February 11, 2015 - From the Library in Dunedin

February 7, 2015 - Saturday - Bay of Islands

Yesterday was an unexpected sea day due to the closing of the port of Tauranga. We crawled all the way to Bay of Islands cruising at just 10 knots. Our normal speed is twice that or 20 knots.

The entertainment department hurried to put together a program of activities to keep us busy. For us that meant a galley tour and a seminar on the GoPro camera. The galley is huge and very well organized. Every entrée is prepared to order. The cooking area is segregated by type of meat, fowl or fish to avoid contamination. The sanitation standards are those required in the U S because these are the highest in the world. This governs such things as the separation of cooking methods as well as food temperatures and traffic flow for the handling of food. Most impressive.

The GoPro seminar was rather rudimentary. This is probably because it was a rushed addition to the program and the camera functions are very simple. It was a decent way to pass some time.

Bay of Islands is a tender port. When we opened our veranda curtains, we were looking directly at Holland America's Amsterdam. It is doing the around the world cruise. We wondered if we might meet our friends, the News, from the South America cruise as we walked the town.

We landed within walking distance of the grounds where the Treaty of Waitangi was signed. This treaty is the foundation of the country of New Zealand. We chose to walk to the grounds, and return for the free bus into town later. When we finally arrived at the entrance, we decided not to enter. The way we devour museums we would spend too much time here.

As we turned to walk to the shuttle stop, we were hailed by two couples we had met on the South America cruise. Amazing. They would pass our regards to the News.

The 15 minute bus ride into Paihia took us to the heart of town. A craft market was set up in the square. It is there whenever a ship comes in. After the obligatory tour of the market we walked the Main Street. At the library a mob of cruisers were trying to use the free wifi. Good luck. The system was overburdened, and logging on was impossible. After cruising main, we went to the ferry terminal to take a ferry to the town of Russell. The waterfront street reminded us of Williamsburg. Buildings had wood siding and white picket fences. Most of these were hotels or restaurants. We stopped for some great fish and chips with local beers.

Our next stop was another craft market. A woman, who was selling wood turnings, noticed my shirt. On the last day of a cruise or segment I wear my Bitter End Yacht Club t-shirt. She said she had not seen that logo for years. It turned out that she was a delivery captain, and used to bring a 45 foot sailboat from Portugal to the Virgin Islands every fall. That stopped about 20 years ago, when she settled in New Zealand. She and her husband are now care takers on one end of a small private island in the bay. He is a wood worker. She is now a wood turner. He built their sailboat. She supplements their income with her turnings. Before we left I asked her about her Maori tattoos. They were done by a Maori artisan after a lengthy interview. They start with a compass rose on the back of her left hand. From there they split into multiple "roads" depicting the paths of her life. All were done in the traditional black ink. Her arm is a work of art.

We continued our walk of the town and found the church. It is the oldest church in New Zealand. Back at the pier we took the return ferry to Paihia. We walked to the stone church. It is very nice with a cemetery in the back and memorial stones along the wall around the property. We were struck by how many of these memorial markers were for people who lived in other countries, but had deep fondest for this area.

We had a long wait for the tender back to the ship, and arrived in our cabin at 5:30. Sail away is 6:00. This is the closest we have come to the all aboard time. It was a great and full day in Bay of Islands.

Dinner was a time for goodbyes to our new friends from England. They were packed and ready to go. Mitch and Kathryn would spend 3 days in Auckland before heading to Singapore. Rex and Barbara were going to Singapore then on to Hong Kong.

Back in our cabin we found information for tomorrow in Auckland. We received a passenger in transit pass and our new key cards. We would have to be out of our room by 9:30. Not a problem.

February 8, 2015 - Sunday - Auckland, NZ

How nice not to have to be concerned about luggage. We had a leisurely breakfast. Then we wandered around the ship taking pictures of various venues without worrying about people. They were all on their way out.

At 9:30 we went to the gangway, and made our way through the terminal. Almost all of the luggage had been picked up. Things looked pretty good. Then we got outside the terminal. The line for taxis was 2 blocks long. We walked right by.

A few blocks away we found Queen Street. This is a main drag through central Auckland. Shops were just opening, as it was now 10:00. We entered a store of beautiful artifacts for sale. The clerk was very helpful. She described what we were looking at, and gave us some historical background for the pieces. We thanked her for her friendliness. She asked where we were from, and offered that we should take a ferry to Devenport and climb Mt. Victoria for spectacular views of the city from across the water. We thanked her and headed off.

Our immediate was to get to St. Patrick's Cathedral for 11:00 Mass. This was just a few blocks away, but they were very steep. We arrived with time to spare. The service was very nice, and, although it was similar to Mass at home, it had several local features that made it special.

From the church we headed to Sky Tower. This is a very high concrete tower with a revolving deck at the top. We decided to forego the $225 jump from the top, and walked to the ferry building. On the way we stopped at a Pandora store. We have started collecting Pandora charms from the cities/countries we visit. I gave Alice an Australian flag charm for Christmas. At the time I noticed they had a few interesting New Zealand charms as well. I thought it would be nicer to buy one in the country. Big mistake. The charms they have here are not nearly as nice as the ones I saw in Woodfield. That shop had a dangling kiwi bird and a dangling flag. Here all of the charms were designed to hug the bracelet with no dangling pieces.

We waited a short time for the ferry to Devenport, and enjoyed the 15 minute ride. Once off the ferry we set off on what we were told would be a 15 minute walk to the top of Mt. Victoria. It was definitely a young person who told us that. The walk was very steep, but even with a few breath stops we made it in 20 minutes. Katarina, the shop clerk, had not oversold the views. She said she always brings her visitors here. We understood why.

