Tuesday October 13, 09
Fiji Islands
Overcast this morning. First it is strange that we lost 1 whole day-then we set the clocks back 1 hour last nite-tonite we set them ahead 2 hours-this really does get a little confusing-trying to remember what time it is-puts a whole new meaning to “Island Time”.
We have been having wonderful live performances on board. Last night we dined with our star dancing couple-Noel and Victoria-Ballroom Dance Champions that met in college and have been together ever since. She is from Russia and he-American. They reside in Miami, but travel aboard ships throughout the world acting as their own agents.
They are quite good, and even teach private lessons onboard to interested couples wanting to improve their ballroom dancing.
Then we had a hilarious comedy show from a “Brit” and laughed the entire show-so many one liners-wish I had a recorder-you know I can’t remember jokes-but honestly they were so funny!
Of course our group comedian is our new friend Steve Davies from Australia-formerly from England himself and he is helping me make up the Brit, Auzzie, Kiwi Dictionary of slang! The stuff that just rolls out of his mouth is keeping us on our toes!
Today will be the last of our Polynesian, Melanisian island tours. Then back to sea and onward to New Zealand.
Newlyweds, Jack and Lorraine are going to take the group of us touring in their city of Auckland and end with a “beeeer” in some Pub.
Ok-so our tour today began in the port of Suva and wound along the coast and inland to Longani-crossing the Waimanu River-the largest river on this island. This island is called Viti Levu-one island of 333.
I guess our expectations were a little high-we wound through very low income, poverty areas-seeing mostly the area of the island where the many schools-government, private and religious were grouped together. We passed the Polynesian college and the airport at Nausori-which looked like an airport built in 1920. The President’s palace had a guard at the gate and the most impressive building we saw after 4 hours was the US EMBASSY!
Most homes are shacks made up of tin roofs-painted every color of the rainbow-but no NEW paint-garbage is everywhere-a very dirty place from the towns to the main city. It is not a pretty city-the architecture is not pleasing to the eye and everything is old. In the cities, people stand around in large groups on the sidewalks.
This is not a place I would personally need to come to again-though the port people were friendly enough-and everyone waves-we did not see any new hotels, clean beaches or attractive structures.
The Fiji Police Band in their full dress uniforms sent us off to music-so for now
“Moce”-good evening!
Wednesday October 14, 2009
AT SEA Heading southerly towards Auckland, NZ
Today is a quiet day at sea, time to catch up on the computer notes, download photos and relax on deck. Moving into cooler weather-on deck in the 70’s.
Mike went to the Culinary Demonstration and “Princes of Wales” lecture. I visited and did reading after working on the computer-eyes are getting sore trying to edit photos for Jack and Lorraine.
Evening time was formal dress with dinner in the Capri Dining Room and new table friends from New Zealand. One thing that always seems to be in agreement is the talk surrounding our political leaders-seems like everyone has something to complain about their own country’s leaders.
Thursday, October 15, 2009
AT SEA
The weather is cooling down now and we got out of bathing suits today and into sweats on deck.
Our lecture by Jean was regarding the people of New Zealand-the indigenous Maoris who have made Auckland the largest Polynesian city in the world. The Maori people came from East Polynesia, an 1860 mile journey in canoes. They were really a fighting group of people-and would scare people by sticking out their tongues and making a face-(hmm-quite like my son-in-law Leif!) (just kidding) A professional group of dancers will board the ship Friday nite to perform for us.
Auckland has more boats per capita than any other city in the world-Auckland is appropriately known as the City of Sails. Auckland stretches across 60 extinct volcanoes.
It actually separates two seas-the Tasman Sea to the west and the Pacific Ocean.
The size of New Zealand is 103,739 square miles with a population of 4,115,771, the capital being Wellington, our 2nd stop in the country. Their currency is the New Zealand Dollar.
Maori language for the day is-Haere mai-meaning welcome!
