Auckland

not starting work until the 26th, i decided to tag along on LT's trip to New Zealand.  she worked.  i had fun. New Zealand has an incredible landscape.  we will return.

the first day i was there, i toured around the city of Auckland.  Auckland is on the North Island and is well known for sailing and small volcanoes (inactive) all around the city.  spent a good amount of the morning walking the city and out to Mt. Eden, the tallest of the volcanoes around the city.

Auckland from the peak of Mt. Eden

the volcanic crater atop Mt. Eden ... that'd make for some good sleddin', but good luck getting out

One Tree Hill.  i did not hike out there for obvious reasons.

then decided i couldn't pass up a ride up the tourist trap that is the Sky Tower.  nice tower.  nice views.  that's all i really have to say about it.

the Sky Tower

Rangitoto from the Sky Tower

the harbor and Harbor Bridge from the Sky Tower

grabbing some lunch down by the harbor, i caught the new zealand america's cup boat returning to port.  coincidence since i planned to hit the New Zealand Maritime Museum next.  i figured these people knew a thing or two about sailing and there might be something of interest.  i spent the next four hours in there.  anything you ever wanted to know about boating and sailing.  highly recommended if you're a nerd interested in the how's and why's regarding the evolution of boat design.  there was also an entire section dedicated to Sir Peter Blake.  i'm sure there's a book on him out there somewhere and it'd be worth a read if you're into that type of thing.  perhaps most well known for leading New Zealand to victory in the America's Cup in 1995, he also holds the record for sailing around the world and is the only yachtsman to win the Whitbread Round the World Race by winning all six stages, winning the first stage of that race by over 350 miles.  he was killed in 2001 by pirates near Rio where he had been doing conservation work for some time.  the man with him described a conversation they had shortly after 9/11 about being a passenger and accepting your fate or having the guts to fight.  he fought.

New Zealand's America's Cup boat

New Zealand Maritime Museum

there was also a single person row boat on display.  the son of the record holder for rowing around the world set out to beat his father's record and did.  the son was the second person to row around the world.

the boat rowed around the world

inside the boat rowed around the world

this one is for Big Bull.  i don't know it's story. it likely has it's ups and downs.

that's the S.S. Puke

and lastly, the town was abuzz as it just so happens that the Rugby World Cup is currently taking place in New Zealand with Auckland as the hub.  somehow the US is in the Rugby World Cup ... who knew we were good enough at rugby to qualify?  they actually take on the Wallabies (Australia) tonight.  LT was brilliant enough to bet a co-worker on the match.  he has to paint his face with the US flag if we win.  she has to wear a Collingwood (the Yankee-like team of footy ... despised by the sane) footy jumper to work if they win.  i suspect she'll be wearing a jumper.

U...S...A!  U...S...A!