The walk down was easy. At the terminal we met the couple from Chicago we had lunched with earlier in the cruise. The wife had gone to Alice's high school a few years after she graduated. They had left the ship this morning, and we're spending a few days in Auckland be fire renting a motor home for a three to four week drive throughout the countryside. Bravo for them.

We returned to Solstice just in time for the mandatory lifeboat drill. In our cabin we found a thank you bottle of wine and a coupon good for free laundry for 20 pieces. This was a kind thank you for doing back to back cruises. Very nice indeed. After the drill we went to guest relations and had our package of prepaid gratuities changed to a prepaid beverage package. No problem. With this we get wines up to $10.50 per glass, cocktails up to 9.50 and all specialty coffees, fresh juices, bottled water (we will use this for our tours) and canned sodas. No longer any need to complain about the lack of Happy Hours on Celebrity.

6:00 arrived quickly, and we went to the dining room to find our table. Would you believe they had again seated us at a table for 2 when we had asked for 6. We requested a change, and were told they would work on it. Before our dessert arrived we were given an assignment to a table for 6.  The food and service were good, but we missed our former waiter and wine steward. Our cocktail service was fine, and the wine service was OK. Let's see what tomorrow brings.

February 9, 2014 - Monday - Tauranga 

We awoke to a sunny day with calm seas. We had absolutely no problem docking in Tauranga. Our tour to The Blue Baths for morning tea and then on to Rotorua for the geothermal sites left right on time. The drive though the city and along the coast was beautiful. Then we drove inland and passed kiwi grove after kiwi grove. We did not know that the kiwi fruit grows on vines similar to grapes. A difficulty they have is that as they hang, the wind can cause them to bang together and get bruised. For this reason the groves are surrounded by dense windbreaks made of very dense evergreen trees. For this reason it is very hard to see the fruit growing. We had to peek through the occasion a break between fields.

The Blue Baths were thermal pools in older days. Now the building holds a restaurant and show venue. The current presentation for the evening was a burlesque show. We wish we could have stayed to see how it compares to the Baltimore scene. Tea and scones were excellent.

On to the mud pools and geysers. As we walked into a valley our. Maori guide, Rose, explained some Maori customs as well as the history of the Maori people and the area. Just before we started deeper into the valley, we looked out and saw some steam and bubbling from rocks in the distance. Rose told us that this was the prelude to an eruption that, based on the level of activity, would take place in about 45 minutes. As we walked farther into the valley, Rose pointed out flora and fauna. She also described geothermal nature of the area. Our first big stop was the spitting mud pools. These were fun to watch. Then we moved on to the geyser viewing. As we approached the lesser geysers started spouting more vigorously. Rose assured  us that this was no Disney animatronics. Everything was natural and uncontrolled. Soon these bubblers were going crazy and with a great cloud steam the geyser started a full scale eruption. It was magnificent.

Our next stop was the Maori Ancestral Hall. This meeting place was beautiful. The carvings that adorned the exterior were very intricate and full of different characters. Each told its own story. Rose demonstrated some weaving techniques. Then she led us to the carving school, the weaving school and the shops. All of this was excellent. We boarded the bus for the ride to the port.

Tauranga was beautiful. We were very lucky to have had the chance to return to see it. We are really glad to be doing this portion going both north and south.

Back on Solstice it was dinner time. We went off to meet our new table mates. We had a new waiter, who was very friendly. He suggested we wait for the others to arrive since we were first. A barman came to take our cocktail order and the wine steward came to assist us in our wine selection. Hooray! It was Segondo,  our wine steward from the first leg. He seemed rather ten, but was charming now.

Cocktails were finished and no one else came to sit with us. Christopher, our waiter, took our order and things got rolling. There we were, just the two of us, at this table for six. At least we had a great view. We actually enjoyed ourselves.

February 10, 2015 - Tuesday - Sea Day

This was a quiet day at sea. There was some gentle rolling that bothered some folks, but we were fine. After attending another iPad class we took a nap. Today is formal night. Would our table mates arrive. All dolled up we headed to the dining room. We were first again. Cocktails came. Segondo came and chatted a bit, while helping us choose a wine. I failed to mention that our beverage package includes wine by the glass,  but the steward just keeps it coming as though you bought the bottle. 

Cocktails were finished. No table mates. Christopher took our order. We sat like the king and queen overseeing our subjects. What fun. Beef Wellington was excellent. The Cabernet Sauvignon was excellent. We were excellent.

We returned to our cabin, and watched a movie. We had seen the same entertainment last leg. No need to see it again. 

A wonderful leisurely day!

February 11, 2015 - Wednesday - Akoroa /Christchurch, NZ

At last some really good weather. We are anchored in Akora Harbor. The sun is shining and the water is flat.

We had breakfast with a couple from Hamilton, NZ. Their city has about 155,000 inhabitants. They are doing this cruise to see their country from a different perspective, and to visit family in Perth. Our similarities are great. Merle has been retired for 7 years. So have I. They have been married 47 years. We will be married 47 years in June. We hit it off very well. They were quite fascinating.

After breakfast we experienced a shortcoming of a large cruise ship. We got our tender ticket at 9:15. We boarded our tender at 10:15. The process may be smooth, but it sure is slow. An hour lost. 

