Backing Black

It's so good to be a Kiwi right now! We are hosting the Rugby World Cup and it seems like the whole world is here. There are flags on cars and houses and we are feeling utterly patriotic. I just think it's wonderful to be united by something other than war. This is our national sport and we love it!

For all of you non-rugby people out there, here's an explanation.
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Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century.^[2] One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand. It is played with an oval-shaped ball on a field up to 100 metres (330 ft) long and 70 metres (230 ft) wide with H-shaped goal posts on each goal line.

And here is the greatest team in the world- the mighty All Blacks! [And yes, because we dress in black!]



C'mon Black!!!!

So anyway, Auckland is putting on a party for the World Cup and all the visitors. We decided on the spur of the moment to go down to the waterfront on Saturday morning. This was the morning after the opening ceremony and the first game (which the All Black's won, thank you muchly)

The waterfront was a disaster zone the night before when 200,000 people descended on the area to party and celebrate. The city authorities were expecting 60,000. A slight shortfall in planning. Public transport failed and it was a mess. People missed the game and were very hot and bothered. When we arrived on Saturday morning bright and early there was a full scale clean up in place and the waterfront was being restored.

We had a wonderful time. I am biased but Auckland is lovely! We ate ice creams and wandered around all the new development and World Cup temporary structures. Rupi loved watching the boats and running everywhere. He also fell down multiple times and we resolved to start packing a first aid kit. Blossom charmed the public at large and the sun shone and life was good!

Please note that the explanation of the photos below is mostly for Gail. It won't make much sense to anyone else and I thought she might like to know the ins and outs. And I love her....

The newly developed North Wharf on Wynyard Quarter- where the fuel tanks containers used to be...

Walking towards the new bridge connecting the Viaduct to North Wharf (where Rupi fell about 1ooo times and scraped every inch of his knees)

Party Central on Queen's wharf (beside the ferry)- in front of the temporary "Cloud" structure

Blossom being super cute walking back on Queen's Wharf towards Quay Street.

At the entry to Queen's wharf

May I say one more time...GO THE ALL BLACKS!!