Saturday, January 6, 2024: Day 334 – Auckland

written by

We arrived in the early morning and it took a while to clear customs. They are very mindful about NOT bringing anything into the country that could adversely affect their agriculture. We had to declare that we were carrying nuts and hiking poles. Cute little Beagles sniffed our bags looking for the Brown Marmorated Stink Bug.

I enjoy seeing unusual signs. Same same but different!!

We rode an Uber to our Holiday Inn in the center of town. We took the elevator to reception. The door opened to a bar. Checking in was at the bar!! This is the first of many things that we will have never experienced before.

We left our bags and walked around Aukland headed to the Visitors Center for some last minute advice.

Our walk around town was a feast for the eyes.

Quay is pronounced Key so I loved the name of this hotel.

We didn’t eat here, but I loved the name.

There was a giant cruise ship parked at the center of downtown.

I plan to live up to this promise that was posted at the visitors center.

I have heard of the All Blacks rugby team, and we saw a brochure about The All Blacks Experience. We were still waiting for our room so we decided to go.

Rugby in New Zealand is a national sport, proud heritage, and supported cultural phenomenon. Boys and girls play it from an early age. There is only one national team called the All Blacks. It would be like having ONE American football team that completes internationally.

Our young guide, who spoke some type of English that we barely understood, told us what it takes to be an All Blacks member. We performed a variety of skills via the computer.

Rob is a good passer (and good kisser, but that was not an All Blacks skill.)

I excelled at throwing a lineout which looks more like a cheerleading move. Players hoist up one player and I pass it to her.

I won a skill (I am very competitive) so I was now a co-captain and had to give my team a motivational speech.

I don’t really know much about rugby, but I yelled to get out there and run fast and pass that ball and win. The other co-captain followed by speaking in Maori language which seemed to motivate them. Show off!! Haha, I couldn’t understand her either!!

Here we are in a facsimile of their pregame locker room where they sit in silence before the game. Soon we will go out to the field to perform a pregame tradition called Haka. This definitely fires up the team and the crowd prior to the match.

This trophy was prominently displayed. “What’s this?”, I asked. (That’s like asking about the Super Bowl Trophy!) The Bledisloe Cup is the traveling trophy from the annual rugby match against Australia, the biggest rivalry in Rugby. The All Blacks have had it for over twenty years … so they basically own it.

There are many sports superstitions and traditions. Some wear a certain pair of underwear. The All Blacks have a mauri stone. One could say The Brotherhood of the Traveling Stone. I wonder whose job it is to carry it? That’s a huge responsibility. My late father would say the American flag is analogous to this for the military.

The All Blacks must be in town as the stone sits upon its pedestal.

The Haka uses a lot of intimidating yells, beating of the chest, sticking out the tongue, and showing as much white of the eyes as possible. Rob rocks this Haka move.

Today is called Kings Day and is celebrated in Mexico and other Spanish speaking countries.

Three Kings Bread is a recipe for a sweet yeast bread that is shaped like a crown. I want to make this!!

I love to celebrate ANYTHING so I will add it to birthdays, special days, holidays, name days, jubilees, observances, etc. Every day is special!!! Go out there and enjoy it!! My last motivational speech as co-captain!!

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Saturday, January 6, 2024: Day 334 – Auckland

Like this:

Leave a Reply

Discover more from Streets of the World