Feeling a bit blue after the kids returned to the US from their Christmas visit here, we had to do something to make New Year's memorable.  So how about a . . .

ROAD TRIP!!!

To "The City of Sails" - Auckland, New Zealand

Auckland is New Zealand's largest city where 1.5 million live - virtually 33% of all of New Zealand!  It's very vibrant, chic and modern.  Much more cosmopolitan than its friendly rival city, the more "refined" Wellington.

A New Year's Eve cruise on the Auckland Harbor helped shake those blues.  Auckland is the first big city in the world to greet the day, so we were among the first to welcome 2017 - 18 hours ahead of Times Square in New York!  The famous Sky Tower, on the right, brought it in right.

OK, it's not Rozzi's from Cincinnati (boy, are we spoiled with those!!) but they were pretty and a very unique way to welcome 2017.


By the way, January 1 & 2 are official holidays in New Zealand so the normal workday won't start until the 3rd.  Should the 1st and/or 2nd fall on a weekend, those 2 days will be "made up" the following Monday and Tuesday, if needed.

Also, many restaurants levy a 15% surcharge for being open on holidays.