Monday January 11

Today is my last day in NZ. It's been a great seven weeks; being in this climate has surely been good for my well-being.

We've been staying at Rosemary's sister's (Gendy) home in Auckland. Gendy and John have been so good to us. They've driven us around, given us the royal tour over two days of their beautiful city. We saw One Tree Hill, Mount Eden, Mount Wellington . . . . all are volcanoes, and are only 3 of the 50 (yes fifty) volcanoes within Auckland. (www.aucklandnz.com)

When we came into Auckland last Thursday, I spent the afternoon at the Maritime Museum. Part of the admission fee covered an hour's sail in a large sailing boat. It had been restored or rebuilt on the plans of a vessel that had previously carried logs along the coast. The day was fine, though not hot, and it was so good to be in the salt air. I've been away from the West Coast of North America for 35 years, and I still miss the salt air. See the photo for Maritime Me.

Within the museum were a number of entire boats from many eras of NZ history, including the outrigger canoes on which the Maoris immigrated from other parts of Polynesia about 1000 years ago; smaller fishing and war canoes, and the entire “Black Magic” racing sail boat on which Sir Peter Blake won the America's Cup for NZ. Also included was a replica of a ship's hold, including the bunks on which families slept when they immigrated to NZ as steerage passengers. Whew – tight!!! see www.maritimemuseum.co.nz

Then, strolled along the Viaduct, where I saw millions of dollars worth of sea-going sailboats. They were registered from as far away as Jersey (UK?) and Cayman Islands, though that might have been for tax purposes. John tells me that some of the well-to-do put their yachts in the holds of cargo ships, and send them to NZ that way, rather than have someone sail them around the world. Hmm – Could I ever learn to be that wealthy?? I'll have to buy some winning lottery tickets in order to find out.

Had a wonderful last supper last night at a pub in Devenport – Mussels, fixed however you like them. Mine were steamed with lemon and cilantro. Yumm – we surely have eaten well here. See the photo for a look of pure joy.

Well, off we go on the next to the last leg of our journey. We fly from Auckland to Honolulu tomorrow; overnite there, then on to Ottawa via Vancouver, and home on Wednesday.

Au revoir.