No Worries!

We are loving Auckland--so incredibly accessible. After Japan, which we both loved but found the lack of English rather limiting, Auckland is GREAT, friendly and familiar. I've already joined the gym and city library, both about a 5-minute walk from our apartment. The parks are so amazing, green, gorgeous and full of interesting trees/plants. Albert Park is right across the street and the Domain (huge park area with lots of paths, green meadows, huge gnarly trees, Auckland War Memorial Museum, Wintergarden hothouses, duck ponds and gardens) just minutes away.

Our new home on campus--153-year old Old Government House--our corner apt. is in the right hand corner of the upper floor

Our apartment is quite large, 2 bedrooms and a spacious living/dining room, fully equipped kitchen and free laundry facilities in the building. The bottom floor of the House is open to the public and has meeting rooms and a cafe. The other night there was an art exhibit opening which we missed--I think we were grocery shopping (2-minute drive away).

Of course, a 153-year old building has its charm...and its challenges: the windows rattle, the floors creak, the stairway is musty and the hot water in the shower is only a trickle (checked with the plumber, "Sorry, Mate, but that's the way it is with these old buildings, ya know?" No worries! We absolutely love it and are very comfortable.

This is our jungle-like view from our apt. and there's our car

Albert Park, across the street from the campus


Flowers in Albert Park

Sky Tower, the dominant building in downtown Auckland


The wide open meadows/glades of the Domain


One path into the Domain


The Wintergarden--19th c.

Flowers in the Wintergarden hothouse


War Memorial Museum built in 1929


View of Auckland Harbor from the museum


Gnarly, gno?


Mama duck and her ducklings at the Duck Pond

The harbor is about a 15-minute walk from our apt. and has loading docks and ferries to nearby islands. We are anxious to get into our car and drive outside Auckland and see beaches, go hiking and EXPLORE. Even though people say the south island has the most amazing dramatic scenery, there is also lots and lots to see in the north island, too. We plan on lots of weekend excursions.

Miles is very excited about doing research at The Bioengineering Institute at the U of Auckland. He gave a seminar on Wed. and is already involved in new projects. Since it's summer time here and school is not in session, he won't be teaching.

Oh yeah...driving on the left side of the road is...challenging. I tried it for the first time yesterday and I kept turning on the wipers instead of the turn signal. We have a stick shift, too, which adds to the mix. Everything seems backwards to my instincts and we were only honked at a couple of times for "misbehaving". We'll either land in jail or the hospital.