Today I was able to return to Albert Park! I went walking with my friend Ronnie on a beautiful day and it definitely felt more crowded. I sat with her by the fountain at the center of the park, and as she ate her fresh crepe, I closed my eyes and took in the sounds. The first thing I noticed was the rush of the water and the sound of laughter from children playing with their parents. The more I paid attention, I heard the same bird songs flowing from the trees. I could tell that there were at least a few different species calling out to one another, communicating things I would never know.

When I opened my eyes, they fell right onto the fountain. A homeless man had begun to take his shirt off (I assume he was getting ready for a swim). As I looked around, I saw pigeons scavenging for crumbs and students crossing the park to get into town. As my eyes wandered, I noticed how the colors of the park were only complemented by the skyscrapers. Even though I felt so appreciative about how beautiful the country has been so far, it was at that moment that I truly realized Auckland has done a much better job of incorporating natural life into their biggest city than any other metropolis I have ever seen. There are different flower species everywhere and you can’t turn the corner of a street without seeing a little garden.

The air quality is also so much fresher here. My face has almost cleared up entirely, and despite the fact that I’m wheezing due to the amount of hills I have to climb, my lungs seem grateful for the time I’ve spent here. The homeless man did end up swimming by the way 🙂

I forgot to take another photo of the park, so here is a pic of the fountain I found online.