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Well, today was the day - the Opening Ceremony of the Rugby World Cup 2011 and what an experience it was....
...we found out today (Saturday) that Auckland had apparently been inundated with double the amount of people they had expected and although it was a brilliant atmosphere and day/night it definitely showed.
All the guys had tickets to the actual match and ceremony at Eden Park but because I wanted to go to the NZ v France game (Allez les bleus!) I opted for enjoying the action down on the Harbour around the Fan Zone and Cloud area which would have been perfect for getting shots of the amazing fireworks display they had on. Score!
So around 3.30pm we all got into Auckland City Centre and pottered around a bit before the guys left at 4.30pm to get on the way to the Stadium (its about a 20 minute train journey from Auckland to Kingsland) which left me with a lot of exploring to do before the opening ceremony started at 7.30pm. I wondered around for a while just soaking up the atmosphere and after deciding that I wasnt going to wait in a queue for 2 hours for entry to the Cloud (already a 2 hour queue at 4.30pm) I decided to try and walk the length of Quay Street (not my best plan) so started to wade my way through the hoards of people filling Quay Street in front of the Ferry Building. About half way through to the front where the big screens where i realised my mistake as we were suddenly faced with a line of Police shouting at everyone to move back (move back where!??) as there was a huge of flag bearers and Maori's doing the Haka coming through the middle of the crowd (sssqquiisshhhhhh)! It was brilliant to see and even better that a group of school boys on the edge of the street started to almost challenge them by doing their own Haka - very entertaining and not the last Haka I suspect I shall see this trip!
Anyway, after being squished way too much I decided to walk back up to the centre of Auckland to find somewhere for some food before heading back down to the Fan Zone area to watch the ceremony on the big screen and view the fireworks, so, I found a cafe and after ordering a cup of tea and a roll, I sat for a bit before needed to use the facilities. I got up and asked the guy behind the counter if they had toilets and he said, ''of course, yes follow me i'll show you''. Ok, not a problem - off I went, until that is, he started to walk outside of the cafe and down a side street. I stopped him and said ''this is for the toilet, yes?'' "Yes, yes just this way, i'll show you" Okay.....(caution)
One of my immediate thoughts as I followed the guy was - 'God, not even 2 hours on my own and already in a potentially sticky wicket... anyway I was not comforted when he opened a white grill gate across a door at the back of the building (which had no lights on inside) and then said upstairs first door on the right (it looked like a hotel lobby) so as i said thank you thank you, he said ''i'll wait for you, so I can lock up''
*I have never been to the bathroom quicker - dont get me wrong the guy was lovely and was very helpful and not threatening in the least, it was just a very perculiar situation to find yourself in*
After finishing in the bathroom I came back down the stairs and he walked me back to the cafe - we are talking 10 metres max. but still he was very sweet and it was nice to be able to talk to all the guys in the cafe about the game etc.
I left the cafe at about 6.30pm and headed back to Quay Street for the fireworks. I had my camera ready, tripod ready for some amazing fireworks shots, set everything up, waited.....waited.....waited.....then they started and as i took the first shot, *beep beep beep beep*.
Dead camera battery. Whoops.
So instead of taking pictures of the fireworks I just stood there holding my tripod and camera (must have looked like a right numpty) watching them and then as soon as they were over, I headed back into the CIty Centre to watch the game in the bar we had been at the day before. Well, I managed the first half but was then so knackered that I decided to get the bus back at half time and wait for the others to get back (they would be very late coming from Eden Park) so I went to the bus stop.
One thing I figured out early is, Kiwi's don't queue. For anything. Ever.
The tussle for the bus when it pulled up was like being involved in a brawl - I felt like a obssessed fan or something, feeling the need to literally walk over people to get to the front for a better view. Well, I have broad shoulders just like the rest of them so I did what anyone would do..... went to the back of the queue and jumped on the bus that came in immediatey behind it. RESULT!
Finally home, I settled in and waited for the guys to return which was about 2 hours after me and was around midnight - when they came in we said hello and I gave Michelle a hug where as we pulled away she slipped in a little 'boob liftage' (completely by 'accident' apparently - no, really it was!) what can I say other than, 'you like that sideee boob?'....
After much laughter about that, we talked about the game and I found out that they also had a bit of a nightmare with crowds of people screaming and shouting like maniacs and also people delaying trains etc by pushing the Emergency Stop buttons and so on - anyway all in all not a good day for Auckland Transport - but a great day for the Rugby!
Bring it on!
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