Lets go Lego

Up early on Thursday and  used our HOP cards to take the Link bus. First of all we checked out 3 Cowie Street where Duncan used to live - just a huge wall with a key pad gate. Then we proceeded on foot to the Museum. First up was the Lego exhibition.
My pick was St Basil's in Moscow and Duncan's was the Mona Lisa mosaic and A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte by Seurat.

This took the longest time to create owing to all the irregular circular shapes. St Basil's took 320hours to complete

She captured the same enigmatic smile, but many times the size of the original in the Louvre

The builders love these tall repetitive strures like Big Ben

Around many of the displays were pits of Lego pieces - the kids couldn't help them selves, but play. We were by Michelangelo's David, and I asked this child of about 3 what he was going to build and he replied he was going to build his head. I whispered to the Dad "I admire his ambition"

The Taj Mahal was another spectacular display. It is white not rose as they can only use traditional lego pieces rather than have them specially made.

This was a controversial piece as it showed people doomed to perish in the water.

Then we went to another special exhibition on Anne Frank and finally went to the War Memorial exhibition up on the third floor.

Duncan in front of a Spitfire

Since it was just after the Anzac Ceremony this memorial was festooned with flowers.

After lunch at the Museum Cafe it was time to accept The HOP challenge and take the ferry to Devonport for a cup  of coffee. It was a beautiful fine afternoon and downtown Auckland  started to look rather charming!

Leaving Devonport

In the evening we meet up with Christine and Alan Marino and their son Ben, who is about Jill's age. We went around a few places on the viaduct and finally settled on Lulu's Inn for a nice relaxed meal where there wasn't too much music blaring. Lots of old stories from the past. Christine still loves her job as manager at Ronald Mac Donald House, where they also live, and Alan mans the desk on 3 nights

And they talked, and talked and talked..