February 2, 2016. First day in Auckland

LOCATION:  Auckland, New Zealand in the home of friends Ken and Lynette Norton

WEATHER:  Very nice.  Mostly sunny. Highs around 80

We met Ken 40 years ago (yikes!) when we were living in Japan.  He worked for the US Embassy.  George and I were married under Japanese law, and Ken was the US official that registered the marriage under American law.  After working in Japan, he was stationed in many other parts of the world.  He married Lynette, a Kiwi, and settled here.  We have kept in touch with him over the years.

It is wonderful to be staying with them.  Auckland has many little "villages" within the city.  They live a block from the harbor.  We walked along the beach to one of the villages, stopping at one of the ubiquitous coffee shops.  All of the restaurants are open-air and lots of good-looking people are out and  about.

After lunch on their deck, we took a ride around the city.  This is a memorial park with a nice view of the city.

There are lots and lots of Chinese visitors.

We shopped on our way hone, picking up some Australian craft beers.  This one is called "Good George".  We had to buy it.

  Back home, we relaxed on the deck with Ken.

Lynette fixed a nice baked chicken with vegetables dish for dinner. Then, we watched the news on TV, including all the latest from the US election .....so embarrassing.