on” lanes for the Auckland Bridge. They were built in Japan and then brought here and just attached to widen the Bridge. I believe that was the first, last and only semi-interesting bit of information he shared with us all day. He cut through the botanical gardens to get to the War Memorial Museum. He said he had to drive very carefully though this garden area because these trees alongside the road were …   were what? Delicate? Irreplaceable?  I couldn’t hear the last of his statement for the scratching of tree limbs on the top and side of the bus. He found the museum but said he didn’t see a parking place and drove on without even identifying it. We turned down dead end streets having to back the bus all the way back out – twice.  Across from my seat was a large sign saying “for a fast exit, use hammer to break glass”. I was tempted. The Harbor tour made up for it. It was a lovely schooner under full sails - a fun and relaxing way to see the harbor, especially on such a gorgeous day. Then off to the National Maritime Museum with an informative and knowledgeable guide. We dined at an outdoor café near the harbor.  Jim’s son requested a rugby shirt from Auckland. As fanatical as New Zealanders are about rugby we expected them to be everywhere. After three stops and about a two mile walk, that I swear was all up hill, he found one for about $150! He bought it. I told you - I shop, he buys. Being a shopper, I could hardly stand not checking at least one more shop for a little better deal but my dead dog tired body won out over my good sense. We staggered back to the ship where Jim promptly went to dinner; not me, I was too tired to chew. At 11 pm we set sail for the New Zealand fiords.