. This first week would not have been nearly as amazing if were not for them. They have given me my own room to stay in and I've been fed wonderful meals, leg of lamb with roasted vegetables on my first night! They have brought me all over the city of Auckland to take in some amazing sights and to search for the mighty vessel that will take me all over this beautiful country (a bicycle that is). I honestly feel like I have been visiting family since I have been here. With that being said I will tell of my ventures thus far in a cloudy and green landscape!The first day of awaking in this new country was an early one. I would like to note, and many back home would be happy to hear this, that I have slept past 11 am once since i have been gone. Actually twice, but the second time was because I was up till 5:30 am with the last remaining members of a wedding party to watch the New Zealand All Blacks face off against England (rugby teams...they are huge out here, and I can see why). Now the pleasure of sleeping in is getting up around 9 am. Anyways, my first morning was an early rise that brought me into downtown Auckland with Craig and Priscilla on there way to work. Craig showed me a few things that would help me get around town and back home to Mt Wellington where they live, if I needed to. Once on my own I killed a little time getting breakfast and looking for a road atlas of New Zealand. Afterwards I went to buy my ticket to take a harbor cruise to take in a few Auckland sights and see the city of Auckland from a new angle. I was only able to take half the trip because it stopped at a volcanic island called Rangitoto, where we could look around for ten minutes and being rather ambitious with my ten minutes I made it too far away to get back before the ferry left. Oh well! I was stuck on a sweet volcanic island for four hours until the next ferry came to pick me up. It was for the best because the island had some great hikes including a hike to the summit that took less than an hour, but boy was it exhausting towards the end. At the top I was able to see 360 degrees of Auckland and its harbor with many islands. I had a snack and snapped some photos and then I was on my way back down. I made it back to downtown just in time to ride back with Craig and Priscilla home from work. My face got rather sun burnt even though it was cloudy most of the day and it wasn't very warm unless the sun was out. You can feel the sun instantly when it is on you. So I learned my first lesson in New Zealand sun--the sun always wins even if it is cloudy! Later that night i went out with Craig, Priscilla, and a friend of theirs for dinner and a movie.
Later that week Craig had a day off and was able to bring me all over Auckland in search of a bike that was going to get me to the tip of one island to the tip of the next. I did not buy anything but saw and talked with enough people to fully grasp what I required for such a trip.
On Friday I road tripped it out of Auckland about two hours and I spent the weekend with Craig and his family at a beach house rental that was amazing and was privileged enough to attend a gorgeous small town, family oriented wedding. The wedding was at the bride's father's Bed and Breakfast in a small town called Te Puke (Tuh-Pookie). The B&B was a small villa on the property of a wine vineyard with horses and sheep! It was gorgeous. I turned out being the unofficial wedding photographer since I had such a fancy looking camera. It was the least I could do since they were so welcoming and the food was amazing. They roasted an entire pig on a spit! I was also lucky enough to meet so many amazing and friendly people that offered me a place to stay on my trip down the country.
This first week has been amazing and I owe it to Craig, Priscilla and their family for being so welcoming and generously hospitable!
Thanks!
-Matthew
No comments:
Post a Comment