It's dubbed the City of Sails, and with good reason

Day 27

Two tugboats guided us into the harbor, defying the punishing winds that threatened to slam the ship into the docks. Fascinating to watch. Picture below. 

Auckland has a kinetic waterfront with some of the most magnificent yachts and sailboats I've ever seen. No surprise, it's got the largest marina in the Southern Hemisphere. It's home to the America's Cup and of course cricket and rugby. It's a very sporty city. And has some of the best restaurants I've eaten at in a long time (yes, that includes you, New York and San Francisco)!

No less than fifty-three volcanic cones pop up in Auckland and in its waters, many of them now hilly islands with astonishing eco-diversity. 

The diversity of the people is tremendous. Maori culture continues to be increasingly integrated into New Zealand culture and politics. Maori is an official language of New Zealand along with English and, get this...New Zealand sign language!  

If New Zealand was a person, she would be a kind and loving one (and athletic).

Rain, which has been the mainstay of our trip so far, continued (ugh), but didn't stop us from enjoying Auckland. 

Speaking of which, a few days before we docked, extensive floods ravaged the city - floods Auckland hadn't seen in decades (or perhaps at least a century, maybe more). 

The same punishing winds that thrust us into Auckland were responsible for us skipping Waitangi, home of the Waitangi Treaty signed between the British and the Maori in 1841. But we visited on our last cruise, so I will post pictures from 2019. 

Stay tuned. 

Meanwhile, enjoy Auckland. 

Tug boat at front of ship guiding us to the dock

One of the magnificent yachts at the harbor 

Scene from a Haka, a traditional Maori dance performance on the ship. Haka may seem like a warrior dance but it isn't. The protruding tongue and bulging eyes are a scare of potential threats to one's family. Therefore, a sign of love and protection.

Us at the waterfront the first night - we spent 3 days and 3 nights in Auckland. Matt wants to move here. 

Auckland by night - top to bottom: view from the ship the first night, the ship on our last night on the walk back from dinner at Cafe Hanoi (fab Vietnamese restaurant), the Ferry terminal, and the Sky Tower

Approaching Davenport on the ferry from Auckland - it's a little village a 10-minute ferry ride away 

Close-up of approach to Davenport 

In Davenport where the Automatic Telephone Exchange is a bakery

And where the Post Office is a cafe

Little alleyway in Davenport

Approaching Auckland from Davenport

Railway Station in Auckland

Pottery Murals on building (sorry about that van) in Auckland

The Occidental - A Belgian beer house on Vulcan Lane - charming and historic street in Auckland

Auckland insists you maintain the Victorian facade if you want to re-build. Example of a modern skyscraper with an old Victorian facade. Several of these around the city

Destruction of the recent floods (on the grounds of the Auckland War Memorial Museum). We didn't go inside this time. We did in 2019 (some artifacts from the Museum in pictures below). 

The Wintergarden on the grounds of the Auckland War Memorial Museum

Lunching on the waterfront - giant calamari and nectarine salad (above). 

Matt making a funny face for the camera 

The Marina - view from a bus 

View from Batch Winery on Waiheke Island (excellent food and wine)

Oneroa Beach view from the main drag in Oneroa village on Waiheke Island (a 40 minute ferry ride from Auckland). Hilly island with beaches. 

Artifacts from the Auckland War Memorial Museum (2019). From top to bottom: Maori Meeting House replica, prow of a canoe carved by a Maori chief, a canoe considered sacred by the Maori. 

Matt with a Haka performer at the Auckland War Memorial Museum (2019)

Views from the Sky Tower (2019). We didn't go up this time.