Two Cheeky Lads From Wellington (draft)

Left: Vertiginous view of Auckland's Sky Tower.


At the extraordinarly tall Sky Tower, Auckland's most-famous landmark (taller than the Eiffel Tower!), I encountered a grandmother with two kids (ages about 11 and 13). She asked if I could accompany the kids as they went to visit the observation deck (an adult's presence was required by regulation, but she had just had a pacemaker installed and worried about the consequences). I said sure.













We watched two base jumpers plunge off the side of the tower in a controlled manner on cables down to the ground far below. Quite thrilling! The windows of the observation deck angle out, permitting one to look directly down to the ground hundreds of feet below.














Left: Stunning views, with the volcanic cone Rangitoto in the background.


I also noticed that my two charges were sitting on the floor next to the window, slipping behind the guardrail, leaning on the glass, and using their leg muscles against the floor to put outward pressure on the window. Not wanting to explain to a coroner's inquest how it was that the glass pane popped out, I told them to cut it out. They complied.

We went back down, and located the grandmother. I told her that the kids were pleasant and well-behaved.











Left: The Sky Tower at night.