Recently in Auckland Category

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We finally arrived in Auckland in the late afternoon. Our hotel was lovely, if a bit unexpected. The Langham Hotel is veddy, veddy much in the old British style, stately and serene with butlers galore to take care of you. We heard that this is where former president Clinton stays when he visits Auckland, ostensibly for the fly-fishing. Our tour guide claimed it was because the red-light district is just a couple blocks away, and therefore most convenient for "Billy-boy".

We happily bade Christchurch farewell and flew off to Rotorua. Rotorua is a special place. Not only is it scenic, but it's also quite aromatic, and not in a good way. Rotorua and its environs are the home to a lot of volcanic activity, which produces a lot of not-so-lovely sulfuric odor. Hard-boiled eggs, anyone?

Thank You! to John, Dave and Jerry who joined me at the Symonds Street Starbucks. It was very nice to meet you all.

I'm sorry there's no group shot, but in addition to not all being there at the same time, my "camera person" had elected to sleep in that morning.

And for the record, while 3 attendees in New Zealand is less than the 4 with whom I met in Australia, I feel the need to point out that on a per capita basis, New Zealand was better represented.

Not that New Zealand and Australia ever compete in anything, of course.

I was expecting not to be too impressed with Auckland. Not sure why, just didn't expect to be.