Auckland like Springtime

As you can see I have found a cafe in Auckland to test their coffee, and yes, it is just as good as I regularly have in Wellington, so the good coffee thing is all over NZ, at least in the two biggest cities, and I've heard Christchurch many even be better. Here I find myself in the quaintly spelled Cafe Alleluya, on one of the principal drags, Karangahape Street, and just around the corner from Auckland Body Positive. I am here for a two day retreat, and I am not at all sure what to expect. After a five am start this morning, meaning I got up at five to get to the airport by six thirty, I think I should sleep well tonight, that's if we have good beds. But I am told the Church of England Retreat Centre at Long Bay is quite upmarket and all will be well.

The 'Alleluya', (Kiwis just have to be original), is situated at the back of a large old shopping centre, the precursor to today's shopping mall I would say, but it is much more charming. It has a few secondhand shops and a big coffee shop sprawled out over the tessellated tiles which are in original condition. I speak to the  current owner who tells me it dates from the late twenties, and the cafe, then called the Iona, was one the first ever coffee shops in Auckland. It is sun filled and the enormous bay windows look onto the iconic Auckland Sky Tower, but I think this arcade is more iconic than the tower which houses the biggest gambling casino in New Zealand. However Auckland is friendly as is Wellington, and the day started well in the plane with my young neighbour offering to hand me down my backpack from the overhead luggage compartment. But then he was probably from Wellington!

It's going to be an interesting weekend that's for sure, with the variety of attendees already I have noticed being as diverse as you could get anywhere. After being picked up at the airport and ferried to BP in downtown Auckland we were then bussed to a place on the East side called Torbay, and very smart it is too. The Centre is situated near a nice beach with small waves rolling and they look so tempting I may well pop in to sample - my first ocean swim in New Zealand. Have already been greeted by some nice people, an Aussie to start with, so I am not alone. The room is a classic retreat style room, with sink and desk, outside shower. 

Great coffee...

Welcome from Cafe Alleluya

Capturing the Twenties with palm fronds

Comfy room with view