KiaOra from Auckland!

First of all I had totally planned on blogging before now but I've been having some internet issues and stores close so early around here! Its been days and I miss you guys and we have so much to catch up on!

The flight went well although 13 hour is just too long and my hiney got sore. Eventually we arrived and the honeymoon began!!



Here we are getting into the wrong side of the car...to drive on the wrong side of the road...its so wrong...its so unnatural. Here is the deal. I constantly forget which way to look for oncoming traffic and this major spaz out occurs every time I have to make a turn. Why you ask?

Well, first I find I have to turn. Then I have to figure out which way to look. Then I have to signal. This seems to be the hardest part because the signal is on the right and the windshield wipers are on the left which is backwards of course. Then I have to remember that when I turn I need to stay on the left side of the divider. Of course when I miss my turn and the GPS says U-turn I need to merge to my right, not to my left, silly.

So. If you are reading this and you happen to live in New Zealand please look for me driving in my leetle white Toyota Corolla. If you happen to notice that although its not raining, my window wipers are on and I seem to be screaming, sweating and laughing, please let me in, I'd like to merge. Thank you.

Here are a couple shots from the area. I have no idea why the photos started uploading in mini low resolution version but beggars can't be choosers. Lets not anger the laptop gods.



Rental bikes everywhere. B loves this.



Auckland feels very familiar in a way that many large cities do. Part LA, part San Fran. Its a stop for many cruise lines and a huge tourist attraction.

What we didn't know is that New Zealand believes in really taking their time off for holiday. The city was like a ghost town with the exception of us tourist. Most stores were closed or open with modified hours. Apparently, the Kiwis close up shop and head out from about the 24th of December until January 4th. Sounds like a good plan to me.



We got settled into our rooms and headed to Degree for lunch.

B has been sampling the local beers and I had a Shanty. I have no idea if thats how you spell it but its like a light beer and sprite. Really. It was actually surprisingly refreshing. Like a white wine spritzer. I'm cringing while I write this. I wouldn't order it again but I can see how people would like it.



Oysters Kilpatick. Basically grilled oysters topped with bacon. New Zealand style bacon which is more like American ham. Its not bacon strips. The sauce was a soy base/ vinegar base and very tasty.



Fish and Chips! You know, because its NZ so I had to try it. I love the presentation. The center has ketchup, malt vinegar and tartar sauce.



3 course for lunch. I love honeymoons. Not that B and I wouldn't do this anyway but it just seems so right on a honeymoon.

This is a blueberry torte with bery compote. That big scoop on top? The one that looks like ice cream... its marscarpone. A big huge scoop of marscarpone. Its creamy, heavenly goodness.

I'd like to interrupt that thought to say that I want to move into this store. Its called Nood and it rocks. Its sort of mid-century modern which I love.



I want this chair. They have a lot of variations on it and I want them all. See the yellow one on the flip side? Too cute.

I will totally buy these when I win the lottery.



After walking around we took a nap. Aren't naps the greatest? We'd been up since 5 am and really need to sleep. Sitting in an airplane and sleeping isn't all that refreshing.

When we got up we decided to.... go eat. Of course. The thing about asian places, particularly Chinese food, is that they never close. When the whole city is shut down you can always find an open chinese restaurant.



On order of dumplings gave us 20. 20 dumplings?!

These were beyond delicious. The best I have ever had. Handmade and delicate. I love these dumplings.



I have no idea what the name of the restaurant is because everything was in Chinese.

These scallion pancakes were amazing. More like a bread than a pancake.



Its actually a lot like naan. Have you had naan? They have it at Trader Joes, get the frozen kind you can bake. You'll thank me later.



Um. Is that raw shrimp and dough on that far table?

Is that pork and beef dumpling filling on the table with the random cups?

Why yes, yes it is. Yes, they did sit out on those tables the entire duration of our meal.

No we did not get sick. I can only say that my guardian angel must have taken one for the team and let me skate by without food poisoning. But I will repeat. Those were the best dumplings ever. Ever. ~sigh~ Oh how can that be?



Later we headed to the Sky Tower which is really the distinctive structure in the Auckland sky line.

The tower stands 328 m which is taller than the Eiffel Tower to give you an idea of scale.



I stepped into the elevator to mentally prepare for being so high up. I really don't appreciate heights like this. Only I couldn't prepare because the darn floor had a huge glass panel in it.

A huge glass panel so you could see through as the elevator went up. So I tried to keep my eyes up and then I realized that the elevator doors were made of glass and the elevator was going up the face of the tower so you could see outside as the levels climbed.

So basically I had to stand with my nose in the corner like a bad child until my stomach unclenched... about an hour later when we were back on the ground.



Here B is standing on the glass paneled floor over Auckland. I didn't walk on it. But I watched him and sent out encouraging thoughts.

I guess this answers any questions about whether or not I plan on bungy jumping.



Can you see me leaning away from the window?



The city view was gorgeous and we were up there from Twilight until dark. It gets dark just after 9 pm in NZ.



Our hotel is just to the right of this shot, basically off the water. Really gorgeous.



Ha! I love this sign.

I'll leave you with this. This is Auckland at 5 am. We had the window open and I woke up to the sounds on the docks. I love the sounds of the boats moving in and people loading up.

I love the sights and sounds of the day starting. Well, as long as it involves waking up on vacation and not the sound of the alarm when I'm heading into work.