Friday, October 16, 2009
Auckland, New Zealand
We began our day walking from the pier along the waterfront and up Queen Street. This area reminds me of the walk from Pike’s Place up to the downtown area of Seattle. Like many other cities it is quite up to date with all types of stores. Steve wanted to see the Sky Tower-much like the Space Needle in Seattle. It has an observation deck and people actually bungee jump off the side, after being fitted below with harness and straps. The jump is a mere 192 meters-no thank you very much!
We then walked back to the Maritime Museum where we waited for Jack and Lorraine to pick us up for the tour of their town and the surrounding area.
Along the waterfront are many of the America’s Cup yachts. (As the day progressed-I quite honestly have never seen so many sailing boats-at every bend along the coastline)
Jack pointed out Mt. Eden-an extinct volcano, and also the highest point and home to a Maori fort. From this point we could see the entire peninsula. We drove over the Harbor Bridge, which spans the Waitemata Harbor and saw Viaduct Basin. We drove through Cornwall Park and visited One Tree Hill. On to the town of Devonport, a charming Victorian style town-(that I most appreciated) for it’s lovely architecture and quaint shops. Up Mt. Victoria and then to the Vineyards at Kumeu to visit the Soljans Estate Winery & Café. The winery began from vines that were imported from Croatia and planted in Wedst Auckland. They do sweeter wines, Pinotage and a nice merlot/Cab/Malbec blend-that Jack bought.
All in our group had a most wonderful day. There is nothing quite like your own personal tour guides and stopping at their home to use the loo!
We so appreciated our day and will sorely miss Jack and Lorraine for the remainder of our trip-but know that someday we will all meet again-perhaps on some remote island!(At least that’s the plan for now!)
Back on board, a Maori dance group performed for all-it was a packed house-standing room and sitting in the aisles!
Thank you Bell’s for a great visit!
Saturday, October 17, 2009
AT SEA
We have now gone over 8,000 nautical miles since leaving San Francisco.
I must say that I was most impressed with the beauty of the city of Auckland. The structures were modern and look very much like SF. The air as well as the streets are clean. Everything is very green. It is the start of spring here and the rhodendrons are in full bloom.
Today I am getting quite a laugh from the book that Jan Davies bought for me. It is “Stone the crows” a dictionary of modern slang-brit and auzi slang-which we have been getting our share of! The hope is that we will all learn and laugh from this and remember all our new friends, when we use their sayings.
“Happy as Larry, watchin a “titchy monkey man” in a “caff, getting tea’n’a wad.”
Figure that one out! I’m startin’ ta get a drift a dis.
We are now heading for Wellington-the capital of New Zealand, and the country’s second largest urban area-also” the southern-most capital city in the world.”
Sunday, October 18, 2009
Wellington, NZ southern north island
At the edge of Wellington Harbor, also known as Port Nicholson and surrounded by rolling hills-we dock in front of Westpac Stadium.
The Parliament building here has recently been refurbished and there is a cable car up to Kelburn where the city views are spectacular. Te Papa is the Museum of New Zealand where there are many artifacts from the Maori tribes. (This museum is 3 football fields long!)
Jan, Mike and myself set off in pouring rain-caught the shuttle bus to town. We found the entrance to the Wellington Cable Car and rode round trip for $4 each. On top are the Cable Car Museum and the beautiful Botanical Gardens. We then set out for Cuba Street-best way to describe this area is closed off streets and small shops with a feel much like University Avenue, Berkeley, CA. Mike had enough and returned to the ship-of course we lingered in the shops, stopped off for some hot chocolate Tuesday October 13, 09
Fiji Islands
Overcast this morning. First it is strange that we lost 1 whole day-then we set the clocks back 1 hour last nite-tonite we set them ahead 2 hours-this really does get a little confusing-trying to remember what time it is-puts a whole new meaning to “Island Time”.
We have been having wonderful live performances on board. Last night we dined with our star dancing couple-Noel and Victoria-Ballroom Dance Champions that met in college and have been together ever since. She is from Russia and he-American. They reside in Miami, but travel aboard ships throughout the world acting as their own agents.
