March 2, 2021
After dinner, we set out for a walk through Freeman’s Bay and and neighboring Grey Lynn. Adding a tropical feel to the evening were these waving palms.
There are many charming small cottages in the area. This one is definitely the most colorful.
And this one is one of the most quaint.
Walking along Ponsonby Road, we enjoyed this swirling sidewalk pebble mosaic, created by Mark Davidson.
There were also some dramatic swirling clouds.
If you are a fan of kombucha (as we are) and you are in town you will want to drop by New Leaf, New Zealand’s first pure Kombucha taproom.
New Zealanders seem to be very fond of their kombucha, with many varieties available. But kiwis real passion seems to be for coffee and cafes. It’s almost impossible to walk any distance without passing a cafe. And if there is no cafe available, chances are you can pick up an espresso from the local gas / petrol station. We passed this little neighborhood cafe that was unfortunately closed due to the current lockdown.
We have noticed during our walks through Washington DC that a number of churches and other religious buildings are being converted into hotels, restaurants and even bars. Apparently, the same thing is happening in Auckland. Case in point is The Convent, which was once a community for nuns but is now a boutique hotel.
Another repurposed building is Studio One Toi Tu on Ponsonby Road. Now a community arts center, the building started life a a police station and barracks.
At the top of Western Park next to Ponsonby road is a sculpture installation by John Radford. It depicts pieces of buildings that once stood in Auckland, sunk into the ground as if they are ancient ruins.
By the time we got home, the palm trees were almost in darkness.
Mal and Lauren 