day 33 – day two, auckland, new zealand

netting over the grapes protects them from new zealand's enormous bird population

beautiful tasman sea coast where gannets teach their young to fly by pushing them off these cliffs

new zealand farmland (with future leg of lamb)

the leader of the cruise specialist tour group invited me to join them today on one of their private tours… they book all their stuff independently of the company shore excursions, so i did not have to appear in an official capacity, officially, tho i am always “on the gig” when in public especially if with guests… at least i didn’t need to be responsible for anyone other than myself!  we went on a very nice bus out of town and into north island new zealand wine country… we went to several wonderful vineyards  and had tastings, tours and lunch at the final stop – we also had time before the luncheon to dash out to the tasman sea coast to see where the gannets nest, a large sea bird somewhere between a seagull and an albatross… beautiful! 

thanks for all your advice on the don’t touch me issue – i think i will take it up with my cruise director, and i will request a small sign be put on the glass barrier behind me (it's there for a reason, but clearly doesn't) and it could politely ask people to refrain from startling the piano player by touching – requests can easily be made from the front or either side where i can see!

we sailed away at 5pm from auckland, and my cocktail hour was packed… tonight’s happy hour themed set was “can I have it in the form of a question?”, in other words, songs with questions as the title (who’ll stop the rain, what are you doing the rest of your life, etc.)… after two busy days of activities ashore, they were dropping like flies after 10pm… i actually wrapped nearly an hour early!  that’s ok, cause extra sleep is always ok on busy port days…  here is the port song of the day for auckland… i put the chorus as an intro first instead of the verse in case you are trying to synch up the syllables in your mind’s ear… enjoy!  -df

proprietess of keumu vineyards - family winery with new zealand's best chardonnay - look for it at costco! 

french oak barrels... the best!

lunch and wine tasting at the soljans estate

port song, auckland, new zealand

(to the tune of “the mexican hat dance” or “yakko’s world” from animaniacs… same melody)

we got here to auckland on sunday, i took a tour of the highlights

we saw the memorial war museum and the view from mt. eden crater’s heights

i couldn’t find anything funny about the history of waitangi day

so the main bulk of my auckland port song is about what happened here today

i had such a lov-ely monday in Auckland, about it i would like to sing

we drove through the country and it looked like something right out of the lord of the rings

with green rolling hills and the sheep and the cows it was quite a bucolic setting

the more wine i drank the more notes that i took so the details i’d not be forgetting

at keumu we met a nice family who makes some of the best wine around

the matriarch was very charming, with her kids and grandkids all around

we tasted of several bottles and i guess that the funny thing was

i’m glad that i hadn’t had breakfast because i copped a nice little buzz

we went to the next place and they popped some bubbly and i bought a bottle to drink

i liked every wine except one that tasted like the disposal of a kitchen sink

they have a bucket if you want to dump out what’s left after you’ve had a taste

you must be kidding, it’s wine and it’s free, and to pour it out seems such a waste

we drank lots of nice wines from north island at 3 separate places today

i am glad they had lunch at the last stop or i’d prob’ly still be in the bag

and i didn’t mention the gannets on the coast of the great tasman sea

we had extra time before lunch reservations so we saw them, how lucky are we!

our guide was martina she passed around silver ferns, seashells and fiber from flax

she put up with everyone’s tipsy shenanigans, was friendly and had all our backs

she found my camera when i left it behind and returned it to me, oh hooray!

if it wasn’t for her we’d be wandering round drinking wine ‘til well after sailaway

           

there are sparkling wines and full bodied reds from wairarapa out to hawkes bay

there are sauvignon blancs and syrah’s here, and award winning prize chardonnays

desert wines and cabernet merlot blends, or perhaps you’d prefer pinot gris

if you like some wine from the north of new zealand then our tour was the place to be!

here is to ellen, my cruise specialist friend here, who welcomed me to join their bunch

the wine tour was lovely, as were all the people, and it was quite a delicious lunch

i’m glad i learned so much today about wine, and i’m so glad to be on this cruise

it’s part of a musician’s tough job description to never turn down the free booze!