January 11 - Day 1, 2 and 3

 Day 1, 2 and 3

Not really three days have passed but we lost a day in crossing the equator. Left SFO on January 9th at 7 am and arrived in New Zealand on January 10 at 9:30 pm. 

We got up at 4 am to be picked up by our Uber at 4:45. And the day was off. Everything went smoothly but it felt like a particularly brutal travel day. We flew to Honolulu and had a three hour layover there. We had access to a lounge in SF - which was very nice - and also in Honolulu. But that one had nothing to offer but awful coffee and soft drinks. Crowded and really not any more comfortable than the airport. We tried to walk some in anticipation of lots of sitting but the time dragged. Finally got on the plane and then some piece of equipment had to be changed last minute so we sat for 30-40 minutes on the tarmac. Finally on our way. It was a wonderfully uneventful flight and really quite comfortable but by the time we got to New Zealand, we were exhausted. The plane had to be sprayed with insecticide before we could get off and we had to wait for our gate too. By the time we got an Uber and got to the hotel, it was midnight in NZ, which was 3 am at home. Exhausted. Got into bed quickly and slept hard for about 6.5 hours. 

We got up and showered and started our day with some wonderful coffee and eggs and toast. Tasted so good to me. Started walking the city. Auckland is beautiful, certainly not charming or unique like many European cities but it is a harbor town. The water is beautiful and the weather is spectacular. We walked through Albert Park and over to the Sky Tower and rode to the top - 53 floors. Beautiful views. We continued to walk, exploring the waterfront and the city parks. Headed over to the Maritime Museum. This was recommended to us by Chat GPT and it didn’t disappoint. Wonderful museum with so much to see and experience. The message rings loud. New Zealand is a land built by tough people brave enough to cross the sea under unbelievable conditions. Many immigrants have come here through the years seeking a better life. Boats and water are part of the life here and the fabric of the country’s history.

After the museum, we found some lunch. Shared a salad and an incredible burger. Tasted so good. Afterward, we walked another mile or so along the waterfront. Both of us are feeling our long travel day and feeling like we are about to drop. Decided to head back to the hotel while we were still upright! Stopped to see a street entertainer doing a balancing act and then headed back. 

We dropped onto the bed when we arrived back and fell asleep for a few minutes. And now I type…..

After resting a bit, we headed out to find dinner. Matt wanted to try something native and we searched for native Kiwi cuisine. We ended up at a place called Amano, not far from our hotel. Admittedly, it was some of the most unique food I’ve eaten. I had tuna tartare mixed with something I couldn’t identify. Matt had fish that he had never heard of, very unusual. We had some baked bread thing with cheese in the middle for a starter. All delicious but SOOOO rich. We enjoyed it very much and spent a lot of money. 

Came back to the hotel and dropped into bed, exhausted. I slept like a log. 

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