We flew into Auckland on Monday the 18th. It was about 8 in the morning when we arrived and the landscape was beautiful. I come from Iowa where a spare hill is a landmark. Mountains amaze me and New Zealand’s mountains are by water. The Pacific Ocean to be more exact. We got that day to go around the city and check out all the major landmarks. First we went to the waterfront to see just exactly why Auckland is called the City of Sails.
And sails did we see. They were everywhere. Big yachts to elegant sailboats lined the wharf as well as the skyline. You could look for what seemed like miles and there was always at least one white sail bobbing in the distance. Gorgeous doesn’t even begin to cover it.
If I turned away from the wharf I could see the Auckland Skytower. It really is a site to behold. People compare it to the Space Needle and the comparison is valid. I plan on going back to Auckland so I can visit friends as well as jump off that tower that is the pinnacle of the city skyline.
While Auckland was great and beautiful, I knew it wasn’t for me. It was too loud and cramped. There didn’t seem to be any organization as to how the streets were laid out. Ice cream was hard to locate. I don’t want to live there, but I do plan on going back. It is the biggest city in New Zealand so there has to be so much more to see there. We stayed at the Best Western Hotel which was beautiful. It was in the heart of the city yet it was still quiet at night. Not once did I think 1.4 million people lived in that city.
I’m settled in Wellington now. It will take me awhile to get to this point, but I promise I will get there. Stay tuned for how to learn the Haka and much more!
Aw. I feel bad that we didn’t lay out the ice-cream red carpet for you. There are some great ice-cream and gelato vendors around the place. I hope you at least made it to Giapo in town. When you make it back, I hope you get a chance to check out the Village Co-op in St Heliers, and Spencer’s Delicatessen in Glendowie. Life’s too short to miss out on great ice-cream, and given how seriously Americans take their ice-cream, it’d be nice for you to have more to compare to. Hopefully you have more luck in Wellington.
lol ice cream was hard to locate….a sad sad thing