MISSION BAY- TRIP TO AUCKLAND

       First off I have to say the views at Mission Bay were gorgeous! I don't think pictures even come close to doing them justice! Everywhere I went, I wanted to be taking pictures! Anyway, I'm going to be honest and tell you I was super nervous to go today! This was the first big adventure on our own. Where we had to find our ride into the city, to the beach, around town, and back home. I was a little bit nervous about. I wasn't sure if all the buses would work and if we would be able to find the bus changes, but good news, we were completely successful! I am very proud of us that we found our way around Auckland all by ourselves!

      Anyway we started out early this morning. We met at the bus stop about ten minutes before the bus came. We wanted to ensure we didn't miss it, we've found the buses tend to come a little bit early here. We all got there and waited...and waited...and waited....but then it finally came! We were all excited/proud of us that we actually figured out the bus schedule and got the right bus!

     Once we were on the bus we had about a half hour drive into the city. This was the second time I had driven through Auckland, but the first time I would actually be walking around! I was so excited! We got to Auckland and had to go get on another bus to take us out to Mission Bay. In order to catch the next bus we had to cross the street. Don't worry it's the craziest thing, over here all at once, the pedestrian signs let you cross. This means you can cross on the diagonal! This was so exciting to me! Who know you could cross the street on a diagonal. I wanted to have someone take a picture of me crossing in the middle of the street, but I decided that might be just a little bit weird! Anyway, we made in on our next bus and it took us right to Mission Bay! It was so pretty!We get off and the first thing we see is the gorgeous fountain! 

     After we looked at the fountain, we decided we would walk around the beach for a little bit. This is definitely a place we are going to come back to. There were so many things you could rent or do. There was a place just for flying kites (we are going to get a cheap kite, and go back), you could rent roller blades, skates, bikes, tandem bikes, and then there were kayaks, the pedal boats, paddle boats, and the standing paddle boats. There is so much to do there. The other thing that was great, was it wasn't very busy! The beach was so peaceful!

        After we walked around we decided we would layout for a little while. The beach was so pretty! Hopefully I am starting to look tan in some of my pictures. I was laying out on the beach and I fell asleep! I must have been so tired from waking up early to get there, and I was so relaxed I just fell right asleep. I wasn't the only one either the majority of us took a little nap there! It was great though! We all needed it, last week we finished our assessment and literacy class, so we all needed the extra sleep and the relaxation! 

        Once we all had woken up and gotten more energy, Katie, Neeley, Rebecca, and I decided to walk down and see some of the other bays on the beach! On the way we saw some of the prettiest views of Auckland! I even got to hold the Sky Tower! ;)

 

     Once we got down to the next bay, we decided we wanted to rent standing paddle boats. Wow! I have so many impressions. First off, who knew standing paddle boats could be so hard! Second of all, they were so much fun! And third of all, I think that may just be another one of my new favorite things! I was laughing so hard! At first we were falling in right and left, but then by the end we were doing awesome! We even paddled all the way out to a yellow boat, around the boat and back in! That takes some major skill. The whole time when we were on the paddle boards, I felt like I was in Pocahontas. I was even singing her songs! I sang "Steady as the Beating Drum," "The Colors of the Wind," and "Just Around the River Bend." I only wish I would have had my hair straight like hers, then I really would have felt like her. It was so much fun! Katie, Rebecca, and I enjoyed every second of our standing paddle boat rides!

    I'm going to be honest though, balancing on the boards killed my quads! They were shaking! It was crazy! It was funny after we got off, all of our legs were dead! I honestly don't know the last time my legs were that tired. It was so much fun though! I am so glad that we rented them and got to play on them! It was so fun!
    After that we had a little bit of spare time before we had to catch our bus to go back home. We decided we would go and check out the mall there, and get some food.  While at the mall, Neeley and I spotted a giant chess set. It looked like it was so much fun to play. Even though neither of us knew how to play, we decided we wanted to pretend to play because when else can you play chess with a giant chess set!

    After we had had enough of our fake chess game, we walked up Queens street for a little bit and looked and the shops. It was then soon to the time to catch the bus. This is the scary part! Getting on the right bus! Guess what!! We did it though! We didn't even have a hard time with it! Once we got home, we just crashed! I was so exhausted. It's crazy how that can take it out of me! It was so fun to be able to go into Auckland! I loved it! It was a great day!