New Zealand: Auckland

Greetings from New Zealand! I've been in Auckland for three days now. Still a little jet-lagged and feeling a bit dizzy now and then for some reason. But I've been getting to know this city of 1.3 million people and am finding a lot to like. I just went to a little Farmers Market in Parnell, a neighborhood of Auckland, where I am staying at a hostel. It's actually quite a posh neighborhood, and while the hostel isn't quite maintained to the standard of its neighbors, it's comfortable and I've been meeting really nice people there. Actually the house was once owned by the Queen of Tonga. Probably a long time ago. Anyway, I got some delicious bread and garlicky hummus at the farmers market and had some for lunch. I've been out walking quite a bit - through different parts of town, at the local beaches (beautiful!) and up a few of the extinct volcanoes (all smallish and eroded) for terrific 360 views. One was particularly amazing - Mt. Eden - it's got a deep little crater! And the inside of this crater is all terraced because cattle grazing occurred til very recently. I went up there with a local named Suzie and she says she missed the cows! It's been sunny and warm during the past few days - the winter is evidenced only in the mornings before the sun comes up, 5C, whatever that is in F. I am going to need to learn that conversion very soon. That, and going from liters per kilometers to gallons per mile. BECAUSE, I am thinking about buying a car! There are a couple for sale by travelers going home at the hostel right now. I saw a FORD Telstar this morning, a kind of station wagon, and I will look at a Mazda hatchback this afternoon. Both are manual, and with the steering wheel on the wrong side of the car, this could be a little tricky. I'm barely proficient with stickshift with my right hand! We'll see. I am exploring the car option because from talking to fellow travelers, this is the best way to go for a stay of several months. I'll be able to see much more than the routes offered by buses. Plus I won't have to hitchhike, which I am sure my family back home will be thankful for. =) This traveler car buying/selling industry is very big here as it's a very common thing to do. People are usually able to sell back the car without a huge loss at the end of a journey. I am trying to accomplish a few logistical things, like finances, and communications, during my stay here in Auckland. I'm also trying to make arrangements for the near future going up to Northland, which extends from Auckland up to the northernmost tip of the North Island. Some of this is a little stressful, but it's all part of the package. I am in good spirits though. It's still hard to process that I'm in NZ! I'm excited to leave the city for a slower pace soon. Just tried loading a picture and it's not working. I'll try again next time. I'll be in touch soon!