Last Days in NZ, Off to Sydney!

My how time flies when you are having fun. We have been in Auckland for the past few days wrapping up our tour of New Zealand. While settling in the hostel room I met an interesting Finn named Pakka. He just graduated college and is doing some much needed travelling while also trying to find a job in web design. I asked him if he was going to the Blues rugby game the next day and he said he wasn't much of a rugby fan, and that he played American football while in highschool, odd. He seemed like a chill guy so we decided to go out for a beer. While at the pub watching and trying to understand an AUS vs. India cricket match he told me about the Finnish version of baseball. He began to describe the game. The pitcher stands by the batter and throws the ball straight up in the air, it has to land on a small circle underneath where he threw it to be fair. The bases are as follows, first base is where third would be in the U.S., second was where first is in the US, and third was somewhere in left field. I called BS but he insisted that everyone in Finland plays this game. I checked and sure enough: Pesäpallo(Finnish Baseball). Also, Pekka says the best way for foreigners to speak Finnish with the correct accent is "to speak as though you were, you know, a retarded person."The next day we went to the first Auckland Blues rugby game of the season. They play in the Super 14 league which is a profesional league comprised of teams from NZ, Australia, and South Africa. There was a bit of rain during warmups but the sun broke thru for what turned out to be some very competetive and exciting rugby. A great experience to see live 15's at one of the highest levels of play. The Blues were down 11-8 at halftime but came out to start the second half with a full head of steam.

The Blues' lit up the second half with great backline play. Blues and All Black winger Joe Rokocoko (I like saying that name) had an amazing run for a score that ended with a dive across the touch-line (conversion kick shown). A lot of great backline plays, big kicks, and de-cleaters. Blues beat the Chiefs 32-14 after fulltime. We had a blast celebrating with the locals during and after the game. As the locals say, Go the Blues!!!
That about ends our stay in New Zealand. Tomorrow we are off to the real land down under, Australia. Until then, Cheers!

-dc