Auckland museum and sky tower

I'm Today started with breakfast at the hotel. I feel the need to mention that the eggs were strange. They looked like they had cheese in them but they didn't. I regret I didn't take a picture actually. They also have muselli, but we would call it porrege. Pretty much oats, orange peel and or juice and its soaked. It's actually pretty good you put nuts and dried fruit in it.  Anyway, cec and I have been very hungry when we get up so breakfast has been big.

Then we took über, yes they have that here, to the Auckland museum.

(Sign for the museum)

 Great exhibits on Maori. Actually eveything was in English and their native language like the sign above. We did a tour with a nice tour guide who pointed out highlights, then saw a Maori show which highlighted culture through song and dance. 

(The show during a war dance called the haka)

(The show during a display of how they keep in shape, using games like with sticks)

We caught lunch in the cafe, then spent three more hours walking through the museum. I got a chicken burger (chicken sand which) and cec got a kiwi burger, basically a burger with an egg on it. Good food but the ketchup, which they call tomatoe sauce was GROSS. We also had a traditional pastry called Eccles. It has a fruit mixture and was actually pretty good.

(Cecils kiwi burger and yes that's a local beer, he said it was good)

(Eccles pastry)

First off, my impressions so far is the Maori love carving and they are really good at it. 

(Cecil in a tradition Maori hut that we have lost the name of)

(Note the use of shells for eyes)

Also, eveything paralleles the American Indian story in America. Just change Maori with Indian and Americans with British. They also had some brutal tribal warefre items. They also has a section about local wildlife. The moa bird is terrifying, that's what. I have to say about that. Also they have one of the largest ocean fossil collections.

Finally, they had a warm memorial half devoted to WWI and WWII as well as the struggles between the natives and Britain. It's was well done and depressing. One quote in the holocaust area resonated with me:

Anyway, after the museum, we went to the sky tower. Beautiful views even on a rainy day. Mostly city views, but it is the highest building in NZ, so that's to be expected. These are all iPhone photos, the nice camera ones are better.

(Notice the island/volcano in the backgrounds)

We then picked up some tea and hot chocolate at a cafe and subway to eat for dinner later. Yes, subway. You may be asking why. Two reasons: 1. It's something we could pick up and eat later 2. because our hotel is expensive and has no restaurants around it. 

Tonight is pretty much chilling before whale watching tomorrow! Crossing or fingers that weather doesn't cancel it. It's supposed to be rainy and cold he whole time in Auckland but I pulled my winter coat out and am making the best of it.