2018 - Kiwis and Kangaroos - Days 1-4

Days 1, 2 and 3, October 18, 19 and 20, 2018  -  USA to Australia to New Zealand

One would think that sitting for almost 40 hours would leave one rested and refreshed, but that’s not the case when you’re traveling internationally!  Our destination is Auckland, New Zealand, a place I’ve always wanted to experience. Bob and I are so fortunate to be traveling with such good friends, Trudy and Glen, Mary Jo and Richard.  So the trip overall was long – first a four-hour flight to Los Angeles, then a 14-hour flight to Sydney plus another almost 3 hours to Auckland.  We cross six time zones plus the International Date Line, meaning our Friday the 19^th was a very short 5 hours!!  Most of us had little to no sleep on the long flight in the cramped seats that were less than conducive to a good sleeping position.

But we are grateful to have arrived in Kiwi country without a hitch … until the baggage claim area in Auckland where we discovered that, oops, our luggage, along with that of everyone else who traveled from LA, never left Sydney!  After the very slow process of letting the airline know about this glitch, then finding transit to our Airbnb, we are “home” for the next few days … without luggage, toothbrushes, makeup … you name it.  However, the washer and dryer saved the day, so while we wear the same clothes for a fourth day tomorrow, at least they will be clean!

Our home away from home is really cute with all the amenities we need.  The other two couples walked around the neighborhood a bit and came back with delicious fish sandwiches and wine for a late dinner.  By now we’re all getting very giddy from almost 40 hours without sleep, so it’s early to bed … all very grateful to be in the kiwi country of New Zealand.

Day 4, October 21, 2018 – Auckland

Our biological clocks have not yet caught up with New Zealand time, so we awoke early to the chorus of birds and simply enjoyed the sunshine, prayers out on the deck, croissants left for us by our host and coffee from a strange-looking expresso maker. We Uber over to Mass at the lovely Cathedral of St. Patrick and St. Joseph, after which we walked to the iconic Sky Tower of Auckland, the tallest structure in the Southern Hemisphere.

Sky Tower in Auckland

From the observation deck of the Sky Tower we experience a beautiful 360-degree view of Auckland and the surrounding area. Auckland is known as the City of Sails where, we’re told, one in three households owns a boat. The New Zealand Maori called this area Tamaki Makaurau, a maiden desired by a hundred lovers. It was fought over for it vast riches of forested hills, productive volcanic soils and harbors full of seafood.  Today, it is striking how clean the City is, which has been rated the third most liveable city in the world.

Daring Trudy standing on the
glass floor 52 stories high!

Lunch at the Orbit 360 Dining

Cheers!

 We had a delicious, leisurely lunch at the Orbit 360 Dining on the 53^rd floor of the Sky Tower. The restaurant rotates 360 degrees every hour giving us a continuous view of the City.  We then walked down to Quay Street and thoroughly enjoyed strolling along the harbor, people watching, having a drink at a sidewalk café, watching a very tall luxury sailboat return to its slip, enjoying the warm spring sunshine along with hundreds of other people. 

Dinner at the Crab Shack

We ate dinner at the local waterfront Crab Shack … seafood salads, lamb burgers, clam chowder and a plate of huge prawns hit the spot.  It’s getting late, so we walked up Queens Street, Auckland’s famous commercial area, then hailed an Uber back to our home.  The best news has been that, yeah, our luggage is here. It showed up 2 1/2 hours later than promised, but we did get it!!   It’s been a wonderful day  … great friends, delicious food and drinks and the leisurely enjoyment of some of best of Auckland!