What better way to prepare for a 7 week journey back home than to spend a short w'end in Auckland soaking up some culture, some rugby & meeting a drunk local who has some serious relationship issues.

Having arrived on the nakedbus (fully clothed) on Saturday morning we spent the afternoon wandering around the art precinct & visiting the Auckland art gallery, which had just won an award on the Friday for it's design. The entrance canopy pods made from kauri timber is definitely worth a look.

After a few beverages we headed to the blues v highlanders match at Eden park were unfortunately the rugby wasn't as impressive as the stadium it was played in, but it was still great to attend a super 15 game and see some world cup winning all blacks in action! The highlight though was meeting piri weepu at the end who was a total gent & spent ages with the fans. Aly entered into her giddy school girl persona when she got her photo taken with him, hilarious!! I also got a high 5 from Adam Thomson who almost broke my arm in the process, might not try that again with a man of his stature.

The night was rounded off with a night cap at our hotel where we got pestered by a very drunk woman who informed us that she was here for a dirty w'end with her ex-husband. Not sure how that works by my advice to him is to keep her as an ex....... She was mental!

On Sunday we went to Parnell for some brunch & then a coffee at the chocolate boutique company were aly found her favorite drink, a coconut latte before heading to the Auckland museum to try to learn something......... We didn't in the end but really enjoyed the exhibition on volcanoes & what would happen if one erupted in Auckland. It was quite scary & made me semi glad to be leaving. We are heading to Christchurch next week so I'm sure we will be safer there.......

5 more days left of work & then our real traveling adventures will begin. The countdown has begun.