Shoreside we discovered a town shuttle that would take us from the pier to the other end of town. The driver narrated sights as we went. We passed the lawn bowling club, the croquet lawn and the cricket field before arriving at the end of the line in front of the Catholic Church. This was yet another St. Patrick's. We visited the church and walked on. The next street signpost pointed the way to the French cemetery. Akoroa is a French settlement. We headed in the direction of the cemetery. It turned out to be halfway to heaven up an extremely steep road. When we arrived, we discovered a tall marker with the names of deceased who had been buried there as best as folks could tell. The names had been taken from the ruins of the broken grave markers left from the abandoned site. We were mildly disappointed, but pleased with our perseverance. Across the road from the cemetery was a beautiful house with a marvelous view of the harbor.

We walked back down the hill and over to the waterfront. The tidal range here is 6 feet. When we came into town it was high tide. Now, as the tide was going out, the beach began to appear. It was nice and sandy. The water activities were beginning. We watched as the owner of a kayak rental gave lessons to four people who were about to embark. He was very patient.

After watching lawn bowling for a short time we walked back toward the tender pier. Then it was on to the lighthouse. This structure was rescued from the headland at the mouth of the harbor, and relocated at the edge of town. It was 100 years old when it was moved here in 1980. The government replaced it with an automatic light that year. When we went up in the house we understood the reason for the change, and we could not believe it took so long. The systems were all manual. The light flashed every 10 seconds by rotating a full circle. This was accomplished through a clockwork mechanism powered by a large weight. The keeper had to raise this weight every 90 minutes. In the early years the light was a kerosene lamp. This meant the lens pieces had to be cleaned regularly. The keeper's job was not an easy one.

We walked back to the town center and tried the free wifi. Guess we will have to purchase a package from the ship, as this was totally ineffective. After a tender ride back to Solstice we had lunch, watched the sailboats brave the rising wind and prepared for supper. Guess what. We had the table to ourselves again. The evening's entertainment was an amazing multi-instrumentalist. We counted seven instruments. All were played well, and his voice was good too.

Sorry, still no luck uploading pictures. We keep hoping for a shoreside connection that works. If this upload works, here are pics from the first few days. Sorry I could not insert them where they belong. Maybe at another library.

February 7, 2015 - Saturday - Bay of Islands

Yesterday was an unexpected sea day due to the closing of the port of Tauranga. We crawled all the way to Bay of Islands cruising at just 10 knots. Our normal speed is twice that or 20 knots.

The entertainment department hurried to put together a program of activities to keep us busy. For us that meant a galley tour and a seminar on the GoPro camera. The galley is huge and very well organized. Every entrée is prepared to order. The cooking area is segregated by type of meat, fowl or fish to avoid contamination. The sanitation standards are those required in the U S because these are the highest in the world. This governs such things as the separation of cooking methods as well as food temperatures and traffic flow for the handling of food. Most impressive.

The GoPro seminar was rather rudimentary. This is probably because it was a rushed addition to the program and the camera functions are very simple. It was a decent way to pass some time.

Bay of Islands is a tender port. When we opened our veranda curtains, we were looking directly at Holland America's Amsterdam. It is doing the around the world cruise. We wondered if we might meet our friends, the News, from the South America cruise as we walked the town.

We landed within walking distance of the grounds where the Treaty of Waitangi was signed. This treaty is the foundation of the country of New Zealand. We chose to walk to the grounds, and return for the free bus into town later. When we finally arrived at the entrance, we decided not to enter. The way we devour museums we would spend too much time here.

As we turned to walk to the shuttle stop, we were hailed by two couples we had met on the South America cruise. Amazing. They would pass our regards to the News.

The 15 minute bus ride into Paihia took us to the heart of town. A craft market was set up in the square. It is there whenever a ship comes in. After the obligatory tour of the market we walked the Main Street. At the library a mob of cruisers were trying to use the free wifi. Good luck. The system was overburdened, and logging on was impossible. After cruising main, we went to the ferry terminal to take a ferry to the town of Russell. The waterfront street reminded us of Williamsburg. Buildings had wood siding and white picket fences. Most of these were hotels or restaurants. We stopped for some great fish and chips with local beers.

Our next stop was another craft market. A woman, who was selling wood turnings, noticed my shirt. On the last day of a cruise or segment I wear my Bitter End Yacht Club t-shirt. She said she had not seen that logo for years. It turned out that she was a delivery captain, and used to bring a 45 foot sailboat from Portugal to the Virgin Islands every fall. That stopped about 20 years ago, when she settled in New Zealand. She and her husband are now care takers on one end of a small private island in the bay. He is a wood worker. She is now a wood turner. He built their sailboat. She supplements their income with her turnings. Before we left I asked her about her Maori tattoos. They were done by a Maori artisan after a lengthy interview. They start with a compass rose on the back of her left hand. From there they split into multiple "roads" depicting the paths of her life. All were done in the traditional black ink. Her arm is a work of art.

We continued our walk of the town and found the church. It is the oldest church in New Zealand. Back at the pier we took the return ferry to Paihia. We walked to the stone church. It is very nice with a cemetery in the back and memorial stones along the wall around the property. We were struck by how many of these memorial markers were for people who lived in other countries, but had deep fondest for this area.

We had a long wait for the tender back to the ship, and arrived in our cabin at 5:30. Sail away is 6:00. This is the closest we have come to the all aboard time. It was a great and full day in Bay of Islands.

Dinner was a time for goodbyes to our new friends from England. They were packed and ready to go. Mitch and Kathryn would spend 3 days in Auckland before heading to Singapore. Rex and Barbara were going to Singapore then on to Hong Kong.

Back in our cabin we found information for tomorrow in Auckland. We received a passenger in transit pass and our new key cards. We would have to be out of our room by 9:30. Not a problem.

