auckland adventure

My time in Auckland passed quickly, but wonderfully. Kirrin and Jeremy were amazing hosts and I am glad I had a week to spend with them. My only regret is that I didn’t get to see their dragon boating competition today since my flight left far too early this morning. I was able to watch their training in the rain earlier in the week, so I could take in what dragon boating is all about!

Kirrin kept quite busy with school and sport activities, and Jeremy had a number of things to take care of on his week of holiday, but I was more than content to tag along with them as they lived their lives.

The unfortunate part of living their normal lives was that I also got to experience a New Zealand car accident with Jeremy on our way to the beach the second day I was in town. We were side-swiped by another car as we intended to park. After our nerves cooled down, we still did take a stroll through the market and enjoyed a wonderful breakfast near the water in Auckland. We spent time with Kirrin’s sisters, Jamie and Courtney, and her darling nieces at a swimming pool. My favorite quote from the four year old was, "Why do you talk funny?" We watched Kirrin’s volleyball matches, walked around the city, and visited the Winter Gardens before dropping Kirrin off at the University. We met up with a few of their friends and dropped in at a few cafes for coffee and a quick bite to eat.

Jeremy and I also spent a short afternoon at One Tree Hill. This scenic volcanic cone should be called No Tree Hill as, due to political issues, someone outrageously chopped the “one” tree on the top of the hill down. Never-the-less, we enjoyed the amazing view from the top of the hill of sheep pastures and parks surrounded by city.

The highlight of the week was having dinner with Kirrin and Jeremy at the Sky Tower. The dinner was quite lovely. Kirrin challenged me to eat a raw oyster. I chewed and swallowed, but still prefer them fried with a little butter! But, now I can say I’ve eaten a raw one. We also took a trip to the top of the tower. We walked around to take in the extraordinary night lights over the city. They have glass floors in parts of the observation deck which give a disconcerting view of the city below. We concluded the night in the tower, enjoying a drink with a live band. I had a fantastic time.