Auckland

Auckland International Airport welcomes you to Middle Earth

The charming and quaint City of Sails, nestled between the Waitemata and Manukau Harbours, where the bus driver went out of her way (literally) to help me figure out where I was going and where a tour of the Maori artwork at the War Memorial Museum unexpectedly reminded me of the story poles of the First Nations peoples of the Pacific Northwest…

aka, the place where I realized that I left my camera battery and charger on the other side of the Pacific Ocean.

Pitiful attempt to capture the show on my camera phone.
You can’t even see how hot the guy on the left is. 😦

Oops.

I feel like Auckland and I went on a speed date and I definitely want to see it again.

But as lovely, light and sweet as it was, I had promises to keep and miles to go before I sleep…ed.

I teared up when we touched down.
Immediately.
Like a reflex.

And then again when I made it through Customs (which was a total breeze I couldn’t believe how easy it was).

After all these years, all the planning, all the work, the nagging and the doubt and the wondering if I was ever really going to do it…it actually happened.

I was here.

Alright, Australia.
Let’s do this.