Auckland

Today was my second official day in Auckland but the first day that I really got to see anything. My day started around 8:30 in the morning when I woke up refreshed and raring to go. No jet lag baby. All I do is win. Lol. After checking my email and seeing that my mommy had sent me multiple messages in response to my visa panic assuring me that I would be fine, I wandered out for the free breakfast that I forgot my hostel supplies. It was actually a pretty decent spread. There was cereal, three types of bread, peanut butter, jam, "spread" (not sure what it is exactly), eggs, ham, juice and milk. There was also free tea and coffee (available 24/7). I ate my 2 pieces of toast on the roof patio and enjoyed the 19 degree weather and sun. I then returned to my room and did some research for the day. I checked out banks (finally going with Bank of New Zealand), phone providers (2degrees seems to be the way to go), and a basic map of downtown Auckland.

When I finally ventured forth into the great city, it was about 10am. I promptly started wandering aimlessly figuring that I would find a bank and a phone provider shop at some point during the day. The first and possibly most impressive sight I came upon was an old cemetery/park about 2 blocks from my hostel. It was really quite beautiful in a tragic and uplifting way. The park is huge and covered in old monuments, tombstones, and gigantic trees. Upon exiting the park, I started walking down Symond Street in the hopes that I would eventually end up somewhere. I was lead right by the University of Auckland (an absolutely gorgeous campus covered in trees and old buildings). I think I'll go and explore it a little more tomorrow. Eventually I ended up in Albert Park, another huge park. However, this park was filled with plants and flowers instead of tombstones. After getting a touch turned around, I happened upon the Auckland Art Gallery who as luck would have it, was having a free day. There were quite a few pieces that caught my eye but the most notable was a clothes line with different articles of womens clothing hung on it. The clothing had all be dipped in something (I want to say tar cause that's what it looked like but it definitely wasn't). In anycase the clothing hung as though blowing in the wind but completely still. The whole thing was suspended so that you could walk under and look up into the pairs of underwear and the dresses that hung above. Very intriguing piece. Then, after getting turned around some more and thoroughly embarassing myself by accidently re-entering the same gallery without knowing and confusedly asking the guy at the reception desk if I had all ready been there (epic flail), I headed out and meandered through downtown. Downtown Auckland was busy and beautiful. There were anymore trees but all the shops were different, and a lot of the buildings had old style architecture that I love. Eventually I found my way to the harbour and enjoyed the gorgeous view across to some islands (I should really google to find out which ones I was looking at. Mental note #1). I continued to wander downtown and made it back to the hostel with no trouble at all. I was (and am) quite proud of myself for not getting lost. I'm terrible with directions and I really only referred to my map once. Booya! By the time I got back to my hostel it was about 5 in the evening and I was starving. I ran out to the local asian supermarket that is right beside my hostel and got a huge super for less than $5. I then spent the evening chatting with my hostelmates (one of which is a ridiculously cute boy from Holland. Score!). They have all been extremely helpful in giving me ideas of where to go, things to see (or not to see), and giving me tips about how to travel effectively. I hope to keep in touch with them and possible plan a day outing or two with the cute Dutch boy who just bought a car and a couple of the other peeps. We shall see what happens. I also started applying for jobs today. There are a couple nanny positions around the Auckland area and one on Waiheke Island that I would be very happy with. There was also an odd jobs position just outside of Auckland super close to a beach and a national parkish grounds. It sounds pretty decent. I'm hoping to hear from someone soon. For now though, I'm calling it a night.
Much love to all of you.
Julia