February 8, 2015 - Sunday - Auckland, NZ

How nice not to have to be concerned about luggage. We had a leisurely breakfast. Then we wandered around the ship taking pictures of various venues without worrying about people. They were all on their way out.

At 9:30 we went to the gangway, and made our way through the terminal. Almost all of the luggage had been picked up. Things looked pretty good. Then we got outside the terminal. The line for taxis was 2 blocks long. We walked right by.

A few blocks away we found Queen Street. This is a main drag through central Auckland. Shops were just opening, as it was now 10:00. We entered a store of beautiful artifacts for sale. The clerk was very helpful. She described what we were looking at, and gave us some historical background for the pieces. We thanked her for her friendliness. She asked where we were from, and offered that we should take a ferry to Devenport and climb Mt. Victoria for spectacular views of the city from across the water. We thanked her and headed off.

Our immediate was to get to St. Patrick's Cathedral for 11:00 Mass. This was just a few blocks away, but they were very steep. We arrived with time to spare. The service was very nice, and, although it was similar to Mass at home, it had several local features that made it special.

From the church we headed to Sky Tower. This is a very high concrete tower with a revolving deck at the top. We decided to forego the $225 jump from the top, and walked to the ferry building. On the way we stopped at a Pandora store. We have started collecting Pandora charms from the cities/countries we visit. I gave Alice an Australian flag charm for Christmas. At the time I noticed they had a few interesting New Zealand charms as well. I thought it would be nicer to buy one in the country. Big mistake. The charms they have here are not nearly as nice as the ones I saw in Woodfield. That shop had a dangling kiwi bird and a dangling flag. Here all of the charms were designed to hug the bracelet with no dangling pieces.

We waited a short time for the ferry to Devenport, and enjoyed the 15 minute ride. Once off the ferry we set off on what we were told would be a 15 minute walk to the top of Mt. Victoria. It was definitely a young person who told us that. The walk was very steep, but even with a few breath stops we made it in 20 minutes. Katarina, the shop clerk, had not oversold the views. She said she always brings her visitors here. We understood why.

The walk down was easy. At the terminal we met the couple from Chicago we had lunched with earlier in the cruise. The wife had gone to Alice's high school a few years after she graduated. They had left the ship this morning, and we're spending a few days in Auckland be fire renting a motor home for a three to four week drive throughout the countryside. Bravo for them.

We returned to Solstice just in time for the mandatory lifeboat drill. In our cabin we found a thank you bottle of wine and a coupon good for free laundry for 20 pieces. This was a kind thank you for doing back to back cruises. Very nice indeed. After the drill we went to guest relations and had our package of prepaid gratuities changed to a prepaid beverage package. No problem. With this we get wines up to $10.50 per glass, cocktails up to 9.50 and all specialty coffees, fresh juices, bottled water (we will use this for our tours) and canned sodas. No longer any need to complain about the lack of Happy Hours on Celebrity.

6:00 arrived quickly, and we went to the dining room to find our table. Would you believe they had again seated us at a table for 2 when we had asked for 6. We requested a change, and were told they would work on it. Before our dessert arrived we were given an assignment to a table for 6.  The food and service were good, but we missed our former waiter and wine steward. Our cocktail service was fine, and the wine service was OK. Let's see what tomorrow brings.

February 9, 2014 - Monday - Tauranga 

We awoke to a sunny day with calm seas. We had absolutely no problem docking in Tauranga. Our tour to The Blue Baths for morning tea and then on to Rotorua for the geothermal sites left right on time. The drive though the city and along the coast was beautiful. Then we drove inland and passed kiwi grove after kiwi grove. We did not know that the kiwi fruit grows on vines similar to grapes. A difficulty they have is that as they hang, the wind can cause them to bang together and get bruised. For this reason the groves are surrounded by dense windbreaks made of very dense evergreen trees. For this reason it is very hard to see the fruit growing. We had to peek through the occasion a break between fields.

The Blue Baths were thermal pools in older days. Now the building holds a restaurant and show venue. The current presentation for the evening was a burlesque show. We wish we could have stayed to see how it compares to the Baltimore scene. Tea and scones were excellent.

On to the mud pools and geysers. As we walked into a valley our. Maori guide, Rose, explained some Maori customs as well as the history of the Maori people and the area. Just before we started deeper into the valley, we looked out and saw some steam and bubbling from rocks in the distance. Rose told us that this was the prelude to an eruption that, based on the level of activity, would take place in about 45 minutes. As we walked farther into the valley, Rose pointed out flora and fauna. She also described geothermal nature of the area. Our first big stop was the spitting mud pools. These were fun to watch. Then we moved on to the geyser viewing. As we approached the lesser geysers started spouting more vigorously. Rose assured  us that this was no Disney animatronics. Everything was natural and uncontrolled. Soon these bubblers were going crazy and with a great cloud steam the geyser started a full scale eruption. It was magnificent.

Our next stop was the Maori Ancestral Hall. This meeting place was beautiful. The carvings that adorned the exterior were very intricate and full of different characters. Each told its own story. Rose demonstrated some weaving techniques. Then she led us to the carving school, the weaving school and the shops. All of this was excellent. We boarded the bus for the ride to the port.

Tauranga was beautiful. We were very lucky to have had the chance to return to see it. We are really glad to be doing this portion going both north and south.

Back on Solstice it was dinner time. We went off to meet our new table mates. We had a new waiter, who was very friendly. He suggested we wait for the others to arrive since we were first. A barman came to take our cocktail order and the wine steward came to assist us in our wine selection. Hooray! It was Segondo,  our wine steward from the first leg. He seemed rather ten, but was charming now.

