Hot cross buns today!!! We got them! And boy were they good! We got one chocolate-coffee bun and two plains which were definitey not plain. Good Lord! They were baked in the little bakery we found, the Tart Bakery, and were simply divine. Please understand these little tiny bakeries with peculiar names and absolutely no work room and little display room are everywhere. We just seem to find the really good spots, and they invariably have wonderful people running and manning them. It could be because Stan has an unusual gift . . . I mean, honestly, he does. He has a way of instantaneously bringing out the inner lunatic in people. Here is the picture . . . we walk in, just looking around, we say hello. People are behind the counter busy just being busy. Then, Stan says something, I don't know, just some random thing, and before I know it they are laughing; we are laughing and they are giving us samples and inviting us to immigrate.

I don't know why I'm so infatuated with Hot Cross Buns. I think maybe it could be because of the Hot Cross Buns song we learned in first grade or in first piano lessons. It is certainly not because I had them as a child or that they are a traditional famiy treat. I have to say though they are in bakers' windows everywhere here and when we tell them that we only see these buns at Easter-time, they say we must immigrate here immediately. How sweet! Oh and get this, we will definitely return to the Tart Bakery tomorrow - the lady-baker promised to make apricot scones in the morning -- at Stan's request—he had his choice—really he did!! We will be there and we purchase a couple at least. No doubt there will be much laughter as well.

After the buns, we packed a picnic lunch and headed to the Auckland Zoo - the premier zoo of New Zealand. We walked, of course. It was such a lovely day - warm sun with breezes laced with a hint of cool and brilliant skies.

I have not spent much time talking about the unique plant and animal life here but I should at least address that. New Zealand stood isolated from the rest of the world for 70 million years!!!! Thus it has plant life and animal life found nowhere else in world. Many of their species have been lost in the last 400 years due to mankind bringing over non-native plants and animals like rats, possums, foxes, English Ivy, and insects, and due to clear-cutting and burning of forests and rain forests for agricultural purposes. Over 90% of NZ's original forest land has been destroyed. As a result, NZ has become acutely aware of conservation and they can teach us a valuable lesson.

The zoo here is absolutely remarkable! It presents the best of New Zealand in natural habitats for native plants and animals but also features other exotic and wonderful animals as well. Set in Western Springs Park, this zoo provides spacious habitats for all its resimight be in the wild. Fruit is attached to a tree; nuts and seeds might be hidden in a compartment that must be dug out. This zoo is a must-see, must-do for anyone coming this way. I'll tell you this, if reincarnation is real, I would like to be a Lory and I'd like to live and be protected in the Auckland Zoo.

I am so happy we spent this day in this way.