Auckland, Second Day

On our second day in Auckland, our excursion tour included a visit to Hobbiton. There is so much to say about Hobbiton that it will be covered separately in the next post.

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The iconic Sky Tower.

https://www.skycityauckland.co.nz/sky-tower/

Our guide said that Auckland is larger than Los Angeles in area, but that all of New Zealand is smaller than Nevada.

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He said the ratio of sheep to people in New Zealand is six to one. There are between 27-30 million sheep.

Here, our van stopped as a flock crossed the street.

Sheep stopage

It was a bit strange to see so many Christmas decorations everywhere in a place that’s in the middle of summer…

Angel

Santa on building

Santa deer

Many lights

…but then again, it’s normally sunny and snowless in Los Angeles at Christmastime.

At the Auckland Art Gallery was this eye-catching collection of “dream houses,” made of cardboard and paper. Patrons were encouraged to make their own.

Dream houses 1

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Dream houses 3

Of all the dream houses on display, this one was one of the cutest.

Bear hug house

https://www.aucklandartgallery.com/whats-on/exhibition/from-pillars-to-posts-project-another-country

We saw tongue-in-cheek (British influenced?) humor in many business signs:

Lord of the Fries

This was outside a fast-food shop. And the following was at the Waitomo Caves Homestead entrance.

Homestead humor

An english accent riddle: If a New Zealander said to you, “You had tween tee fash N chops this month” — what did he just say?

Translation: You had twenty fish and chips this month.

4 thoughts on “Auckland, Second Day

  1. So entertaining! I always felt strange around Christmastime when I lived in Hawaii after having lived in Ohio and Michigan for the first 20 years of my life. And you’re right, Los Angeles feels a bit strange at Christmastime as well, although at least it’s actually winter here, not summer, as in the southern hemisphere!

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