Cocktails were finished and no one else came to sit with us. Christopher, our waiter, took our order and things got rolling. There we were, just the two of us, at this table for six. At least we had a great view. We actually enjoyed ourselves.

February 10, 2015 - Tuesday - Sea Day

This was a quiet day at sea. There was some gentle rolling that bothered some folks, but we were fine. After attending another iPad class we took a nap. Today is formal night. Would our table mates arrive. All dolled up we headed to the dining room. We were first again. Cocktails came. Segondo came and chatted a bit, while helping us choose a wine. I failed to mention that our beverage package includes wine by the glass,  but the steward just keeps it coming as though you bought the bottle. 

Cocktails were finished. No table mates. Christopher took our order. We sat like the king and queen overseeing our subjects. What fun. Beef Wellington was excellent. The Cabernet Sauvignon was excellent. We were excellent.

We returned to our cabin, and watched a movie. We had seen the same entertainment last leg. No need to see it again. 

A wonderful leisurely day!

February 11, 2015 - Wednesday - Akoroa /Christchurch, NZ

At last some really good weather. We are anchored in Akora Harbor. The sun is shining and the water is flat.

We had breakfast with a couple from Hamilton, NZ. Their city has about 155,000 inhabitants. They are doing this cruise to see their country from a different perspective, and to visit family in Perth. Our similarities are great. Merle has been retired for 7 years. So have I. They have been married 47 years. We will be married 47 years in June. We hit it off very well. They were quite fascinating.

After breakfast we experienced a shortcoming of a large cruise ship. We got our tender ticket at 9:15. We boarded our tender at 10:15. The process may be smooth, but it sure is slow. An hour lost. 
Shoreside we discovered a town shuttle that would take us from the pier to the other end of town. The driver narrated sights as we went. We passed the lawn bowling club, the croquet lawn and the cricket field before arriving at the end of the line in front of the Catholic Church. This was yet another St. Patrick's. We visited the church and walked on. The next street signpost pointed the way to the French cemetery. Akoroa is a French settlement. We headed in the direction of the cemetery. It turned out to be halfway to heaven up an extremely steep road. When we arrived, we discovered a tall marker with the names of deceased who had been buried there as best as folks could tell. The names had been taken from the ruins of the broken grave markers left from the abandoned site. We were mildly disappointed, but pleased with our perseverance. Across the road from the cemetery was a beautiful house with a marvelous view of the harbor.

We walked back down the hill and over to the waterfront. The tidal range here is 6 feet. When we came into town it was high tide. Now, as the tide was going out, the beach began to appear. It was nice and sandy. The water activities were beginning. We watched as the owner of a kayak rental gave lessons to four people who were about to embark. He was very patient.

After watching lawn bowling for a short time we walked back toward the tender pier. Then it was on to the lighthouse. This structure was rescued from the headland at the mouth of the harbor, and relocated at the edge of town. It was 100 years old when it was moved here in 1980. The government replaced it with an automatic light that year. When we went up in the house we understood the reason for the change, and we could not believe it took so long. The systems were all manual. The light flashed every 10 seconds by rotating a full circle. This was accomplished through a clockwork mechanism powered by a large weight. The keeper had to raise this weight every 90 minutes. In the early years the light was a kerosene lamp. This meant the lens pieces had to be cleaned regularly. The keeper's job was not an easy one.

We walked back to the town center and tried the free wifi. Guess we will have to purchase a package from the ship, as this was totally ineffective. After a tender ride back to Solstice we had lunch, watched the sailboats brave the rising wind and prepared for supper. Guess what. We had the table to ourselves again. The evening's entertainment was an amazing multi-instrumentalist. We counted seven instruments. All were played well, and his voice was good too.

Sorry, still no luck uploading pictures. We keep hoping for a shoreside connection that works.

The Home Stretch of Cruise One

February 3, 2015 - Tuesday - Akoroa/Christchurch, NZ

Today we woke to sunshine and warmer temperatures. This is a tender port. We have no tours scheduled. Our plan is to learn from other passengers which tours seem best, and book those on the return voyage. So, after a hearty breakfast, we took a tender to shore. This was an orderly process. The tenders are large, so they move the large volume of passengers very efficiently.

As luck would have it, we went ashore in pouring rain and dropping temperatures. We popped into the first shop on the pier in Akoroa, The BluePearl. This featured exquisite jewelry made with Paua shells and "pearls." We chatted with the owner for quite some time. He explained the growing process, and that all of the designs are created in this very shop. He had a shop in central Christchurch that was destroyed in the 2011 earthquake. That is when he opened in Akoroa. The piers in Christchurch were also destroyed. All passenger operations had to be moved to Akoroa. We also learned that his wife and two daughters worked in the shop as well. Another gentleman helps it's the design and fabrication.

The jewelry is outstanding. The best we have seen so far. We will be watchful in our remaining New Zealand ports for other local products of quality. We may return to The Blue Pearl to make a buy.

As the rain seemed to let up, we moved from the pier into town. The rain picked up. We managed to stay under awnings as we walked the old French settlement. It is very picturesque. After bobbing in and out of the shops on the waterfront, we braved the rain and walked into the neighborhoods. This was very pleasant. Without the rain it would have been ideal.

After a couple of hours we returned to the warmth of the ship.

February 4, 2015 - Wednesday - Wellngton, NZ

We docked very  near to downtown Wellington. The nickname for the cit is Windy Wellie. We would discover why. All of the tour books say Wellington is a very walkable city. We set off on foot to the cable car that would take us up about 400 feet above the city center. This was built years ago to provide a link to the suburbs on the hill. Midway it stops for the university. We did not explore here. Our goal was to walk down from the top through the botanical gardens. The ride is short, but very steep. At the top we visited the cable car museum.

