My long-awaited return to the Fish Market

Welcome, or nau mai.  We celebrated Matariki this past Friday.  The appearance of this star cluster, also known as the Pleiades, or Seven Sisters, just before dawn, is part of what marks the Maori New Year. I learned from some friends, Les and Judith, as we shared a cuppa in the café, a little more about what Matariki means to the Maori people.  

The themes of this holiday are remembrance of the past, celebrating the present, and looking to the future. It's a very logical and positive way to begin the new year.  

For today's post, I'm going to share some photos I took while I walked from Britomart, our main train terminal in Auckland, to the Fish Market, a historic part of the waterfront.  

I have done this walk a number of times and shared pictures with you in the past, but it has been ages since I came this way. Covid ruined so many expeditions that I might have otherwise made.  So, I hope that even if you remember seeing a few similar pictures of this area of the city in the past, maybe you'll enjoy once again accompanying me as I wander.  I have enough pictures that I think I'll show you my adventure in two parts. 

 Two levels down in Britomart, I'm just off the 45 minute ride from Henderson and starting my day's journey. It was a six carriage train so I'm quite a ways from the escalators to the surface.  

This is outside Britomart.  You can see the Ferry Building in the distance. I'm going to be walking to the left down the street that passes in front of it.  

The building on the left side of this picture is new and full of retailers and options for dining. Very trendy. (And pricey) It's the first place tourists from the cruise ships will see as they enter Auckland. Many may not go any further, having found all that they need on their doorstep, so to speak.  

Here, we're looking down the length of the square in front of Britomart, which is on the left. In the distance, Queen Street begins and heads up the hill past the Town Hall until it ends at K' Road.  

This is tied up at Princes Wharf.  

I've been temporarily halted. The pedestrian bridge alarm started sounding, its lights started flashing, and shortly thereafter, it went vertical in front of me.  

The reason for the interruption is this whale watching boat heading out.  Probably the very one that we took a number of years ago.  

Hmmm. While I was waiting, I looked back at the Sky Tower, visible in the distance. I've always enjoyed taking pictures of the Sky Tower.  I looked closer at it as the minutes ticked away and was rewarded when I saw some walkers on the platform that encircles the top. 

It's still hard to see them.

Now we're getting somewhere.  

There is a guide walking with them, and another young lady that you'll see in the next shot.  

 

Notice the girl on the far left who is standing with just her toes on the platform. 

That walkway is 192 meters, or 629 feet above the pavement below.  It's 1.2 meters wide with no railings and it's somewhat windy up there. The average wind speed is 24 mph. It costs $160 N.Z (About $106. U.S.) for 90 minutes.  You can see both the Pacific Ocean and the Tasman Sea. By law, you are required to take and pass a breathalyzer test before venturing out. I believe they make a video for each person of the experience.  

Here is someone else trying it.     

I think this is a good time to end the first part of the Fish Market walk. I need to wipe off my sweaty palms. I'm usually okay with heights, but sheesh!  

Come back next week and we'll continue.  We'll stay on the ground the rest of the time.   -djf