They are quite good, and even teach private lessons onboard to interested couples wanting to improve their ballroom dancing.
Then we had a hilarious comedy show from a “Brit” and laughed the entire show-so many one liners-wish I had a recorder-you know I can’t remember jokes-but honestly they were so funny!
Of course our group comedian is our new friend Steve Davies from Australia-formerly from England himself and he is helping me make up the Brit, Auzzie, Kiwi Dictionary of slang! The stuff that just rolls out of his mouth is keeping us on our toes!
Today will be the last of our Polynesian, Melanisian island tours. Then back to sea and onward to New Zealand.
Newlyweds, Jack and Lorraine are going to take the group of us touring in their city of Auckland and end with a “beeeer” in some Pub.
Ok-so our tour today began in the port of Suva and wound along the coast and inland to Longani-crossing the Waimanu River-the largest river on this island. This island is called Viti Levu-one island of 333.
I guess our expectations were a little high-we wound through very low income, poverty areas-seeing mostly the area of the island where the many schools-government, private and religious were grouped together. We passed the Polynesian college and the airport at Nausori-which looked like an airport built in 1920. The President’s palace had a guard at the gate and the most impressive building we saw after 4 hours was the US EMBASSY!
Most homes are shacks made up of tin roofs-painted every color of the rainbow-but no NEW paint-garbage is everywhere-a very dirty place from the towns to the main city. It is not a pretty city-the architecture is not pleasing to the eye and everything is old. In the cities, people stand around in large groups on the sidewalks.
This is not a place I would personally need to come to again-though the port people were friendly enough-and everyone waves-we did not see any new hotels, clean beaches or attractive structures.
The Fiji Police Band in their full dress uniforms sent us off to music-so for now
“Moce”-good evening!
Wednesday October 14, 2009
AT SEA Heading southerly towards Auckland, NZ
Today is a quiet day at sea, time to catch up on the computer notes, download photos and relax on deck. Moving into cooler weather-on deck in the 70’s.
Mike went to the Culinary Demonstration and “Princes of Wales” lecture. I visited and did reading after working on the computer-eyes are getting sore trying to edit photos for Jack and Lorraine.
Evening time was formal dress with dinner in the Capri Dining Room and new table friends from New Zealand. One thing that always seems to be in agreement is the talk surrounding our political leaders-seems like everyone has something to complain about their own country’s leaders.
Thursday, October 15, 2009
AT SEA
The weather is cooling down now and we got out of bathing suits today and into sweats on deck.
Our lecture by Jean was regarding the people of New Zealand-the indigenous Maoris who have made Auckland the largest Polynesian city in the world. The Maori people came from East Polynesia, an 1860 mile journey in canoes. They were really a fighting group of people-and would scare people by sticking out their tongues and making a face-(hmm-quite like my son-in-law Leif!) (just kidding) A professional group of dancers will board the ship Friday nite to perform for us.
Auckland has more boats per capita than any other city in the world-Auckland is appropriately known as the City of Sails. Auckland stretches across 60 extinct volcanoes.
It actually separates two seas-the Tasman Sea to the west and the Pacific Ocean.
The size of New Zealand is 103,739 square miles with a population of 4,115,771, the capital being Wellington, our 2nd stop in the country. Their currency is the New Zealand Dollar.
Maori language for the day is-Haere mai-meaning welcome!
Friday, October 16, 2009
Auckland, New Zealand
We began our day walking from the pier along the waterfront and up Queen Street. This area reminds me of the walk from Pike’s Place up to the downtown area of Seattle. Like many other cities it is quite up to date with all types of stores. Steve wanted to see the Sky Tower-much like the Space Needle in Seattle. It has an observation deck and people actually bungee jump off the side, after being fitted below with harness and straps. The jump is a mere 192 meters-no thank you very much!
We then walked back to the Maritime Museum where we waited for Jack and Lorraine to pick us up for the tour of their town and the surrounding area.
