Day two here in Auckland came somewhat of a surprise. I was supposed to be in a seminar for the next three days with no wine and no contact with friends but I mixed up my days as apparently most due and arrived a day early in NZ. Instead I visited the Zoo which is world reknowned for it's breeding of endangered species and saw quite the spectacle. White Rhinos, Red Pandas, Kiwis, Gibbons and more. Should have a video posted shortly of the Gibbons screeching which is far better than my loose primate calls. Winter has set in here as the sun falls below the horizon well early of 6pm, although the temps here in the north don't go below 45F thus far. As I'm sure most of you know the South Island has been getting hit hard with weather and Lance the Brit I came to stay with just barely got out yesterday to show the English Premier League trophy in Hong Kong after three days stuck in or near the Christchurch Airport. I have been trying a few local wines here in NZ and will report on them soon but they are expensive. Foreign wine is running in the region of 200% of normal depending on where it is from. Guess it's due to the isolated locale of this island nation. On a final note for tonight as I head to dinner on the rotating level of the Sky Tower there is a park set just off the main strip here up on a hill which is a cultural melting pot as I've rarely seen. The best part is whether you have Japanese students tuning up Saxophones or a couple making out under a lofty tree or watching the heavily tattooed face of a local Maori smile everyone is in synch here; speaking the same language with a quirky sincere accent although it's really me with the different vocals in a Southern land of which, so far, I feel home.
Cheers for now from the City of Sails.
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