7 Comments
User's avatar
Roger Stein's avatar

Hi Gibbo and Alex, enjoyed your impressions and comments on NZ cities and geography. The train trip certainly seems to hit the spot, especially food menu. I’ve worked with a few kiwis in Perth and they’re easy going, good sense of humour, people. Kind of saw that with your fellow train travellers interactions.

Expand full comment
Denis de souza's avatar

We intend to cross country two nations of interest: Mexico and France in the future.

Expand full comment
Denis de souza's avatar

I just love trains, and to even air, but haven't been to Auckland, or Seattle journeys. But have travelled extensively through India. Goa to Delhi, Goa to Mangalore, Goa to Chennai, and recent pilgrimage to Our Lady of Valankani, etc.

But the southern Indian train that caught my imagination was the one from Goa to Coimbatore. This is down the Konkan via the Western Ghats, through to Mangalore junction and onwards to final destination.

But for my spouse, who has travelled to China and also to the United Kingdom, and she prefers air travel. But for local state expeditions aplenty undertaken together.

The state may be tiny, but is interesting by rivers, bridges, mountains, etc, is a multiple rivers delta, like New York City.

Expand full comment
Geoff Gibson's avatar

You would really enjoy this train trip for sure! And she might as well because it's relatively short versus some of the longer US/Canada train trips.

Expand full comment
David Redfern's avatar

Interested in the comparison of Auckland to Seattle, the latter I've not been to. However, my son calls Auckland 'Birmingham (UK) on sea'. He's been twice, me once, and I agree with him. And, that comparison is not favourable to Auckland. The scenery around is lovely, but the city itself.... meh!

Expand full comment
Geoff Gibson's avatar

I guess here's what I'll say:

Both cities are hilly, by the sea, have tall skyscrapers, are the dominant economic centers for their regions, and have "big city energy."

The last one is really key here. There's an air of importance that I found both Auckland and Seattle have. It's hard to describe but especially when visiting Wellington, I could feel the shift in how people relate to their place. Wellingtonians (?... not sure on demonym here) weren't as hustle and bustle and were more casual than Aucklanders. It's a similar vibe as Portland is to Seattle I feel.

Expand full comment
Austin Perdue's avatar

I fell in love with Wellington and moved over from the 'States several years back. Looking forward to hearing more of your traveled perspective on the area, and to see some of your other travels in this country.

If you can believe it, Wellington is actually having an unusually hard time right now. The current government has put a lot of projects on hold, and the city's energy is low compared with years past. I wager you saw some evidence of that during your time here.

You're also brave for coming in winter. You can't beat Wellington on a good day, but there are definitely... fewer of those, this time of year.

Expand full comment