Auckland Endings and fantasies of Real Coffee

Trip Start May 21, 2007

Trip End Jun 04, 2007

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Flag of New Zealand Auckland, New Zealand
Monday, June 4, 2007

Happy Queen's Birthday to the Kiwis! I have no idea why Australia and New Zealand can't celebrate the Queen's Birthday on the same day, but I guess they've just got to be different. (Australia does not celebrate until next weekend...) On top of that, apparently Queen Elizabeth II's actual birthday is on April 21 so who knows why they celebrate TWO more times ( in June, of all months...), but I guess the Queen can have as many birthdays as her Majesty's heart desires.

My friends and I drove up to Mount Eden ( near downtown Auckland) today. Amazing Views!!!!! Mount Eden is near the Coast-to-coast walkway and is a tremendous example of Auckland's volcanic past. There is an enormous CRATER there created by a volcano many, many years ago. Afterward, we drove to Skytower which can be seen high above Auckland. We had lunch there and walked around a bit before heading back to the Howick area where I was staying

A bittersweet departure

. I walked around the neighborhood a little bit in the afternoon...today's my last day in New Zealand and I want to memorize all the little details of life here before I have to go away again.

The best way to really know a place is to walk it.

Around 6 p.m., I had some lemon and ginger tea along with crackers and edam cheese while I watched "Ultimate Millionaire", the NZ/European verson of America's "Who Wants To Be a Millionaire." Not surprisingly, in THEIR version, the trivia questions are actually challenging... unlike the ridiculously watered down American version. I prefer "Ultimate"...if they aired it in the USA, I might actually watch it. At least, we still have Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune which still require some semblance of mind-power.

Sadly, I headed to Auckland's airport...said goodbye to New Zealand and tried to mentally prepare myself for the 13 + hour flight home. It makes me feel like I'm on the plane for days... I took a 747 - 400 plane back to L.A. It was a HUGE double-decker plane!!! I've never been in a plane that massive. How the hell does it get up in the air?? I decided not to put much thought into that while we were still in the air...

I'd love to stay in NZ... at the airport, I even jokily asked, "If I don't pay my departure fee, will they let me stay in New Zealand?" I guess people at airports don't have senses of humor because there was a lengthy silence and then only I laughed. Airport workers must see so many disheveled travelers along the way that they are probably desensitized to real human connection. Oh, well. I thought it was funny...

One big thing I'm looking forward to about being back in the U.S.?
Answer: Real Coffee ground in my coffee mill at home. Can't wait...

Auckland hotels Slideshow