Welcome to Auckland

So, here we are. Right now sitting in our temporary weekly rental on the 18th floor of the metropolis, looking out over Auckland and on to the bay (Claire in front of our window pictured). It's nice here, unseasonably cold so the locals tell us, but still, nice.

Claire and I are now nearly experts with New Zealand's version of ebay, called trademe, which has everything that's advertised anywhere on their site. It's amazing just how much we have to do to get 'settled'.

So far, we have been nothing but impressed at the kindness and welcome we've received by the New Zealanders.

Tomorrow we move into a 19th century villa we loved at first sight in Parnell, a nice neighborhood in Auckland with loads of cafes and restaurants, which will be our new home. Unfortunately, finding a fully furnished place proved a bit difficult, so we're hunting for deals on line and in the stores. This weekend is Queensday, and the shops are celebrating with big discounts. Johannah and Fergus are lending us their car tomorrow so we can move in, and stock up on all the little household things we need.

I already feel like we've had more than our fair share of good fortune here. On Monday, less than a week after we arrived, I was invited to join the Auckland Symphony Orchestra. They arranged for a bass for me to borrow, and one of the bass players has contacts within Auckland's food and beverage industry, and I already have one interview as a result and may be invited for another (and with a winery!). How cool would that be? I'll be playing with the orchestra now indefinitely it seems, and our first concert is June 20th (I only hope my tuxedo makes it to NZ by then!)

Where it seems that just shopping for flats, setting up bank accounts, getting tax numbers, and all of the other things we've had to do has taken up all our time, we have managed to do a bit of sightseeing. We popped over to Devonport (an easy ten minute ferry ride across the bay) for an afternoon and took a few pictures to share with you. (Claire's pictures: the harbor from Devonport, park near Devonport, Auckland at dusk from the ferry, the Auckland harbor bridge from the harbor)

We're excited to share all of this with visitors - can't wait to have you!