Early Friday morning we flew to Auckland, New Zealand to spend three and one-half days with our dear friend Kelley Smith. Kelley worked with me at Brown for years and, starting in June, was managing a research project in American Samoa. She took ill there and was medically evacuated to Auckland where she is undergoing treatment.
We had a great time with her in Auckland. Friday night we celebrated my birthday at a nice restaurant in in the Takapuna beach area. The next morning we took a boat to the island of Tiritiri Matangi, which is a preserve for birds. The weather was perfect and the scenery was beautiful. Sunday we went to the farmers market and walked on Takapuna beach along with Jesse who had just arrived from the States to help Kelley through her treatment regimen. We also had the chance to spend time with Kelley’s parents, Gary and Judy. Gary was also our gracious chauffeur, turning on the windshield wipers instead of the turn signal, as I also tend to do in countries with left-hand driving.
There are some photos of our trip to Auckland:
- Tiritiri Matangi
M.