Along the waterfront are many of the America’s Cup yachts. (As the day progressed-I quite honestly have never seen so many sailing boats-at every bend along the coastline)
Jack pointed out Mt. Eden-an extinct volcano, and also the highest point and home to a Maori fort. From this point we could see the entire peninsula. We drove over the Harbor Bridge, which spans the Waitemata Harbor and saw Viaduct Basin. We drove through Cornwall Park and visited One Tree Hill. On to the town of Devonport, a charming Victorian style town-(that I most appreciated) for it’s lovely architecture and quaint shops. Up Mt. Victoria and then to the Vineyards at Kumeu to visit the Soljans Estate Winery & Café. The winery began from vines that were imported from Croatia and planted in Wedst Auckland. They do sweeter wines, Pinotage and a nice merlot/Cab/Malbec blend-that Jack bought.
All in our group had a most wonderful day. There is nothing quite like your own personal tour guides and stopping at their home to use the loo!
We so appreciated our day and will sorely miss Jack and Lorraine for the remainder of our trip-but know that someday we will all meet again-perhaps on some remote island!(At least that’s the plan for now!)
Back on board, a Maori dance group performed for all-it was a packed house-standing room and sitting in the aisles!
Thank you Bell’s for a great visit!
Saturday, October 17, 2009
AT SEA
We have now gone over 8,000 nautical miles since leaving San Francisco.
I must say that I was most impressed with the beauty of the city of Auckland. The structures were modern and look very much like SF. The air as well as the streets are clean. Everything is very green. It is the start of spring here and the rhodendrons are in full bloom.
Today I am getting quite a laugh from the book that Jan Davies bought for me. It is “Stone the crows” a dictionary of modern slang-brit and auzi slang-which we have been getting our share of! The hope is that we will all learn and laugh from this and remember all our new friends, when we use their sayings.
“Happy as Larry, watchin a “titchy monkey man” in a “caff, getting tea’n’a wad.”
Figure that one out! I’m startin’ ta get a drift a dis.
We are now heading for Wellington-the capital of New Zealand, and the country’s second largest urban area-also” the southern-most capital city in the world.”
Sunday, October 18, 2009
Wellington, NZ southern north island
At the edge of Wellington Harbor, also known as Port Nicholson and surrounded by rolling hills-we dock in front of Westpac Stadium.
The Parliament building here has recently been refurbished and there is a cable car up to Kelburn where the city views are spectacular. Te Papa is the Museum of New Zealand where there are many artifacts from the Maori tribes. (This museum is 3 football fields long!)
Jan, Mike and myself set off in pouring rain-caught the shuttle bus to town. We found the entrance to the Wellington Cable Car and rode round trip for $4 each. On top are the Cable Car Museum and the beautiful Botanical Gardens. We then set out for Cuba Street-best way to describe this area is closed off streets and small shops with a feel much like University Avenue, Berkeley, CA. Mike had enough and returned to the ship-of course we lingered in the shops, stopped off for some hot chocolate and then finished our walk at Kirkcaldie & Stains, one of the country’s most prestigious department stores with the only DOORMAN in the country!
Another beautiful place with helpful people.
Monday, October 19, 2009
Christchurch, NZ
Docking at Lyttleton harbor-about 6 miles from the city.
Known as the “most English city outside of England”
On the South Island of NZ-300,000 residents-103,739 sq miles
This city is a grid of organized streets with wide tree lined avenues and broken now and then by the Avon River. The plains are the leading agricultural region and mainly grow wheat and lambs! The trams here are much like the cable car of San Francisco.
As we pulled up to dock, the town crier welcomed us.
I took a tour that visited the heart of Christchurch. We began with a Punt tour of the Avon River. The punt is much like a gondola-when seated they give you a warm blanket and they push with a long pole as you drift down the river. It winds through the botanical gardens and is amazingly beautiful. We then strolled through the Botanical Gardens and visited the Museum and then walked across the street to the Arts Center. I loved the shops here filled with artists at work and musicians performing. I then boarded the Tram-much like the SF cablecar. While touring the rest of the city center area, we had High Tea, complete with High Tea Sandwiches, Scones, Desserts and Chocolate Dipped Strawberries-of course Tea and all served in English china-a real treat.
