Parnell

Up until recently, the trains going to and from Auckland all bypassed Parnell. There was an old fashioned-looking terminal there, and platforms, but the trains never stopped. To tell the truth, the area around the station looked industrial, and rough and dirty. My attention was drawn toward the other side of the train when we passed Parnell and I watched the steep and wooded hillside of the Auckland Domain fly by instead. 

That changed recently. I don't know why the station is getting a face-lift so to speak, but I'm glad it's happening. 

Parnell is usually billed as Auckland's oldest suburb. And it is one of the richest. In the early days, many of the most prominent movers and shakers built mansions on it's hills. 

But I know almost nothing more about it. I recently got off the train there, just after we went through the tunnel which seems to me to mark the border and act as the gate into the suburb of Parnell. I discovered how very hilly it is as I walked to the French Market, La Cigale. That translates to cicada in English. 

This hike of mine was one of exploration. I had heard of the French Market to be found there and wanted to see it. This relatively short excursion into Parnell has wetted my appetite for more exploring; much more in fact. I saw about two blocks of Parnell Road, but what I saw made me want to make a trip there sometime, just to walk as far along Parnell Road as my feet and legs want to carry me. Maybe I could make it all the way to Newmarket and take the train home from there.  

Parnell is called an upmarket suburb in Wikipedia and I can see why. I find that I have developed a taste from strolling through streets fronted by beautifully renovated old buildings and stopping for coffee at street-side cafes. 

And what a great activity for an older gentlemen. I ride the train for free. I walk among historic buildings, take pictures, and when I tire, I buy a $4 coffee which allows me to sit beneath an umbrella on the sidewalk and watch the world go by. I have always loved a bargain and what I have just described seems like one heck of a deal to me. 

I have a few pictures from Parnell today. Not many, since this was my first look into this area. I think it will prove to be a gold-mine of pictures and text for future posts. The best and brightest nuggets I'll share with you.  

Getting off in Parnell 

The area between the train station and the town area needs work. 

The view from Parnell Road. Not far at all from downtown.  

There it is, The Cicada.  

La Cigale is made up of both permanent structures and the tents which spring up every weekend. 

 This stand sells Arram's favorite breakfast, crepes. And the guy in it is reaching for Arram's favorite topping, Nutella. 

By this time, I was starting to get thirsty, and this guy had set up a very impromtu sort of business that promised to solve my problem.  For just $3.00 he would knock the top off a chilled coconut with his matchete.

Nothing like it. It's a bit messy to drink, but I didn't mind. The sun was out today and the temperature rapidly climbing. This was the perfect drink for the moment. 

The skeleton was singing old songs.  

Just about ready to leave. 

I'm on my way back to the train and I'm taking a few pictures. I've just climbed the hill that goes past this unique structure.  By the time I get to the top of Ruskin Street, I'll be higher than it top of this building. Big hills here. 

 Look at this narrow passageway between two buildings. I wondered where it went. I walked in and discovered that at the very end, turning left brings you into the garden courtyard of a professional building of some sort.  

I'm headed for Sturges Road, which is on the Swanson line so I don't have too long a wait. 

International Film Festival at the Civic

In this post, we're going inside the historic Civic Theater. Allie has been there several times and she took Amiri to a show there recently, but the rest of us had yet to see this unique bit of Auckland. You may recall that it's located on Queen Street. 

Allie had purchased tickets for us to attend part of the International Film Festival that has been going on here. We would see just over an hour of animated shorts from all over the world. The best of the best. 

And it was top notch. The cartoons were aimed at kids naturally, but the quality of the story telling and the artwork was so good that we adults loved it as much as the kids did. Another nice thing about our adventure was that we got to explore the building. Not quite as much as I would have liked. We couldn't get to the balcony area of the theater, but what we saw was impressive. 

So, come along as we explore. 

There is underground parking nearby and the weather was good for our short way over. It seemed like about half the streets of downtown Auckland are closed off due to either resurfacing or the Britomart train expansion excavations going on, but Allie was able to make her way regardless.   

Just inside the main entrance.

A mural in the entrance. 

Here we are finding our seats and getting comfortable.  We are early, so we have time to poke around for a little while. 

Impressive, huh?

The boys liked that the lion's eyes are lit from within. That's not reflected light that you see. 

I suppose that this is where the Queen sits when she is in town. 

I'm sure there are much better pictures on-line of this ceiling, but here is mine.  The twinkling lights re-create the night sky above Auckland. (I haven't been able to find the date and time the sky reflects however.) 

It's after the show now, so let's go upstairs and see if it's as nice as what we've seen so far.

Allie sometimes likes to do an impression of the Queen, saying, "Oh my." 
Well, that sums up my reaction too, to this place, but it would have come out as, "Holy Mackeral, look at this place!"  

