Limited Posting

Unfortunately, my BlackBerry doesn't have e-mail or Internet access, so our posting during this trip will be limited. The phone on the BlackBerry does work as does my personal phone and the corresponding text messaging feature. The last two posts were made via text message, but I wasn't sure until today whether they actually transmitted.


Naturally, my text message posts will be more abbreviated since I don't have a QWERTY keyboard. I don't have the patience to scroll through numerous letters to form sentences. So look for fuller updates when we are back and/or if we find time to connect to the Internet at our various hotels as I didn't bring my laptop either.


So, with those disclaimers, on to our travel updates...


We're still in Auckland for a couple more hours before heading over to Waiheke Island via a 30- to 40-minute ferry ride. We're staying at The Boatshed--a bit of a splurge, but I couldn't resist the cute little boatshed accommodations. There are only 3 boatsheds, 1 lighthouse room and 1 bridge suite, so it's a very intimate little place.


The weather here is in the mid 60s Fahrenheit and very breezy. It's been sunny most of the day with intermittent spurts of rain. Apparently, that's very common. We've spent the past two days walking through the city center. As you'd expect with an urban area, there are plenty of American standards--Starbucks, McDonald's, Borders, etc., but there's a university nearby, so that provided fun people watching. Gray and black are certainly the colors of choice here.


Amidst our walking around, we visited Sky Tower, which was an easy way to check out the city from all angles and to rest our weary feet. We didn't partake in the bungy jumping. The height alone was all the thrill I needed.


Yesterday, our day began with a visit to Kelly Tarlton's Antarctic Encounter. It's essentially an aquarium and was a good way to spend a couple of hours yesterday although it's certainly very small compared to what we've visited elsewhere especially the Georgia Aquarium in our own backyard. But there were penguins and sea turtles, which certainly kept us amused for a bit. Kelly Tarlton's is located on Mission Bay, which is a very beautiful neighborhood (what little we saw of it) with gorgeous homes located on a hillside overlooking a blue-green bay filled with sail boats and a clear view of the city center (and its skyscrapers and Sky Tower). We took a cab there from our hotel (the Auckland Hilton), which is very conveniently located on the waterfront in the city center. It's made walking and catching buses (and soon a ferry) a breeze.


After taking a bus back to the city center from the aquarium yesterday, we visited the Ponsonby neighborhood, which is very cute--lots of Victorian houses and bungalows and a long street (Ponsonby) lined with clothing and housewares shops as well as bars and restaurants. It's a bit like Virginia-Highland, but more upscale like Buckhead or Midtown.


We ate at the Belgian Beer Cafe yesterday, which is essentially at the top of the hill and then strolled along Ponsonby popping in and out of stores and window shopping. We've been content to do much of nothing as we adjust to the time difference. I have slept quite a bit although I haven't felt much jet lag when I've been awake. Scott, on the other hand, was rather foggy headed yesterday, but seems to have acclimated today.


Well, that's about it for now. Look for further updates soon.