Tramping in New Zealand and other turns of phrase.

So, I just got back from New Zealand--looks I'll have some fresh photos to post to Flickr for this week's thing. Like a real nerd I went to the main library in Auckland breifly (I also went birdwatching--and I ask you--which is more nerdy?). Unfortunately, I didn't have my camera with me for the library trip (I got plenty of blurry fantail pictures though).

I've combed Flickr for some creative commons pics of the library. These are my favorites:

(http://www.flickr.com/photos/robyn-gallagher/2379192937/)

The library has a coffee shop and from what I could tell, coffee shops in New Zealand (or at least Auckland) try to out-do one another with eccentricity. The absolute best was Shaky Isles--where I had a great "Flat White." A flat white is basically a latte with no foam. You can also get Something called a "Long Black" which is a shot of espresso with hot water on the side.

Anyway, back to library stuff.

In NZ they'd say this picture is "cool as, eh?"--cool as what, I don't know. Things are also "cheap as" or "sweet as." The corny t-shirt possibilites are endless.

Auckland's library is wonderfully modern--it felt like a really well decorated Borders--and the place was packed with people. They have a newspaper reading room where they will print editions of daily papers from around the world. The teen section is very cool--and looked to be well-used. They were having a Shakespeare display (with a First Folio on view) and showing Shakespeare based films in a movie theatre nearby. The historic New Zealand collection featured Maori carvings in the entryway. And my absolute favorite thing--they circulate video games! They do charge a fee, but still, cool as.

I'll upload some of my tramping pictures soon. Tramping means hiking, by the way. I brought back some Cadbury's Energy Scroggin for folks here at Arcade. Scroggin is trail mix.