Weekly Blog #6

The city of Auckland is definitely a busy one. It is a city that imports a lot of its goods, so the port section is always full of ships coming in and out, loading passengers and cargo. The streets are always bustling, full of new noises, sights, and smells every day. 

There are multiple universities and colleges in the city of Auckland or "unis" as the locals call them. Every day, student pack their bags and head to school. They get there multiple ways, from walking, to taking the bus, the train, motorcycles, bicycles, scooters, or cars. You will see them getting coffee at the multiple shops on campus and rolling into their classes just in time. 

Downtown, you will find people as early as five in the morning getting a start on their day at the gym, or jogging through one of the multiple parks in the city. Dogs are being walked, sniffing each other as they pass by. A popular park known as the Auckland Domain is always filled with early birds getting a jump start on their workouts.

As the day goes on, the city gets busier and busier. Ferries are constantly pulling in and out of the city to the nearby islands, carrying commuters and tourists alike. The ports are constantly moving, with cargo ships pulling in and out. They import many of their goods, from oil to cars to food. Workers are moving about, running off and on the ship in the blue uniforms.

The street is filled with people constantly moving, from business men in trim black suits with the popular flat white in their hands, to young children darting in and out of crowds. There is usually a musician at the corner, often times it’s an old man playing a violin or harp. People gather around him, placing coins in his open violin case and swaying to the music.

For lunch, food trucks and small lunch places open up on the corners. A popular one on campus is a pasta truck that accumulates a long line around noon. A burrito place offers free guacamole samples, the smoothie place on the corner is known for their great vegetarian wraps. There is no main cafeteria on campus, just small, mostly local lunch places with a variety of options. A “Budgie Meal” is offered at each place, which means a healthy meal is offered at a budgeted price.

As the work day winds down, the city does not. The grocery stores in the city are open 24 hours, and they are busiest at night. Monday nights are popular for locals to stock up on cheap avocadoes and other New Zealand goodies, and we are always caught in the masses. However, many of the clothing and other shopping stores close early on weekdays, around six pm. This is so the workers can be home with the families at that time.

People can be found doing activities even at late hours during the work week, the new arcade is a popular spot for family fun or a nice evening with friends. The cinema downtown is always booked, and bowling alleys have different theme nights.

Auckland is in many ways a modern city full of new and exciting adventures. They are constantly working to make the city better, as well as conserving many of the original things about it. It is full of a melting pot of people and activities.