Small Town Doctor vs Big City: Auckland!

Three day weekends are addicting!  So much to the point that I took another one this past weekend.   This time it was not into the woods or to the beach but to New Zealand's largest city-- Auckland!   At 1.4 million people, it is home to almost 1/3 of NZ's population.  Missing the hustle, bustle, and culture of my previous home Phoenix (1.6 million), I was excited to be in a *real* city again!

I had a companion for the weekend, who graciously drove the whole 5 hours both ways (thanks, Lincoln!).  It was great to actually enjoy the ride and look out the window and see some fantastic sights I've been missing as my eyes have thus far been concentrating on the (wrong side of the) road. :)

The weekend was great fun.  Here are some highlights below:

1.  Eden Park!
If you haven't heard, the Rugby World Cup is going to be played in New Zealand next year. The early matches will be played throughout the country, but the finals will be in Eden Park, which seats 60,000 (still NOTHING compared to Beaver Stadium!)

I was at first just taking pictures of the outside, but a little harmless flirting with the construction workers got me in the locked doors of the stadium to take a quick photo!    SCORE!

Only 314 days 9 hrs 13 minutes and 30 seconds til the Rugby World Cup starts!

2.   Aquarium!

Every person I asked for advice on what to see in Auckland recommended the aquarium. They were right!  I was skeptical, as I've had my share of aquariums (Camden, Baltimore, etc etc etc).  Kelly Tarlton's Underwater World was definitely unlike any I've seen before!   Kelly was a marine archaeologist and a diver, and built the aquarium from --- get this--- disused sewage tanks!  It's full of acrylic tunnels which lets you basically walk through and see the fish and marinelife swim around and above you!

Jaws 1 and Jaws 2--- swimming above us!

Stingray...

Quite possibly the largest hermit crab I've ever seen (his shell was at least as big as my two fists put together)..

Nemo's been on holiday in Auckland! :)

 Seahorse...

Crayfish trying to escape!



But the coolest thing *ever* was the penguin ride!!!

You hop into a Snowcat (snowmobile/truck sorta thing)...

 and it takes you into a temperature controlled Antarctic experience, complete with PENGUINS!

They were literally right outside the Snowcat window!!  Way cool.  (Or shall I say "cold"?)   :)

3.  Ice Bar!

Speaking of cold, Auckland has an Ice Bar called "Minus 5".  That's the temperature inside in the bar.  Aka 23 degrees Farenheit.  Before you go in, they suit you up with parkas, gloves, and boots. 

 It wasn't *that* cold....

 The drink glasses were even made of ice!

And so was the chandelier!   How fun.



4.   Ferry ride to Devonport!

After enough Antarctic weather, it was time to enjoy the fresh (warm) air.   Auckland lies on and around an isthmus, with harbors to its North and South, so transport by ferry is quite common.  We took this ferry to Devonport, a suburb just north of Auckland. 

 Auckland is often called the "City of Sails".  I read that approximately one in three Auckland households owns a boat!   Plenty of harbor space....

The Harbour Bridge.   Chalk over a couple hundred bucks and you can bungy jump off of it!  (don't worry Mom, I'm not *that* adventurous!)

Here's a glimpse of the Devonport Naval Base, the main facility for the country's Naval Vessels.  Yes, this is the entire base.  That's all.  I was expecting a bit more for a country completely surrounded by water!

Approaching Devonport and its beach.  Cute.   This town is often compared to Sausalito, CA.  I can see why.

The rest of the weekend was spent just soaking up the city life.

From art...

To scrumptious food...

To politics (here a teacher's protest!)...



To music (eight-member ukelele band at a farmers market)...

To technological gadgets (public toilet whose buttons resemble an elevator!)...

It was surely a fun weekend, but come Monday, I was ready to head back to my small, simple, safe, inexpensive farm town of Hawera.  Never in a million years would I have thought I'd feel that way!

The City of Sails was nice... to visit.   :)