Saying goodbye to the Southern Hemisphere

After six months in the most amazing parts of the world we must sadly say goodbye to the southern hemisphere. These sandals, and the feet in them, have rocked up many miles, and we've enjoyed every one of them, no matter how steep, rocky, slippery, muddy or scary!

We explored Auckland on Saturday, it's an interesting place, sitting behind a working port on the harbour so it certainly doesn't look pretty. We found ourselves in a redeveloped area near the fish Market which was very industrial, not 'beautified' but retaining some of the areas history. Then we walked along Karangahape Road, a more edgy area where we had a leisurely lunch.


On Saturday night we decided that, if you can't beat 'em, join 'em and got stuck in with the crowds in the bars. We stumbled on a brilliant band in a bar, had a great meal and found the perfect merlot!! Needless to say, at 2 am the noise outside didn't bother us!!!

I woke up, late, to breakfast in bed! Wow!

I had a perfect birthday, a lie-in, followed by a 3 hour lunch in a beautiful harbour side upmarket restaurant, where the food was sublime:

Green-lipped mussels in a chorizo, tomato and garlic sauce

Pan-fried John Dory on spinach with a pumpkin sauce

Seafood risotto with pomegranate seeds

Avocado, cucumber and green leaf salad.

Yumm! We shared a chilled bottle of Sauvignon blanc.








Thank you for all the e-mails with the lovely, and not so, 50th birthday wishes and to those of you who posted on Facebook, you know I'm rubbish with that. I think perhaps a little party is in order when we get home....





We found some quirky little back streets with lots of street art as we stumbled around in the afternoon sunshine. Even after six months in flat sandals Annie can still find some heels that fit!





On Monday we caught the ferry to Davenport, a very genteel suburb with pretty special houses, a great cafe culture and several extinct volcanoes.





We are about to become time travellers. Our flight to Los Angeles leaves Auckland at 1510 on 28th Feb and arrives at 0635 on the 28th Feb some 8 hours or so before we set off!! Then, after spending so many months in front of UK time we will be behind it. Just thinking about it makes Jim's brain hurt.

Thanks for sticking with us so far, hope to see you again in California.


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Location:Queen Street, Auckland, New Zealand