KIA ORA (Welcome to New Zealand): Auckland October 7-10, 2010

Downtown Auckland

AUCKLAND

At the same time Pacific and cosmopolitan in flavor, with a sparkling though wind-blown harbor, scenic hillsides, wineries, boutiques, cafes, and art galleries, AUCKLAND was the perfect synthesis for the last leg of our trip.

It had been a wild ride all along, so we thought, why not cap the experience with an indulgent passion?  Thus, in the Fish Market, past thru the courtyard, and into the new exciting Auckland attraction called Big Picture Wine, we participated in an interactive wine adventure that began in the Aroma Room, enabling us to appreciate the language of wine.  Then, we viewed the 30-minute film that flew us over Auckland’s spectacular landscape and on to six - yes, six! - wineries within the region.  It was a creatively unique way of having the winemakers onscreen to join us for a personalized tasting of their wine.  As the euphoria of enjoying the rich, fruity aromas of the six featured red wines had set in, the rest of this paragraph would be unfinished...

Our final days were spent soberly browsing New Zealand’s collection displays at the AUCKLAND ART GALLERY and viewing rare Maori taonga (treasures) at the AUCKLAND MUSEUM.  We gazed at intricately-carved wood tikis and colorful weaving that covered a hotunui (Maori ancestral house) inside and out.  We ogled at tall pou whakarae (carved stockade posts) that featured the characteristic warrior-stance of glaring eyes and a stuck-out tongue.

Inside Maori ancestral house

Maori warriors intimidating enemy

 We learned a few things from this trip, among other things - that discarded things are thrown in the rubbish (garbage), milk is either full or slim, food ordered out is take-away, one punts in gondola boats and rides the lift (elevator), tap water is potable, Aussies and Kiwis are very friendly people, and that the best souvenirs of a trip are its memories (and maybe a carved shell heitiki pendant).

But as with everything else, all things must come to an end.  Besides, as Erma Bombeck says, it is time to go home once you start looking like your passport picture - so for now we say, KA KITE (goodbye in Maori)!

Wanna rumble?

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