Trouble always comes in threes ...

... at least that is our experience on this trip!

It started out with hubby misreading our ticket from Sydney to Auckland; he had looked at the arrival time in Auckland and thought it was our departure time, so we missed our flight. So after buying new tickets, five times as expensive, since we had used frequent-flyer points for the first, we arrived very late in Auckland.

We had a few lovely days there though with lots of walking, and a visit to an island called Rangitoto, which appeared through a volcanic eruption only 600 years ago! I thought that sounded awfully recent and I was not very comfortable.

View of Auckland on the way up to the top of the volcano 

Then we went to another island called Waiheke where hubby had a conference for four days. I spent my time hopping on and off buses and visiting the island which was very beautiful. There were several wineries on the island as well and many art galleries.

This is a lovely little beach very close to the resort where
the conference was held. It is called Palm Beach.

When we returned to Auckland on Friday there was a fire in the port engine of the ferry so we had to travel in slow motion which was sort of okay for us but it was nerve wrecking for the passengers who had a plane to catch. Anyway, I am counting that as the second little mishap, even though it didn't really affect us.

Just a little detail about Auckland, and for that matter maybe it is true of other places here as well. They have amazing intersections.  When the light goes green people start walking like crazy people, straight across and diagonally across etc.

Unfortunately there were not so many people crossing in this
picture, but when there are many crossing it is crazy.

Now I bet you are wondering what the third mishap was, but you have to be patient since we are in a motel with limited internet time so I have to save it for next time.

So I am saying goodnight for now and will write more soon. There is so much more to tell!

For my golfer friends, here is a word of warning!