Hi-de-hi campers! It's all over... we've returned Kiki to her owners and flown back to Auckland.
So, 318 days since selling up, just 90 days until the grand return. Paul Twocock recording.
It was sad to give Kiki back after two weeks together, though as we squeezed the last grey water out of her tanks it felt good that we wouldn't have to smell that stench from hell again. We took a flight from Christchurch airport, which was largely untouched by the earthquake. The guy who dropped us off said they were still getting after shocks though - three last night. So it was a relief to take off without a shake.
As we flew north we had a bird's eye view of the spectacular Taranaki volcano - a perfect cone and a sight we'd missed on our North Island tour - pic in the album.
Back in Auckland we got a lovely warm welcome back at the Waldorf St Martin's apartments, where we had started our New Zealand adventure last month. This time though we got the best room in the house thanks to the fab guy on the front desk: 18th floor, right at the top, spectacular views of the city and the harbour, and to top it all Guy Pearce slept in our bed just two weeks before. If you don't know who he is - google him and shame on you! We were excited. What was he doing here? Is he in the new Hobbit film? Must get David to tweet Sir Ian again.
So we love our apartment. Hit the city today, first stop Auckland's iconic whore district K-Road for a haircut. Found the perfect place called Vada. All you Round the Horne fans out there will understand why we could resist. One hour later we came out with our new cuts, David sporting a new tin-tin quiff which looks oddly fetching.
It's Auckland's arts festival at the moment too, so we've just come back from a fringe performance at The Basement - all very Edinburgh or trying to be. And actually pretty good.
It's nice to come back to a city a second time, you know where everything is and start to feel at home. So don't know what we'll be up to tomorrow, chill out by the harbour, go up the tower, who knows? But we'll have fun and get ready for our coming adventures in the South Pacific. Next stop Fiji...
I'll leave you with our view of the city as dusk draws in. Injoy!
Comments