Where has the time gone?

Today was our last full day in Auckland. I'm still recovering from a bout with the traveler's least favorite bug so I haven't thoroughly explored the wonders of Auckland. But the weather has been glorious and today I managed to see a lovely exhibit at the Auckland Art Gallery. The main building is "under construction" so they are carrying on in a modern building across the street from the old building. The main exhibit, "The Enchanted Garden," was a marvelous mish-mash of paintings, sculpture and objects from all over the place. Yesterday while Catherine was off to Waiheke Island on the ferry I did the Maritime Museum. This is right on the waterfront and is very low-tech but quite interesting even for a land-lubber like me. There was an interesting exhibit that was right up my alley about an important 19th-century yacht photographer, and then lots of wooden boats, models of boats and the cabin of an old ferry. You could even take a ride in a real steam-driven tender, the S.S. Puke (I'm not making this up) but for a variety of reasons I thought better not.

We're wading through our purchases and other impedimenta hoping to reduce our luggage to a reasonable state of organized chaos. I seem to have acquired some books that I haven't read - I did read five books that have been left behind or added to the ship's library once I finished. As always I loved the access to old British mysteries that one can't always find at home. There's something so perfect about reading classic 1930s who-dunnits while on a cruise! I've also been slogging through the two "work" books I brought along, although they were much more palatable while in a lounge chair on the pool deck, with stewards bringing me tea and blankets. I did try to (literally) weigh my book purchases with an eye to carrying them home so that kept me from anything too crazy. My favorite bookstore was in Hobart - they had a wonderful selection and that was where I bought my "Australian" version of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone...well at least I think it was printed in Oz. I didn't buy one in NZ because they were so clearly imports. I found a number of goodish second-hand bookstores all along the way where I added a couple of previously unread Margerie Allinghams (read and abandoned) as well as a couple of G. Heyer mysteries which are not widely available in the US. I re-read one of my favorite Ngaio Marsh mysteries - one which takes place in NZ while R. Alleyn is traveling for his health (before his marriage to Troy) and features a wonderful group of "theatricals." I was particularly happy to acquire a copy of N. Marsh's autobiography which has not to my knowledge been available in the US. With our imminent return to the US in mind I have restrained myself here in Auckland.

So this may be the last post for a few 24-hours. I'll try to do a wrap-up while airborne - what were the highlights, favorites, and so on. Thanks for your comments and interest and see you all soon.