Eyes Above The Waves

Over the last month or so our lives have started to settle down and we've had time --- and great weather --- to get out, visit friends and relatives, and see Auckland again after ten years away.

Strangely, I feel a much stronger desire to really know this city than I did before. For example, there are dozens of volcanic cones in the city, most of which have been turned into parks, but I've only been to a handful of them. So yesterday we went to Mount St John for the first time.

It's quite thrilling to walk through this upper-class suburb in the middle of everything, walk up a strip of reserve between houses and pop out above an amazing natural amphitheatre with amazing views over the city. I wonder how I managed to pass close by hundreds of times --- my old high school is perhaps a mile away --- being only barely aware it was there. Perhaps it's because Mount St John has larger and more famous neighbours --- Mount Hobson, Mount Eden and One Tree Hill.

Here's another shot of the view from the top. Auckland aficionados may wish to identify the four volcanic cones visible in this picture.

This Easter long weekend we also went to the Royal Easter Show, walked around One Tree Hill and Albert Park, and had lunch with friends at Grand Harbour and T-Mark. T-Mark is a rather obscure Taiwanese cafe in Newmarket --- very good. I'm exhausted and looking forward to a relaxing day at work tomorrow!