I've been to see "Six - the Musical" in Auckland

 Hi there

Last week I went up to Auckland to see "Six - The Musical".  It was great, loved it.  Got the "Six" tote bag.  

"Six" is about the six wives of Henry the 8th.  Each one sings about how they had a worst time than each of the other wives.

I went up to Auckland, from Wellington by bus...  Usually I fly, but this time I liked the idea of a bus adventure.  Turned out to be a 13 hour adventure

Oh dear...  There were so many detours, diversions, closures, stoppages, road cones, workmen with stop signs, and emergency traffic lights, that I swear my Intercity bus was off Highway No 1 (that historically leads straight up to Auckland from Wellington) more times than we were on it.  Because of the delays and then the rush to not be too overly-late for arrival in the City of Sails we hadnt even stopped for dinner,.  Lunch had been at noon.  We arrived Auckland at 10.15 pm.  We had stopped at some toilet stops but were chastised with "Be back in five minutes.  Repeat, five minutes.  Or.....?"

But because of the road diversions we did see magnificent backblocks* scenery, especially around the Ohakune area.  

I flew home from Auckland last Thursday, the day before it was announced that The Desert Road was now open for Highway No 1 traffic.  The Desert Road detour had been the worst and longest traffic detour, taking us through the National Park area, weaving our way up the mountain for a long way.

Anyway....

You know how a friend told me years ago that I always get injured just before a holiday or when I'm actually on holiday?   Well, a week before I left, plantar fascitiis returned to my heel.  I had to take a collapsible walking stick with me. I took one pair of shoes and one pair of sandals.  The shoes kiilled me, but the Skecher sandals with their thicker, softer soles and just a thin strap at the back, were my saviours.  I wish I'd realised that the last time I had plantar fascitiis, instead of stocking up on innersoles, expensive thick socks, and brand new trainers.

above:  I went to Giraffe restaurant at the Viaduct Harbour.  This is the view from my table.  Lots of superyachts berth at Viaduct Harbour.  Its a nice walk on the Viaduct Harbour walkways.  Many restaurants.  The main street in the city is Queen Street.  At the bottom of Queen Street is the ferry terminal (take Devonport and/or Waiheke ferries! - I always do one or the other, or both, when I'm in Auckland). Also turn left at bottom of Queen Street to have a nice amble to Viaduct Harbour.

above:  Viaduct Harbour Auckland.  Wellington spiffed up their wharf including a high-diving platform for swimmers, but Auckland had to go one better with a whole pool, complete with swimming lanes.

above: remember how I growl that I always seem to have the tallest person in an audience sitting in front of me?  Here's the guy in front of me at the show "Six - the Musical".  We were standing up for the curtain call but he felt just as tall when we were seated...

   *backblocks" equals "right out in the country".