We are survivors!

 We are Survivors! The Sydney security line for Auckland departure 2HOURS! Auckland arrivals security queue - 1 hour. Couldn’t take any pictures- security would have hauled us in! Patience is a virtue flying through these countries!

We have been riding the bus or walking here in Aukland - our bus driver said we were the first foreigners he'd talked to from the US since before COVID.

Day 1 we hiked to the top of town and then followed the Lonely Planet walking tour back towards our hotel. Auckland has many parks and is really quite lovely. We stopped at the Art Museum then walked through the Albert Park with the Victoria and Albert statues and remarked that we should tell our grandkids to take a semester or a year here at Auckland's University which circles around the park area. We got sidetracked however when we reached Vulcan Lane and needing a rest succumbed to the siren call of pubs and beer. Vulcan Lane used to be the hangout of prostitutes and sailors we were told by the barkeep.

The next day we visited the Aukland Museum - or Aukland War Museum via bus. Aukland is just too hilly, and it was a bit of a hike. The museum has much of the history of New Zealand and many Māori artifacts. They also have a cultural show we paid to see. It was good... but truthfully, not as good as the one at the Waitangi Treaty grounds, but we wouldn't know that till the next day.

We'll return to Auckland at the end of our OAT trip, and hopefully visit the tower and go out to Devonport, an old Victorian suburb the book says to see.

Larry's clamoring for his computer, so I'll add pictures later when I can upload them. Hope all is well with you my friends!