New Zealand #4 -- February 12

Today was very interesting but also disappointing. We started out with a tour of the Kelly Tarleton Underwater Experience. We had been there before but it was still interesting. The Scott Antarctic expedition display is fascinating and I could have spent more time watching the video of them trying to get their ship through the ice. Eg they were sawing big blocks of ice then pushing them aside so the ship could go through the opening they made. We also saw the King penguins which we hadn't seen in Antarctica. There is a display of sharks which swim around you. The place is made from old sewage tubes which used to pour the city's sewage right into the harbour. Auckland was the first city in the world to stop doing that (Victoria still is???). And we saw a young lady feeding the sting rays. She showed us the size of the stinger!!! Wow. It's at least 10" long. I swam with them in Bora Bora but assumed the stingers were off. Not so as there is no point. They just regrow. Our tour was a bit rushed but doable.

Then it was off to the Auckland museum where we had less than an hour! We could spend a whole day in there! The tour guides took about 10 of us each and hit the high spots which of course were very interesting -- Moari history, artifacts, canoes, etc. I wanted to see the Wearable Art display but not even a minute to go in that section. I had seen Wendie's pictures so knew what was in there. Sigh. They have clothes (which actually get worn in a fashion show) made of things like wood, feathers, zap straps, etc. Very out of this world costumes.

Then it was a bus ride out of town (west) where we had a lovely lunch at a winery. The dessert was pavlova which I especially love. (Small piece!!) I must try making it again when I get home.

We then went to the Gannet colony at Muriwai Beach. Bruce had taken us there many years ago. Found out that they are related to the Boobies from further north. The birds were there by the hundreds -- with their babies as this is a nesting spot. Apparently a few years ago they were down to just over 100 pairs and miraculously they have bounced back and there are now thousands. Smelly place! Muriwai Beach has black sand and is really long -- I think she said 65 km. On one section a pile of surfers were playing.

Later: Today was our 16th anniversary and fittingly we were supposed to have this wonderful dinner in the Sky City revolving restaurant. Well, it was hordoerves first for two hours from 7 to 9. As you can imagine we were starving so everyone ate way too many canapes so by suppertime we weren't hungry and not many people did justice to the exceptional meal. Don and I had the soup and a light dessert. No main course. We finished dinner at about 11 pm with our wake-up call coming tomorrow morning at 6 am. Ouch. But it was lovely seeing Auckland from so high up and watching it gradually get dark and all the lights coming on.