I then met up with Mike and we continued walking through the Arts Center and shops.
A wonderful city- very clean with beautiful contrast in architecture styles. Now one of my favorite places to visit.
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Dunedin, NZ
Another stunning docking job by the captain before 8:00 am at Port Chalmers. We debarked the ship and walked right onto our train coach headed for Taieri Gorge. The distance from Dunedin to Pukerangi is approximately 58 km. Traveling south we passed neigherborhoods, the Carisbrook Stadium-where they play rubgy then on to Mt. Allan where sheep on the hillsides are plentiful. Pukerangi itself is 250 meters above sea level and means “Hill of Heaven”. From here one can see the snow covered “New Zealand Alps”. Once there, we met local ladies that made woolen gifts from their lambs.
Volunteer stewards that serve a wonderful champagne toast and then lunch onboard run the rail line. The scenery was beautiful-much like I would expect Ireland to look like from pictures I have seen. Rugged, green, plentiful with trees, bright yellow scotch broom in bloom and sheep, horses and cows.
On our way back, we off boarded at the central train station in Dunedin and walked into town to shop before returning to the ship by 5:30 p.m.
Another beautiful day-and I think this had to be the best tour at the end of the trip-what a beautiful country and gracious people.
We begin the sail tonight for the Fjordlands.
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Fjordland National Park, NZ
At 8:00 am when we were supposed to enter Doubtful Sound, the captain came over the loud speaker and announced due to the very rough sea conditions, we would not be entering this sound nor Dusky Sound , but continue on to Milford Sound. At approximately 2pm we entered Milford Sound and the captain navigated in and did some 360-degree turning while we all attempted to take photos in the pouring rain and cloud cover. This would have been the most beautiful photo of the trip-but Mother Nature is certainly in control and we had to settle for rain and poor visibility of the fabulous waterfalls.
Our onboard-retired Park Ranger John von Tunzelman, narrated the trip through the area, explaining the discovery and the “seventh wonder of the world”. Fourteen fiords, reaching up to 40 km inland, extend from Milford Sound. Once we leave here we are heading westerly for our last stop in Sydney.
Thursday, October 22, 2009
AT SEA heading North Westerly across the Tasman Sea towards Australia
The morning began with a lecture by Jean on the life “Down Under”. Then a meet with the Australian authorities for the immigration clearance of passports. On to a demonstration by the culinary department-Italian style of course! The last of the lectures by John Maxtone-Graham-as usual interesting stories from around the world. In the afternoon I did the Susan G. Komen 5K walk around the ship-that would be 9 laps! My legs then felt like jello-by the afternoon there was quite a headwind-could hardly keep our hats on!
The evening was the last formal event and the Captain’s Party. Cocktails, Horsdourves, and Lobster are the norm tonite. A good time to say farewell to all the new people we have met during this cruise. Mike and I finally had our photos taken by the ship’s photographer. We took lots of photos of the celebration and a group of us went dancing until our feet were too tired to carry on! A great way to end our cruise.
Friday, October 23, 2009
AT SEA
Ooops-Mike has the plague-yuk-he is coughing and hacking and not feeling well. Hope I don’t get whatever it is he has-probably just a cold.
Just a note of interesting info regarding Australia-we can now receive their news and it seems they are opening the World’s Longest Golf Course-it stretches across 2 of their states-is 18 holes- 1300 KM. The holes are named after animals-like “Dingo”.
They do things big down here!
It is a packing day-so now we are trying to cram all the stuff we bought for everyone into our suitcases and keep the weight under 50 pounds! This is a challenge!
This will be my last entry until I get home-sorry about the lack of communication-I now know that email is best on land at an email café! I have terribly missed you all and look forward to seeing you when I get back!
