Hello Auckland!

We're here!

We left Vancouver at 12:05 p.m. October 31st and arrived in Los Angeles on time at 2:45 pm. We had 4 hours to kill until our flight to Auckland. Great flight to Auckland on the largest airplane we have travelled on....at least a million people...oh, alright, so I embellish....it "seemed" like a million people. We do believe Air New Zealand is by far the most efficient and friendly airline we have experienced to date. Everyone was boarded and seated for take-off in half an hour and we took off on time. The crew was simply amazing and filled with good humour.

I fell asleep right after dinner and managed to get about 7 hours while Bob felt he only dozed (which I assume to be true since he didn't awaken me with his thunderous snores).

We had a great conversation with an American who told us he had immigrated to New Zealand because he was fed up with his government. He just can't take it any more. His wife and child will join him next March. Big move for the family. Very interesting views on what is happening in the U.S. at the moment.

Arrived in Auckland at 6 a.m. November 2nd, and we were at the hotel by 7:30 a.m. Our first impression of N.Z. from the air and land is that it is very green. Beautiful mountains and lush vegetation.

We slept for 4 hours then got up and walked for a couple of hours, had lunch (Indian) then stumbled upon (of all things), a winery! Fancy Bob and Sharon finding a winery...within 5 hours of planting our feet on the ground! The nose knows!!!

The winery, Villa Maria, is nestled in the hills on the edge of the city and there is a beautiful winding driveway through the vineyard and to the buildings. A Land Rover pulled up beside us and we were offered a ride. Turns out that Peter is the Hospitality Manager and he told us a bit of the history as we drove. He turned us over to the Cellar Manager, James, who gave us a wine tasting of 6 (yes SIX) of their international award winners. They are sold in Canada so look for the name Villa Maria.

We bought a few bottles for the camper trip. I figure that if I have to submit to driving on the wrong side of the road with Bob driving from the wrong side of the vehicle, I'd better have a stash of good wine for the end of each day.

We walked back to the hotel and are just about to find a nice restaurant.

Tomorrow - downtown Auckland on the Hop On Hop Off tour.

Sharon