I think if I had to live in a city, it might be Auckland. What a magnificent place!

I am so impressed with how much the people use their harbour. Not just earning it the name "The city of sails," it should have added, the "city of the people on the water." Every where you look, people are out - on kayaks, sailboats, canoes, power boats, and even swimming, though it's a bit chilly for me! Big freighters move down the channel, dwarfing pleasure boats, and ferries run from island to island. It definitely has the Wow factor.

So Sunday was the day to play and we spent most of it near the water. Some of the time we were down at the yacht club watching the Aussie 18 skiffs prepare for racing and then went out onto a long wharf to watch the race. But even the shore around the yacht club was a hive of activity, with people working on their boats up on the hard, and the Maori outrigger club and their big canoes practising for the Nationals. Down the way a bit, a whole gaggle of youngsters were learning to kayak in bright orange and yellow plastic boats. Around the corner where the grass comes down to the water's edge, couples and families were having picnics. Just wonderful!

After our own picnic up at a huge park overlooking the harbor, we ended up at the Maritime Museum near down at the Aquaduct, where the America's Cup was based. Again, I was impressed at how the Kiwis are out and about, doing stuff and enjoying their city. And lots of young people which to me is so important and something I really miss in Washington.

Next morning, Monday I had a meeting scheduled with Bayleys Real Estate for the article I am doing. They have very plush offices down in the Viaduct area, and are known as THE real estate company in New Zealand. The meeting got off to a bit of a rocky start. I was meeting John Bayley, chairman and CEO (might as well go for the top brass!) and his PR guy. Neither of them knew anything about the seminar in March. So I had to do a bit of quick education to let them know what it was and by the time we were done, the word was out and they found who was in charge of it! So met the young Michael Bayley and all was ok.

From Auckland we headed north, heading to the Bay of Islands, not too sure how far we would get. Within about 30km of Auckland we were back into rural territory, no more expressway, just the windy, narrow roads again. Got into Whangarei around four and settled in for the evening. I took a walk down the river a way and went into the waterfront area which is very pretty. Lots of boats moored along the river's edge and some boat yards, too.

It isn't a real touristy town, but the tourist area is nicely done, but the stuff in the stores definitely had jacked up, tourist prices.

Tomorrow, we head for Kerikeri in the Bay of Islands where Dad used to live.