May 25, 2015, Monday, Memorial Day, Aukland, NZ

We sailed into Aukland, relieved that the weather was calmer and we were allowed to dock, which was right near the center of the city.  We got on the Hop on Hop Off Bus, Blue Circle, which was $90 NZ.  That was all the NZ money we had leftover.  It was windy, and since it was their winter, the bus only came around every hour,  so we had to make our stops worthwhile.  We stopped at the Aukland Museum to see the Maori cultural show and Maori artifacts.  It was a bit pricey to see both since we only had one hour.  The first exhibit was very strange - a jumble of everyday items.  Then a children's wooded area, and then the Maori exhibit, which was mainly carved panels of long houses.  It reminded me of the Haida carvings.  There were faces on top of faces like totems as well.  The cultural show featured 4 men dressed in traditional garb and three women.  They sang beautifully their songs and performed dances which were very professional, using war sticks and the bollo balls for the women.  They mentioned the Maori came from Hawaiki.  They did not know if it was Hawaii or Polynesia.  It could have been both.  Very interesting.  They used large threatening eyes and tongue sticking out for intimidation of their enemies.  This is similar to other cultures, but also just makes sense.

Sailing into Aukland

Maori cultural performance

We were able to get back on the bus within the hour and our next stop was the Sky Tower.  It was $44 NZ for us to go to the 51 observation floor.  You could also go to a cafe, or even fly off of it attached to straps and ropes you slide down.  We saw one person do it.  It cost over $220 NZ.

It was a clear day and we could see all around the bay and city.

View of tower

View towards bridge

View towards an extinct volcano hill

View towards the harbor and our boat

view directly down and at the sky diver landing site

The Tepid Bath building

Coffe shop

America's Cup boats docked by the maritime museum and America's Cup launching site

Julie Cassidy and Robin, Professors, friends, and residents of Aukland who met us for lunch.

Our lunch restaurant is at one of the world's largest yachting areas

Roger drove us across that bridge to get this view of the city from the navy headquarters.

Another view across the bay

David and Julie Cassidy.  Although Julie is a tax law professor, she has a great interest in indigenous rights as a scholar.  She has published artilcles about the subject.  She told us that Australia has an appaling track record in the treatment of aboriginal people there, even to this day.  She moved to New Zealand a few years ago where the policies are more progressive.  She and David met in Alaska when she was researching many years ago.

We returned to the ship and warmed up before our evening's entertainment who was Vincenzo, a Spanish guitarist whom we both believe we have seen before but don't remember when or where.  It turns out he was a guest performer in Waimea at a Hawaiian music concert featuring Jeff Peterson and other well known Hawaiian guitarists.  He told us he was quite honored to have performed there and really enjoyed Hawaii.