Yoo 445 - NZ...Auckland

And thus begins our north island journeyings. We skipped playing tourist in Auckland. Greg lived there for the better part of two years while he was serving his mission and just wanted to visit people.

But we did ride a city bus! Can't cross a place off your list until you've had to use public transit at least once, is my rule. At least I made it the rule to justify what turned into a 4-hour ordeal that I'm going to not talk about. I love my husband.

It was actually quite fun meeting some of the people he served for so long...though I never did get used to all the cheek kissing.

Or grilled spaghetti and cheese sandwiches?

 ^^ i'm not part of the family's inside joke...but i still had to get a picture ;-)

The second day we were there we got a rental car and drove around while my Greggerly narrated his past life.

"I wrecked my bike up here....that curb...right there."

"One time I found $2...there."

"I used to live in that flat. Wait, the one behind that one."

"There are lights here now?? That would have been nice."

"I got stuck at the light and left behind here."

I think you get the point. It was a rousing guided tour if I've ever been on one! :-P

But really, he was tickled to be back there and show me around so that made it worth every second. Even if we didn't get to walk around the top of Sky Tower...

 ^^ our anthem for the next year...

 ^^ i love these trees...star branches!

 ^^ super yum icecream...

 ^^ disclaimer: we did not eat that whole half-gallon

 ^^ i grew quite fond of this store

Fast forward a week to our last stop in Auckland before we flew home. That last morning we set out to walk up One Tree Hill and say goodbye to New Zealand. There are dozens of volcanic peaks around the city, and it's one of them. Though there's not actually a tree on top of the hill anymore. There's a long history of trees, one at a time, making a landmark there. But they each got chainsawed at some point or another by various disgruntled individuals/groups. Yadda yadda yadda...U2 wrote a song about the hill. And there's a big monument up top.

 ^^ and sheep, because it's new zealand

 ^^ a rooster

 ^^ his girly across the street...fact, the chicken did not cross the road for the rooster on the other side

On the way to Tauranga...Paeroa. Home of L&P soda. It was discovered/created near Paeroa and the Gregdude is crazy about this stuff. You can only get it in certain places not including the United States, so it's one of his New Zealand "things".

 ^^ lemon trash can

The technicals: After a couple days in Auckland, we drove south on the 1 and then southwest on the 2 to Tauranga. That was 203 twisty kilometers past dozens of kiwi orchards. And a giant soda bottle.

Have a great day :-)