On to Auckland

It is never long enough. Today we said goodbye to Betsy and Keith. I so wish my family all lived on the same block. Anywhere would be fine.

Even the chickens came out from under the house to see us off, including Helen, who is looking so much better.

We flew Air New Zealand in an ATR 72 prop plane. Originally scheduled to leave at 12:25, we had to wait while they rearranged the luggage for a more balanced plane. Then another wait while a plane arrived. I did get to see the truck drive down the runway to clear the birds. We were off at 1:10, or as the Kiwis say, 13:10. The 24 hour clock does have some advantages.

At the terminal, there is a artwork marking where the Māori and Captain Cook met the first time.


At Auckland airport, we eventually found an AT Hop ticket machine and eventually got it to take my credit card and give me a Hop card. Why are the lighted instructions always facing the sun? The bus arrived, we got the one to the train station, navigated buying Grant an additional ticket, and rode to town

In New Zealand, school children ride public transportation, rather than dedicated school buses. Betsy once had a student ask if our yellow buses were real. At one stop, obviously near a school, lots of students, all boys, got on for the ride home, older ones in striped jackets and long pants, younger ones in shorts and black sweaters. There were a few girls in completing different colored jackets and skirts, so I’d guess a different school.

Our hotel, the Fable, was just a short walk down Queen Street, amid all the usual pricy brands. Had I a need for expensive jewelry, clothes, or shoes, the shoppes were just outside the front door. After drinking a teacup of orange juice and eating a bite of macadamia nut bar, gratis, while we checked in, we went up to what in the US would be a metro room: just enough room to walk around the bed with a gallery kitchen and large bathroom. A queen studio on the website. But the bed is comfortable and we’re only staying one night.

Betsy had recommended the White Lady, the original NZ food truck, opened in 1948, for dinner. Since it didn’t open until 6:30, we walked around Auckland harbor, looking at ferries. At one end, the 1988 NZ America’s Cup entry is standing in front of a maritime museum. The waterfront restaurants were hopping. We could have had a choice of kinds of misic.

The White Lady specializes in burgers. We shared the Royale double cheeseburger with beets, pickles, “Old Skool” relish in addition to lettuce and tomato. With no place to sit, we walked back to our rooms and ate this very messy, very large burger. 

By 7:30, we were ready for bed, where we read for hours and hours.

Steps Today: 6,536

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