Today the ship arrived at 8 AM at Auckland, New Zealand. Auckland is one of the loveliest cities in the world. Many of the volcanoes that formed the terrain of the area are now grassy , hilly parks. The Maori settlement in th eAuckland area date from as early as 1350 AD. However, tribal wars and epidemics ravaged the settlements and by 1840, when the Europeans came to settle here, the area was almost deserted. Today, as New Zealand's largest city, Auckland has a population of around one million, over a quarter of all New Zealanders, and is also the "big city" for the Polynesian Islands of the South Pacific. So many islanders from New Zealand's Pacific neighbors have moved to Auckland that it now has the largest concentration of Polynesians in the world, and more recently it has been attracting immigrants from Asia as well. Sprawling between two large harbors and home to many boats, Auckland is nicknamed the "City of Sails".
I had scheduled a tour called "Auckland's Wine Trail" but I had to cancel the tour because the ship scheduled an appointment for me at the Auckland Ice Clinic ". After I got on the ship I found out that I did not have good eye site out of my left eye. I thought it was a cataract but I wanted it checked out so I left in a cab and 8:15 AM for my appointment at 8:40 AM. I saw the doctor and he verified that I had a cataract in my left eye but no other problems. He said that the removal of the cataract could wait until I got home in May.
I got back to the ship at about 10 AM and I waited until my eyes sight came back before I left the ship. At 12 Noon, I jumped on the on-off bus that left in front of the ship. My first stop was at the Kelly Tarltons Sea Life Aquarium. I spent an hour at the Aquarium and to back on the bus with my next stop at the Parnell Rose Gardens where I took some pictures and 1/2 hour latter I got back on the bus and stopped for 1/2 hour at the Holy Trinity Cathedral as well as St. Mary's, the former Cathedral Church. At the Auckland Museum, I transferred to another bus. I did not get off this bus and 1 hour later I got back to the Auckland Museum. Because of a time constraint, I did not have time to view the Museum so I jumped on the other bus and rode it back to the location of the ship.
After dinner the show was put on buy a group dressed in traditional Maori costumes that danced and showed us some of the traditions of the Maori people.
Below are some pictures from the first day in Auckland.
This picture was taken from the ship of Auckland.
This picture was taken from the bus of some of the many sail boats in Auckland.
This picture was taken from the bus.
This is a picture of the hop-on hop-off Bus.
This picture was taken at the Kelly Tarltons Sea Life Aquarium of Captain Robert Scott 1911 Antarctic hut.
This picture was taken at the Aquarium of the penguin colony display.
This picture was taken at the aquarium of a stingray.
This picture was taken at the aquarium.
This picture was taken outside the aquarium of the most expensive housing area in Auckland.
This picture of Auckland was taken outside of the aquarium.
This picture was taken at the Parnell Ross Garden.
This picture was taken at the Parnell Rose Garden.
This is a picture of St. Mary's, the formal Cathedral Church.
This is a picture of Holy Trinity Cathedral.
This is a picture of the interior of Holy Trinity Cathedral.
This is a picture of the interior of St. Mary's.
This is a picture of a house taken on the tour.
This is a picture of the Auckland Museum.
I took this picture from the bus of the Auckland Sky Tower.
This is a picture of the Ferry Building with the ship in the background.
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