Britomart and environs

It occured to me that although I've mentioned Britomart several times in relation to going to Auckland, I've never done a post on Britomart itself. So, I thought I had better do it. Here it is... 

I've just stepped off the train here, I'm looking toward the way we've come in, that would be back toward Newmarket. The trains are subways for about half a mile. 

Here, where the trains come and go, we are on the 2nd level down from the street. I'm looking toward the escalators and the britomart building. 

This is looking up at the ceiling above the trains. Big sky light. 

 In line for the escalator to the ground floor.

This is the main floor of the older side of Britomart. 

We're on Queen Street looking back at Britomart. If you watch the video I've placed next, you'll see that Queen Street in front of Britomart has now been 'planted' with artificial grass and is pedestrians only. There is new construction going up across the street and there are plans, over the next 5 years, to build a new train line from Britomart that runs for a while below Queen Street, then veers off to the southwest. This Britomart area is going to look very different in the future. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=961SHRIwQr4


The older portion of Britomart is now closed for renovations (look back at the header picture)  and all business will take place on the opposite, newer side of it. 

Let's go and see that part now.  

We're back in the center of Britomart, facing away from Queen Steet.  We're looking too, in the direction that the trains, two floors down, leave the city center. 

This little boy is kneeling on top of one of the line of skylights above the train terminal below. We're facing the 'new' entrance of Britomart. 

...That's a fast kid. This is looking 180 degrees from the last picture and that same little boy has moved down to the next sky-light. He has several more to go.  He got there so quickly...wonder if he's 'popcorning' from one to the next? Looks like he's preparing for another leap.

There is a farmers' market held each Saturday morning in the area defined by the picture just above, and by the next two below. Honeys, cheeses, breads, and lots of fast food stands with goodies like mussel fritters and bacon and egg toasties make it fun to visit. 

 'Bean Bag Central'   ...oops, a bit of finger in the scene

...Yep, same kid again in the fountains...gotta cool off from his exertions on the sky-lights. I'm getting  tired out from just following behind.

Next in line from Britomart is the Atrium. This is as far as we go today. The trains are still
directly below us. The Atrium is full of trendy, pricey shops. You can also descend to the trains from inside the Atrium. 

Looking up in the Atrium.

Since I can travel for free, I came into the city today for some treats. I started at Pandoro, a bread store on Queen, and got a 5-grain loaf, a seeded-sourdough stick, and some Irish milk buns. 

Since "man shall not live by bread alone", I also stopped at Countdown and brought home some steaks and a bottle of Cabernet Sauvingnon. 

Let's get back to the train. 

On my way back, I walked a half-block over, away from the docks and toward the city and saw this. The Sky Tower is probably about a 20 minute walk from here. If I had walked half-block the other way, I would have seen this.

 Britomart and everything I've shown you today lies just across Quay (pronounced key)

Street from the wharves and docks. No container ships being unloaded right now. 

I was thinking as I walked though the city today about how much I was enjoying myself. There are sights and smells everywhere. I noticed one little shop called the Un-Bakery. It's only about 10 feet wide and you have to climb up six or eight steps to reach the little display case. It has a sign on the wall that said they made raw, healthy delights. Hmm. Maybe I'll check it out another time, but it sounds vegan-ish to me, and (polite disclaimer) while vegan may be a very healthful dining choice for some, (end polite disclaimer) I usually give it a pass. I noticed a really skinny young couple up there, working. I wonder if they are married and this is their business? Well, I wish them well.  

I thought next of how much I must have changed to be enjoying a city so much. After all, for most of our married lives Jeanne and I have lived out in the sticks. But then I realized that we actually started our marriage out in a city; well, a bunch of them really. A month touring Europe and seeing Paris, Munich, Rome, Pisa, and more. And then three more months living in Madrid. While Jeanne attended Spanish classes each day, I explored the city by subway (Metro). On weekends, we took the trains to various towns around Spain. Always exploring. Always trying new things. 

I realized that after we returned from Europe, and settled down in, of all places, Carney, that I felt isolated much of the time. Thank goodness for Northern Michigan University and it's TV and radio stations that provided us, in those pre-computer days, with a semblance of a connection to the world. 

I think that many times God looks at our longings and considers them a form of prayer. How else do you explain the fact that I have been given, after paying my dues in the workplace for 35 years, just what my heart desired for all those years? Who knew?...

Ah, here we are back at the entrance, now we'll just go downstairs...

On the escalator down, Swanson via Newmarket on track 5 (lower right hand corner) is what I want.

Descending to train level now, looks rather empty...that won't last long. 

Relaxing in the center car of a three-car electric train as we approach Sturges Road. (I can smell the bread in my backpack) 

p.s. Jeanne had a sore back and so sent me to the city today unsupervised... well, except for all of you, that is. Glad you came along.    -djf