Wednesday the 1st was a lackluster day; blustery, rainy, and sunny periods came and went in rapid succession. It became a good day to clean the cottage and pack for the long weekend before going to the office for the afternoon.  Today (Thursday the 2nd) is another good looking day.  After this morning's session, I am off to Auckland where I will find a room and pick up Kathryn tomorrow morning.

Then we get to play tourist.  The plan is for a three day weekend in and around Auckland with the village of Devonport as home base.  We have been to Devonport before.  It is a weekend destination for Aucklanders, filled with interesting shops and clever restaurants.  Although across the bay from the city, ferries run often to connect the two.

My research has found a couple of Mexican restaurants in the city that are well reviewed.  I cannot wait for that too.

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We've been busy!  The drive to Auckland airport on Thursday afternoon was pretty.  As I had extra time on my hands and no desire to sit in a motel room, I took a detour to explore some areas I'd found online.  I left the motorway at Papkura, drove through the tiny village of Clevedon, past the bay front town of Maraetai, through a quaint village of Howick, on to Half Moon Bay and then to the airport. See Map of route

Temple

Half Moon Bay

Temple

Saturday was busy. 

After breakfast, we walked to the ferry, took it to Waiheke Island (picture left), toured the island, and returned to Auckland. Lunch at a pseudo-Mexi place, a walk up Queen St., through Vulcan Alley and on to Albert Park.  Returned to Devonport to pick up the car and made for Gulf Harbour.  It is a planned community around a marina.  Upon return, we went to the store for provisions and had a picnic in the B&B before turning in early.

Devonport

Devonport

Auckland from Devonport

Waiheke Island

Maraetai

Sunday we went to the Sunday Market in Takapuna, a town a few kilometers north of Devonport and right on the water.  It is full of scores of vendors offering spices, veggies, honey, clothes, antiques, and books.  We settled on some produce, some honey direct from the beekeeper, and some lemon curd for our toast.

Lastly, we went to the museum in Auckland Domain, a huge urban park, and then on to Mt. Eden for a Chinese lunch.  I went to this restaurant last year but was so sick only soup sounded good.  But I noticed that I was the only non-Asian in the place - a stamp of good, authentic eats.  The same held true on Sunday and the food was great.

All Picture- Museum in Domain. Four Maori exhibits.

The morning starts off fine after quite the storm last night.  Hopefully the dreadful weather is gone for a while.  The news lately has been equally unsettled.  Two days back, an article talked about the predicted fall of the Kiwi with a bottom in 2013 at about $.52 USD.  That's going to make imports pretty dear but farmers should be happy.  Then today, the projection is for real estate prices to fall 25% off their highs; many areas are already 10% off.  It goes on to state that will be followed by price stability not appreciation.  This financial malaise that began in the states will spread to the world.  And, in my opinion, this bailout will do little but slow the pending crash.  This is far from over.

Been busy!  Last weekend we took an extra day off and headed to Wellington and then Napier in Hawke's Bay.  Neither of us had been to the capital city of Wellington and it lived up to my good friend Larry's review- it was a lively cosmopolitan city.  We had a B&B across the bay from downtown in Lowry Bay of the Eastbourne side.  After checking in with our hosts Pam and Forde on Friday, we headed into the city for dinner and a play. 

Saturday morning we started with a short drive and hike to a view point above the B&B that took in the entire bay.

Then into the city.  The Botanical Gardens always trap me and this one was especially fascinating.

Next was lunch on the funky Cuba Mall.  The area is a Mecca for the university students just blocks away and the aging hippie/bohemian community.  Tons of restaurants offering everything under the sun; Indian was our choice. 

Next was a tour of Parliament where we were able to stand on the floor of the Member's Chamber as Parliament is adjourned until after the November 8 elections. 

Then we walked to the stadium for the quarter-final match between Wellington and Taranaki for the Air New Zealand Cup. Sadly, my home town boys lost but played well. 

Finally, we returned to the other side of the bay for dinner at a bayside restaurant and had a nice bottle of wine from Hawke's Bay.  That last tidbit becomes relevant.

Sunday we went for a motor around Sommes Island in the middle of the bay, saw a couple blue penguins, and Forde landed a fish which he smoked back at the B&B for a pre-departure snack.  We parted with hugs and headed for Napier in Hawke's Bay.

Our B&B, Hawk Hill, overlooked the estuary, airport, coast and Napier from a rural area ten minutes out of town.  As usual, it was immaculate, the hosts engaging and sincerely friendly, and a real find. Click on the three pictures below for a bigger view. 

For dinner, I had to return to Speight's Ale House in the marina area of Ahuriri for lamb liver in brown mushroom gravy.  I've had a taste for that plate for a year now. Sooooooooo good.

Monday we headed into Napier, toured the neighborhoods of Hospital Hill and Bluff Hill, walked the Botanical Garden, and took in the view from the Bluff Overlook. 

After wandering past the shops downtown on Emerson St., we had lunch outside at a cafe.

The afternoon was for wine tasting at Moana Park, the winery producing the bottle from the dinner in Eastbourne.  Except for five minutes, we were the only people there, talking to the owner and trying seven or eight wines.  The last taste was the port which was yet not available.  But, Dan, the owner, said if we wanted to go next door, we could make up a bottle.  Of course we did!  Dan uncorked two barrels and told us to pick our favorite.  He then siphoned off some, filling the bottle which Kathryn corked.

Dinner was at an Indian Restaurant in downtown Napier that I have eaten at several times and Kathryn and I tried almost three years ago.  It rarely has any customers, although people come and go with takeaways, but has great food.  Times must be tough as the owner is no longer working the floor but is now manning the kitchen.

Tuesday was time to turn towards home. Another trip through neighborhoods, another chocolate croissant and it was time to head out. We headed to Lake Taupo destined for a horse trek.  Two hours up and down the hills of a 3000 acre working farm that produces cattle, milk, pheasant, horses, and some crops too.  I'm still sore.

We finished the day taking the Forgotten Highway into Stratford.  Amazing views, a tough drive including 17 kilometers of gravel through a gorge.  Worth doing. Once.