Danny Doolans

 

Walking around Auckland's viaduct was an experience that B and I had never done since It had been built many years ago. There was so much to see, so many restaurants/bars/cafes and it's the home of where the America's Cup was held. We looked around to see where we could eat lunch but most places had pricing for an entree over $40 NZD which is ridiculous.

 

We ended up finding an Irish bar/restaurant named Danny Doolans that was advertising a lunch special of $19.95 for steak, chips, gravy and vegetables of your choice so that to us was a great bargain.

 

This is the meal we were served in the end - it was huge for us, we never usually eat that  much and it tasted divine so next time we are up that way we will visit them again. Lucky for us while were were in Auckland for the first 3 days the weather was so warm, we were walking around in t-shirts.

Linking up with Tuesday Treasures and Happy Tuesdays.

Tuatara

I spotted this at Auckland Airport in the domestic terminal next to a bar. Tuatara Beer is well known here in New Zealand for it's hazy IPA beer and pale ales. 

A Tuatara is a rare lizard like reptile that exists nowhere else in the world.

Linking up with Mural Monday.

Zebra crossing

 

This week the letter from Tom is "Z" - there are many of these around New Zealand but this one was in Auckland City in an area/Daldy street that use to be mainly grass and fishing wharves. It amazed me to see how much it had changed, there are now apartment blocks everywhere.

Linking up with Weekend Reflections, Shadow Shot Sunday and The Weekend Roundup.

Nelson

 

On last Friday morning we left home for the 3 hour drive to Nelson Airport. When we left it was a mild 5 degrees celsius and as we travelled through Golden Downs and GlenHope, the temperature varied between 1 degree and 5 degree. We got stuck behind this logging truck at some point which reminded me of one of the "Final Destination" movies.

The arrangement was that B and I would drive to his sister's house as she lives in Nelson and she would drop us off at the airport. On the way there we couldn't believe the amount of traffic, I guess that's what happens when you live in a small town.

But once there, we logged in with our luggage and carry on baggage which was very very easy to do (random people in this photo).

B and I had a bit of a wander with our carry on luggage, Nelson Airport is not that large as it is only a domestic terminal (more random people in the photos).

And then we sat down to wait for our plane to board which ended up being about 20 minutes so not too bad. The flight was smooth and considering we had left home wearing double layers, by this stage we were sweltering as Nelson temperatures were about 15 degrees celsius. More photos to come...

Linking up with Skywatch Friday and Tom's Signs.

Family Reunion

 

After being a year in the planning, I met up with some immediately and extended family members for a reunion. This is only a small portion of people, there were many that couldn't come. There are some people that look like the Chinese side of the family and others that look like the Scottish side of the family. I'm standing up on the left and B is in front of me in the red sweatshirt. I'm thankful we all got to catch up after so many years.

But it's been a funny week so far. While we have been in Auckland I've heard one person while we were out and about saying how cold it is there. For us the warm sun and temperatures have been very warm compared to where we are in the South Island. Auckland at night has been 14 degrees celsius, in Greymouth it usually gets up to 13-14 degrees celsius during the day in Winter. The warmer go you up New Zealand, the warmer the temperatures are.

I have learned 3 things this week while on holiday:

• Auckland drivers are nowhere near as crazy as Greymouth drivers.
• Clothes that have been washed and put on hangers inside dry alot quicker than they do at home.
• I don't know how I managed raising 3 little ones under 5 years old when my children were growing up - my son and daughter in law are doing a fabulous job with my grand daughter, she wore me out after spending 1 day with her.

Linking up with Tuesday Treasures, Happy Tuesdays. and Thankful Thursdays. 

Yellow

 

Anyone my generation here in New Zealand and older will recognize the name "Hannah's" in regards to shoe stores. They use to be just about everywhere and were at one point the number 1 place to buy shoes. These days there are so many competitors around selling cheaper types of footwear but in Greymouth there is one store that is usually not that busy, sadly enough. 50% off sounds pretty good to me though...

Linking up with Weekend Reflections and The Weekend Roundup.

Coffee

 

Photo taken in Pukekohe, Auckland, November 2024.

Tomorrow B and I fly to Auckland. We are hoping to catch up with a good friend of B's who lives in Pukekohe, either that or we will have coffee in Auckland city as that's where he works. I am looking forward to finding a great cafe that has great coffee.

Linking up with Skywatch Friday and Tom's Signs.