We started down through the gardens. It was quite nice, but mostly trees at the upper elevations. As we. Moved along more blooming plants appeared, but it was not until we reached the bottom that we found the rose gardens and begonia house.

With 500 rose varieties, the scent was fantastic. This was true even though many of the blossoms were already spent. At the far end of the rose gardens was the Begonia House. This pair of connected hot houses housed numerous fabulous begonias. There was also a pond full of water lilies. The multiple varieties of each of these varied in color and size. Impressive.

We left the gardens, and took the downhill path to the city. This led us through an old cemetery before crossing the expressway on a high bridge. Our target was the cathedral. Our path took us past the old parliament buildings and the new government building known as the beehive. Some call it the ugliest capital building in the world.

When we arrived at the cathedral, we were among fewer than 10 tourists. Our timing was perfect as a very helpful volunteer encouraged us to go through the cloister and up to the altar. She also told us about a chapel with beautiful stained glass window. It is tucked away at the end of a long hallway beside the cathedral.she also explained that the art behind the altar is called a dossal hanging. Their's is muted grays and blues. The artist took 3 years to find the fabric. Then it took over 600 hours to sew it. Lovely.

As we left, we asked Jan for the best way to Old St. Paul's. She took us outside to direct us, and warn us that high wind warnings had been issued. This is an infrequent occurrence , and dictates walking with extreme caution.

As we left the shelter of the cathedral, we were greeted with wind blasts that actually moved us, despite planting our feet firmly. We worked our way to Old St. Paul's, and we're glad we did. This old church is all timbered, and very well maintained. Again we arrived after the ship's tours. One other couple was here. The docent said she had over 400 guests in the morning. That made it the busiest morning of her tenure. 

She talked about the huge carved wooden tower that covered the baptistery. The baptistery had been relocated to the very rear of the church. In its former position there was a cable and pulley system used to raise the tower. She said it is still removed for baptisms. Now it is removed by hand. She invited me to push aside with her. It is indeed heavy. It must takes two men to lift it off. We jus slid it part way. We thanked hr and left to brave the wind.

We had planned to walk from here to Te PaPa,  the famous museum. After a quarter mile of fighting the w no, we hopped into a cab, and $9 later we arrived. This museum is free and FABULOUS. It is six expansive floors of art and history. It goes back to prehistoric times and works up to date. A large portion of the exhibits is dedicated Maori history and culture. The tours spent half an hour here. We spent two and a half hours and barely scratched the surface. Most of our visit was spent in the Maori culture exhibits.

We left to return to the ship. The wind had lessened some, so we decided to walk back. It was gusty, but manageable. Not like before. The walk back paralleled the waterfront, but was slightly inland. A row of buildings helped shelter us until we got closer to the harbor. About halfway back we approached two aardvark looking structures. The long snouts seemed to have vents in them. We guessed they were air intakes for an underground garage or building ventilation. Imagine our surprise when we rounded these buildings and found signs for ladies and gents. They were public toilets. What conversation pieces.

When we got to the ship, the passage to the gangway was situated between the terminal building and the ship. The wind just howled through here. As we walked up the many turns of the gangway to get to deck four, we were again severely buffeted by the wind, and hung on for dear life. 

We were home safe and sound.

February 5, 2015 - Thursday - Sea Day

Today provides a chance to recover from the last four port days. We attended lectures, had another iPad class and did some shopping onboard. The iPad classes have been very helpful. They have taught some tricks that, as the instructor explained, are in the manual that nobody reads. I qualify for that.  Helpful, indeed.

Before dinner I called Guest Relations to ask if the Specialty Dining gift we received from Bonnie at Cruises International could be used on the next segment. I was told it must be used on this segment. We have just three nights t use it. Tonight is formal night and too late to book a specialty. Saturday is our final night with Kathryn & Mitch and Barbara & Rex. We do not want to miss that dinner with them. That leaves tomorrow. Time to call Karen, our concierge. When I explained our dilemma, she immediately said she could arrange for us to use the gift on the next segment with jus a few days notice in order to get the best reservation. What a big plus that is.

This evening was the last formal night. Lobster was on the menu. Baked Alaska was the featured desert. All was excellent, but the entrée was almost cold. This has been a downfall of most dinners regardless of our choices. Tasty, but tepid. Sad.

The table talk was cheery, but the other couples are sad they are coming to the end. Just two days to go. We are all looking froward to Tauranga tomorrow.

The entertainment tonight was an illusionist. He was very, very good.

Tomorrow we have a shore excursion that leaves at 8:30. We will be visiting mud baths and geysers, pronounced geezers by the Aussies and Brits. Morning tea will be included as it is a six hour tour.

Sleep came quickly!

February 6, 2015 - Friday - Tauranga

We awoke at 6:45, our scheduled arrival time, to partly cloudy skies and high winds. Our ride was steady, but white caps with the wind blowing spay off their tops were everywhere. Just as I was getting  into the shower there was a public address announcement that because of the high winds the port authority had closed the harbor. They would give an update at 10:00. If for some reason we were not allowed to dock all shore excursions booked though the ship would be refunded automatically. There were many private tours booked through cruise critic. I wonder how there costs will be refunded.

We continued our preparations, dressed and went to breakfast. After breakfast we spent a short time in the room. Then we left so the attendants could service the cabin. For the first time this voyage we went to the Sky Lounge. This is the area at the front of the ship on deck 14. It is similar to the Crow's Nest on the Holland America ships. It is larger, used for more activities and much noisier.

