Closing Thoughts: Auckland
I spent four full days in Auckland, probably a couple more than most people, but just right for me. The eating was fun (Asian and hamburgers), and it was really a town where you just needed to stop worrying about visiting tourist sites (since there aren't that many), to just absorbing the laid back atmosphere of the different neighborhoods. It really reminded me of Seattle actually: facial hair, earth tone fashion, and Subarus were all out in force.
Here are a few other things I remember most about Auckland and its people:
Everyone is super polite. On buses, about 60% of passengers exiting the bus, in the back of the bus, yell "thank you" to the driver. Even the buses themselves are polite: they say "SORRY" when they aren't in service.
Even taxi drivers employ smiling, friendly cars...
Aucklanders are also very in touch with nature, like their imaginary brethren in Seattle. It was 40 degrees Fahrenheit in the evenings, and not much warmer in the day time, and restaurants would fling open their big window-doors and set out tables for al fresco dining!
