I am using a new app to publish the blog and it doesn't publish photos in the same way that allows larger views. But! I will also publish these photos and more on icloud: https://www.icloud.com/journal/#8;CAEQARoQuWj_bg94JNNh9wuTyGGCSw;3BF6770B-B5DA-4D3E-9A2A-2596342B7818
We both finished working on the 19th of July. For me, at least, it was not without some meloncholy. I grew more attached to the swimmers and the pool than I expected to! My colleagues sent me off with the sweetest gifts (look out for my NZ shirts!) and kind words. Alex, the iMaster also got some commemorative pizza, stellar recommendations and an invitation back any time.
On the Saturday before we left Alex shaved off his beard. He had not been completely clean shaven in over ten or so years and I was very curious to see who was under the fur. It was a fun experiment that lasted about a day and a half. His beard is back in full force now.
Our flatemate Sarah left a few days before us for a holiday in Oz. We hugged her goodbye at the airport and drove off in her car. (Thanks again for that, Sarah!)
On Sunday night we had a 6.5 earthquake that made the house rumble for what felt like 10 seconds. Rosie took her own cover but wasn't too disturbed from her nap. Nothing crashed around us, but buildings in town crumbled slightly and the following days were largely shut down for inspections in the Wellington CBD. This was the largest of a "swarm" of quakes that had been rocking the Cook Straight between the north and south islands all week.
We mailed far too much stuff overseas on the day we left and then strapped on our backpacks and took off for our one and only visit to Auckland, New Zealand's largest city. We had heard a lot of trash talking about Auckland on our travels farther south: Wellingtonians are known to call them JAFAs (Just Another Fucking Aucklander.) It may be bacause we went in with these low expectations that we both were surprised at how charmed by Auckland we actually were when we arrived.
I can understand how the rural Kiwis would be unimpressed with Aucland, however: in all its urban-ness, it is absolutely unlike the rest of the country. Sheep are relpaced by chic. Gum boots and real fruit ice cream are no where to be seen. Yet, even with the amped-up hustle/bustle, Auckland is still down home enough to be inviting to outsiders.
We stayed in the city for 3 nights and did not venture far from the city center. On our first full day we did a lot of touring around by foot. We walked as far as Ponsby, a wealthy boutique-filled district, and turned back toward the city center via K'Rd.
I hope our Wellingtonian mates will forgive us, but we ate better in Auckland than we did in our entire eight preceding months. We stumbled upon the most delightful place for lunch in an old arcade on our first afternoon. On our second night we had Thai food and went classic NZ with a bottle of BYO red wine. On our last day we had Mexican at an adorable if not over crowded place in Britomart. And of course, we did several rounds of fro yo.
We did not jump off the edge of the Sky Tower as lots of people seem to pay a ton of money to do, but we watched others try it from below and above.
We took a ferry across the water one cloudy morning to Devenport. Alex got a haircut and we walked to the top of Mt. Victoria for what are supposed to be the best views of Auckland. This excursion gave us a small taste for what Auckland's house-lined streets might be like, the ones with rich folk, anyway.
The art museum in Auckland is both beautiful and, because it is government supported, free of charge to visit (the way art should be.)
We happened to be in town during the NZ International Film Festival and took advantage by going to four shows: Mud, an American film we both highly recommend; Mood Indigo, a Michel Gondry film that is totally French, totally mezmerizing, and totally sad; The Best Offer with Geoffery Rush; and finally, a set of adult-oriented animation shorts that were spectacular.
Immediately following the animation (thanks for storing our bags in your office, Robert at the theater!) we hopped on the airport bus. Off to Asia!
Thanks for everything, New Zealand. We had a lovely eight months with you.