Alice started reviewing documents we had picked up along the way in preparation for doing her journal. I caught up on this blog. I am still unable to upload pictures, so you are stuck with my verbosity.

At 9:00 came the announcement that the port will remain closed for the rest of the day. We are departing for Bay of Islands. That was to be tomorrow's destination. Will we crawl there, or arrive tonight and overnight on the hook. This is a tender port.

Again, we are really happy that we will return this way on the next leg. Hopefully the weather will be better then, and we will get ashore. Will keep you posted.

Until next time, at least we have no snow. Our neighbor sent us pictures of our house covered in snow. Sorry , but we don't miss it. Even if our weather is not so good.

Sorry About the Pictures

February 5, 2015 - Sorry About the Pictures

You may have notice places for pictures in my last post. Sorry for their absence, but the Internet service onboard filtered them out. I will try to upload them from shore sometime soon. Thanks for your patience.

A Very Busy First Week

January 22 to 24, 2015 - Transit and Arrival

We were picked up right on time, and got to the airport in plenty of time for our 3:00 flight to LA. It was smooth, comfortable and on time. The purchase of United's Economy Plus was well worth it for the extra room. The downside was that we were in the last boarding group. As a result we had to check our carry on bags due to no bin space.  

Our arrival gate in LA was the same as our departure gate for Sydney, but we had to go to baggage claim to get the carry ons. Stopped for supper on the way back to the gate. Then we camped out at one of United's charging stations to use our iPads. We still had 4 hours before departure for Sydney. 

Then came the 1 hour delay. We left at 11:30 PM. After a smooth and comfortable flight, we arrived in Sydney an hour early. Great tail winds. It was 8 AM Saturday. Sydney is 17 hours ahead of Chicago.

We breezed through immigration with our new global entry passports. We just passed them through a reader at the kiosk, answered a few travel questions and moved on to baggage claim. People we had met who had regular passports were way behind us in the manual lanes. Then the waiting for our bags began. We were all back together again.

A 40 minute cab ride brought us to The Russell Hotel in The Rocks. Our driver was very helpful in pointing out sights and neighborhoods. The Russell is situated right at the beginning of The Rocks near Circular Quay. It is built on a hill, and presented a bit of a challenge for us with our luggage. The entrance is not at street level, but along the side of the hotel near the back of the building. It is an old hotel with split levels on each floor as the building goes down the hill. Reception was on the 1st floor. We entered on the ground floor, and Alice stayed with our luggage while  I went up to check in. Maxine efficiently checked us in. Then she went down with me to help with our luggage. We parked it outside our room on the second floor. It was not ready because it was only 10:30. Maxine directed us to the sitting room on the first floor, and brought coffee for us. We asked about a tour to the Blue Mountains on Sunday and she booked it for us.

That resolved, we took a map and set off to explore The Rocks. Because it was Saturday, the market was set up very near our hotel. It was very interesting to see the goods being offered and learn the prices. Nothing was a bargain, but all of the vendors were very friendly and happy to chat with us. One lady even insisted on giving Alice some of her sunscreen. The UV is very high and people are constantly being warned to lather up to prevent burning.

It was hard to believe our energy level, considering that we had just finished 30 plus hours in transit. We walked the length of The Rocks, visiting all of the market stalls. Then we walked to the Overseas Passenger Terminal to scope out how our cruise check in would work. We were glad we did, because we learned that we would have to drop our bags at a tent well away from the terminal entrance. This was a good thing as it was much closer to the hotel, and we would be walking the luggage over.

A P&O cruise ship was boarding passengers. We stopped and talked with a family about to board. We learned that this was a 3 day cruise to celebrate Australia Day. They were also celebrating the end of summer and return to school for their son. He got out of school in mid November and starts again next week.

We continuing walking toward Circular Quay. All along the way preparations were being made for the activities and concerts that would take place on Monday as part of the Australia Day celebrations. When we got to our hotel our room was ready. It overlooked George Street, the main drag. After reviewing our options, we again set out on The Rocks. We found the tourist information center, and were helped in deciding how to get around the city with transit and ferry maps. We decided on one day My Multi passes. This would allow us to use any mode of city transit, including the Sydney Ferries, for a full day for just $24 Australian (about $19 US).

Moving on again we made our way to the Sydney Harbor Bridge. We were under it. As we marveled at its size and construction, we agreed to walk across it, not climb it, on Monday. We walked through the market, again, on our way to Mass at St. Patrick's. Maxine had given us great directions, and we arrived on time for 6:00 Mass.

Then we went in search of supper. Not far from the information office we found the Lowenbrau Beer Garden. We were seated at the end of a long picnic table with many others. After we ordered our food and beer, we reviewed our exciting day. we were in SYDNEY!

A young fellow and two pretty girls were seated next to us. We had noticed the girls accent. The fellow was Australian and was offering them all kinds of advice. Then he asked us where we were from. When we told him Chicago, he exclaimed to the girls,See. He was demonstrating his prowess in detecting accents. They explained that the girls were German and on a six month journey to see the world before they started college. They had just met him. He was doing a fine job of impressing them.

Satisfied with food and beer, we returned to the hotel. It was ten o'clock. Our pick up for the Blue Mountains was to be 7:45. We gave thanks for a beautifully sunny first day inSydney, and went to bed.

