Auckland explorations on foot day 2-4

The Brown Kiwi Hostel is truly perfect for people who have just arrived, provided they like cats. You can't really get lost on the way to the city center, otherwise I would probably still be wandering around somewhere. So you just follow the road that leads to the New World supermarket until it meets Queen Street, which runs through the center. Even with my sense of direction, which usually only suffices to find my way around in my small hometown, I found the center right away. And if you do get stuck, just one second of looking confused and someone will immediately ask if you need help. That's why New Zealand is so well-suited for backpackers, even without any preparation, you can simply ask around (provided you dare to do so). Well, enough digressing. After a 30-minute walk, where I once again received proof of Auckland's volcanic foundation (down, up again, and down again, etc.), I reached the city center and followed Queen Street south. Auckland's city center is different from, for example, the city centers of London, Berlin, Vienna, etc. The shops look almost identical from the outside, apart from the shop windows, there are pedestrian crossings at short intervals, ATMs are everywhere, the people are a mix of many ethnic groups, and at the same time, it doesn't seem rushed like in other big cities. And very, very often you see other backpackers. Just a few minutes later, I reached Aotea Square, the Civic Theatre and the Auckland Town Hall, crossed Myers Park, whose main path is constantly uphill but at the end, you are rewarded with a magnificent view of the Sky Tower between palm fronds, walked through Kevin's Arcade until I stood on Karangahape Road. This was the starting point of the little city stroll suggested in the Lonely Planet guidebook. Due to my cleverness, of course, I had already walked part of the route in the wrong direction, but the bus does cost money. So I walked through Kevin's Arcade, which has a few small, beautiful shops, back through Myers Park, this time downhill, while also taking a look at the Moses statue by Michelangelo standing inside it, and continued to the Civic Theatre, where I noticed that suddenly there was much more going on than before, probably because it was 12 o'clock and lunchtime. So I turned to the right and followed the map through less crowded streets, across Karthoum Place, which I wouldn't have noticed without a travel guide (pft, history ignoramus, it reminds that New Zealand women were the first in the world to obtain the right to vote), to the Auckland Art Gallery, which was high on my list of museums to visit because it's free. The steps behind the museum led up to Albert Park, which I find even more beautiful than Myers Park, and where there were also significantly more park benches, which I naturally used for a break. In the meantime, I was approached by one of the ladies from the plane, and after some back and forth messaging, we decided to go to the gallery together. So I hung out in the park for a bit, admired the fountain and the University Clock Tower, which could be seen through the trees. There were also several monuments and statues, but large groups of students in uniforms were standing around them, so I practically couldn't see them. But shortly after, I was no longer alone, so we went into the art exhibition, which, especially considering that it's free, is really large, well presented, and staffed with friendly people, so it's definitely worth a visit. Afterwards, we decided to continue along the suggested route, got lost once around Albert Park, missed a few sights, enjoyed the sight of the colonial-style houses on Princess Street. Then we made our way to the harbor, ignoring the sights, until we finally reached the harbor, where we simply enjoyed the sea air, the view, and the seagulls (by that, I mean I enjoyed their sight, not their taste). As we made our way towards Wynyard Quarter, the weather threatened to change, so we split up. I walked through Wynyard and past Victoria Park back to the hostel.

On the next day, I went to the bank at 9 o'clock, which sent me on another errand to get copies, so I went to the public library where you can also make copies. There, I stood around like an idiot with no idea how the whole thing should work. Thank goodness the New Zealanders are extremely helpful even inside buildings, so I stood on the street with all the copies for fifteen minutes. So I went back to the bank, only to be sent away again because I still needed a form. But since it was already ten o'clock and I had made plans to meet up with the girl from the plane to walk together with her to the meeting point with the rest of the group, I was afraid that the tax number issue would again be a failure. Nevertheless, I quickly got the form and we went to the bank again and finally, finally, I had everything and my tax number is finally being processed (YAY!!). Then we continued into the city, and with a quick stop to get a SIM card, we finally arrived at the destination almost 20 minutes late. In the meantime, our group had grown by one person, so the five of us squeezed under one umbrella and hoped that the heavy rain shower would soon end and that the next one wouldn't come right after. But eventually, we set off towards our goal, Mount Eden in the south, the highest volcanic crater in Auckland, which rises above the city, whose crater is sacred ground, and from which you have a good view of the city (and it's free, especially compared to the Sky Tower). After moments of disorientation and taking shelter from rain showers, we reached the base and eventually the summit of the volcano (the others a bit earlier than me, but well, nothing can be done about that). And indeed, the view from the top was truly amazing, and after a photoshoot with a Chinese family who really wanted us in the picture, we could enjoy the view, as long as a part of the group didn't start pushing on again, but that's just how it is with groups. A plaque at the summit also reminded us how far away from home we are, which is still strange. But at the same time, you don't have to worry about experiencing a cultural withdrawal from Germany because even before the descent, we met two German young men who had just finished a work and travel stay and really wanted to go out for pizza with us. My suggestion to go to Dominos on Queen Street fell on deaf ears, after all, there must be one around here somewhere too. A few detours, which seemed shorter than they were thanks to a patient companion who waited for me and shared some interests with me, and we stood in front of a Domino's right on Queen Street and had a meal. Then a quick look at the Warehouse (the Kik of New Zealand) and then I thought we would split up and meet again in a pub in the evening. Instead, a few of them didn't want to go back to their hostel anymore, so we went straight to the bar in the hostel of the two guys. Some were shocked to realize that they didn't have their passports with them and that they would be kicked out during a check, so we sat in a corner and tried to be inconspicuous. It worked quite well because no waitress came over, and since it was too loud to have a conversation across the table, one half of the table dozed off or had the occasional conversation just to end up in sleepy silence again, while the other side had a lively discussion about the education system in Germany. I was part of the sleepy side. Eventually, the group split up, we said goodbye because some of them were continuing their journey the next day, and I trudged back towards Ponsonby in the company of my hostel roommate, interrupted by conversations about comics and mangas and a short shopping spree. In the hostel, neither of us could stay awake for much longer, so we said goodbye as well.

Today is laundry day, I'm looking for jobs and checking what else I need (Should the tent be waterproof or maybe inexpensive? I mean, what's a little flooding.) I had to say goodbye to my hostel roommate for good. I should already be on my way again, but my feet are protesting and my blisters are not exactly helpful. Let's see what else comes up.