Been there several times, with similar experiences. Definitely beats having pockets picked, laptops stolen, and wondering whether someone will steal one's shirt or pants next. Not that such things have happened at any venue where IETF has met in the past :-( john --On Monday, 24 August, 2020 11:13 -0400 Warren Kumari <warren@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote: > On Mon, Aug 24, 2020 at 3:53 AM Brian E Carpenter > <brian.e.carpenter@xxxxxxxxx> wrote: >> >> Auckland's large new Convention Centre is supposed to be >> ready before January 2025 (after various delays up to and >> including the pandemic). Last time Auckland was seriously >> considered, it would have been a tight squeeze in the old >> convention centre. We're only a 3.5 hour hop from Sydney or >> Melbourne, and non-stop from N. America and much of Asia. In >> any case, it's a long time since the Adelaide meeting, so I >> think this is a great proposal. > > > I've only been to New Zealand once (for the Apricot meeting), > but I found it to be one of the nicest places I've visited. I > arrived late at night, and wanted to get some food, so I > ordered a pizza online; I walked out the back of the hotel, > and then discovered I'd have to walk down a narrow alley > outside a nightclub, crowded with teenagers. I'm an introvert > and don't like rowdy teenagers (and was over-tired!), but I'd > already ordered the pizza, so I took a deep breath and walked > down the ally -- and everyone moved over to the side so I > could easily pass, and smiled. On the way back the same thing > happened, along with some polite "Evening, have a good pizza!" > type comments. > > The entire time I was there I saw one policeman, and he was > leaning against a lamp-post reading a newspaper -- and no-one > seemed to mind; it was clear that he was available, but not > really needed, so why not? > > Everything was clean, without exception everyone was pleasant, > the food was good, the prices were OK, the weather was fine > (slightly too sunny, but I'm really nit-picking), the city was > interesting. If it wasn't so far, I really think I'd try to > emigrate there...