I read that the architectural style is Moorish Revival, but there are also Hindu Arches used. 

 Every inch is decorated.

You may recall how, in my recent post entitled Fujisan, I told you about loving to explore what's inside buildings. Well, I hit the jackpot here. 
This narrow passage between pillars leads to other rooms and passages and ultimately to a bar. I counted three bars as we explored on this floor. We didn't get up to the highest level, nor down into the "basement' level. Who knows what else there is? (I wish I did.) 

Don't knock over that vase whatever you do. 

Off the passageways or corridors are little alcoves. At the intermission of shows I imagine that these fill up with people sipping drinks.

People walk around this place with their mouths open in astonishment most of the time. Oh, I'm told that it was only me doing that. Well, I was astonished. 

Looking up in a central area. 
Before we got here today, Amiri had mentioned 'counting the elephants.' to Arram. I hadn't understood what he meant. But now, seeing this place, I think it would be quite an undertaking to do such a count. 

It just keeps going around and all over. I would have liked to have had a seat for a while, probably with an appropriate beverage and just soaked in the ambiance of the place. People have been walking these corridors since 1929. 

Our happy group looking over a balcony. 

Same group, What a balcony!

Overlooking the entrance. 

Time to go to lunch. 
Just as we were leaving, I saw a young man dressed in a suit and tie, and wearing Civic identification around his neck, come out of an unmarked door in the corner of a wall. He carefully closed it again after him. I don't know what his job is but he clearly has access to the hidden portions of the place. What a feeling it must be to be a part of this magnificent structure and know it's secrets.  

Despite the popcorn and ice cream at the theater, young bodies, and older ones too, need more substantial nourishment. We headed down to an Asian food court, located about a block from the theater, where we enjoyed an assortment of sushi, noodles, a tea-egg and sandwiches. 

Finally, we topped off our meals with boba tea (bubble-tea) from Quickly Fresh, also in the food court.  

Leaving town we passed a sculpture that represents a pohutukawa flower. 
Thanks Allie for a wonderful day. Your boys will remember such adventures forever. 

Out with the old car and...

...in with the new. 

Allie's new Outlander

Its name, according to the boys, is Commander Toast.

Most of my posts have been built around a theme. This one is not. It is made up of pictures that aren't part of a major item of interest.  I simply snapped these because I liked what I saw and wanted to share the sight with you. Each of them though adds it's little part to the growing picture of New Zealand that I send out to whoever cares to see it. I hope you enjoy them...

I am at Oceanz Seafood, our favorite seafood market in Henderson. I'm not sure but I think the big guy is an ocean sunfish. 

Ugly, but tasty. Meet the monkfish 

 A storm shell clam, Mactra murchisoni steamed and ready to eat. Very firm, but not tough, delicious, sea-salty meat. Of all the shell fish I've tried, this one is the second best. Abalone (paua) was the best. 
http://fostersoe.blogspot.co.nz/2015/09/okay-back-to-fantasy-island.html

This is a traditional Maori cloak made from feathers. 

 While it is beautiful in it's way, and the workmanship is amazing, I can't help wonder how many birds this represents? 

 This sandwich place is a Kiwi take-off on the Vietnamese Bahn Mi sandwich.  To be honest, these sandwiches are pretty good, but they fall short of the true Masterpiece that a real, authentic Banh Mi sandwich is. 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/B%C3%A1nh_m%C3%AC

A view of the Skytower from McLeod Park at about 8:30 on an overcast soccer Saturday morning.

 What do you suppose these are? They are a slightly sweet snack item made from rice flour. They're hollow, like giant straws.

 I think this is a type of eucalyptus. 

Halls have a little different look over here.  

Now That is a good looking building. I'm in Auckland, specifically Albert Park, looking  roughly northwest. 

...Better yet...

That is the Metropolis, a 40-story, postmodernism style, residential building.  There are 6 penthouse suites. Can you imagine walking out on to one of those balconies and surveying the city below?

This past fall, Arram placed 4th among the 8 year olds in his school's yearly cross country race. He was therefore invited to participate in the District-wide race held at a near-by school. Here he is  waiting in line to have his feet and legs washed free of mud after that race. Although it's not a requirement, all the kids run barefoot. ("Shoes slow me down, Grandpa." ) He is the 29th fastest 8 year old in the district. I was poppin' my buttons...

...And speaking of popping my buttons...

Just as we were about to leave school not long ago, a cloudburst blew in and Amiri and I decided to wait for it to move on...While we waited, he stepped up to a piano in the School  Hall, and started belting out tunes.  He shows some real talent I think. A minute or so later, he stepped aside so a little girl who heard him playing and wanted to try her hand at it could have a go. (She was just plinking away, but he treated her attemps with respect.) He's a very kind-hearted guy. I was Very proud of him.   -djf