January 25, 2015 - Sunday - Blue Mountains

The hotel's continental breakfast was fine to start our day. The mini bus picked us up promptly, and we were off to the Blue Mountains. We were the second pickup. Half an hour later we were heading out of the city. Before arriving at Scenic World, the park at the Blue Mountains, we stopped at a viewpoint to see the Three Sisters. This rock formation is the primary reason for visiting Blue Mountains. They are nice, but if you have seen the hundreds of formations at Bryce Canyon, they are nowhere close to it. We have to maintain our perspective. In Australia mountains of any magnitude at a rarity. Apart from Ayers Rock natural formations such as the Three Sisters are rare.

We stopped in the town of Leura for lunch and to visit the quaint shops. Alice andI went into the super market to buy sandwiches in the deli section. Not so fast. they don't sell ready to eat foods here. Strolling the Main Street brought us to a small sandwich place where we had excellent food.

After lunch we proceeded to Scenic World. Luke, our driver/guide explained that we would get tickets to ride the Scenic Skyway, the cableway and the railway. The Skyway would take us from the parking area across the valley to the site where the coal mining operations that had made the area well known used to be. When Luke saw the lines for the Skyway, he drove us to the other side of the valley. The new plan was to ride the cableway to the valley floor where we would walk a boardwalk through the rainforest. Then we would take the railway back to the top. Finally we would ride the Skyway across to the parking area.

We all rode the cableway down. Luke explained that we could chose from a walk of 15 minutes or 30 minutes or 45 minutes. We would be able to complete any one of these in the hour and 45 minutes we had left. Alice and I decided on the 30 minute walk because we know we are notorious for reading every sign and description. Luke assured us that the Skyway line would not be like the other side so we could follow our plan.

The walk was delightful. There were remnants of the coal mining equipment along the trail with good descriptions of there purpose. Trees were identified. To a lesser degree, fauna was also identified. We approached the Skyway with 30 minutes to make the 5 minute trip across the valley. The line was very long and tour groups were inserted ahead of us. All in our group were walking independently. We did not see any of the others. The one moved eve so slowly, and as the time for the bus departure drew near we did not think we would get on the next Skyway. We did not. We had no option but to wait it out. Ten minutes after the bus was to depart we boarded. Would the bus be there? When we got off the Skyway we were 15 minutes late. Luke was there. He fully understood the situation and was very gracious. We were not last.

We boarded the bus, and waited with the others as Luke checked out the next two arrivals. He came running to the bus and drove speedily to the other side, where he jumped out and ran to theSkyway boarding area. Soon he came walking back. He drove back to the parking lot to wit for the next arrival. They were there, a family of three from Virginia.

This delay caused us to miss the scheduled ferry we were to take back to Circular Quay to complete the tour. As he drove, Luke phoned to learn if we could make the next ferry. It would be close, but we could do it. We arrived at the pier with 5 minutes to spare.

After a nice ride to the quay we walked to our hotel before heading down the street for pizza. We always have pizza on Saturday night. At about 10 we collapsed. 

The day had been long, sunny, hot and wonderful. We were happy with what we had seen and done. It had rained overnight, so when we did get to The Blue Mountains, the views were fantastic. The air was beautifully clear, and the view to the horizon extended over 60 miles. The valley is full of eucalyptus trees. As the temperature rises, they shed oil fro their leaves. It is the vapor from this oil in the atmosphere that causes the blue haze that gives the mountains their name. We were really lucky to have had such magnificent views.

January 26, 2015 - Monday - Australia Day

Today is Australia Day. This is the day for us to explore Sydney on our own, and then join a group of people from the Cruise Critic roll call for this cruise on a harbor dinner cruise to celebrate Australia Day and view the fireworks.

We woke to rain. The wheelchair (really high performance cycles) race was run on the street below our window. We took a while to watch as the competitors raced by.

We returned to the information office to purchase our transit passes. It was lightly raining as we walked to Circular Quay to board the ferry to Manly. This suburb is on the headland where the harbor meets the ocean. When we arrived at Manly it was pouring. We made our way to the Manly info center. With a map and a lot of friendly advice from the young lady at the center we walked to The Corso. This main route would take us from the ferry terminal to Manly Beach. Along the way we stopped at pharmacies and souvenir shops to price sunscreen. Prices of $15-$20 seemed to be the norm. We will try to stretch what we have until New Zealand. With this rain that should not be difficult.

The walk was pleasant, even though the rain continued lightly. The beach looked very nice. The waves were breaking and surfers in their wet suits were taking advantage of them. A helicopter was monitoring the safety of the surfers. On our way back to the terminal we admired the facades of the old buildings lining The Corso.

A bumpy ferry ride took us back to Circular Quay where we boarded a ferry to Darling Harbor. This took us under the harbor bridge to Luna City. This is an amusement park on the far side of the pride. After one more stop, we arrived at Darling Harbor. We were very disappointed, and I do not think it was just because it was raining. The waterfront is well developed with hotels and bars. Then come the odd museums and souvenir shops. We walked a long way and then returned to take the ferry back. 

The rain let up as we walked toward the hotel. We stopped for a while at one of the music venues. The band was quite good and the audience very appreciative. Back at George Street we watched the activities that had been set up on the street. Croquet was set up right In front of our hotel. The kids were having a blast. A little farther along was a percussion area. Here there were all sorts of things for the kids to bang on. Some interesting music was made here.

We stopped in a few galleries and craft shops that had not been open earlier. We found and left many beautiful things. 

We got ready for our dinner cruise, and walked to the far side of the quay in front of the opera house. We were to board at 7, but had to be there at 6:45. Of course the rain picked up at about 6:30. Boarding went slowly, and we got soaked on the gangway. We were seated at a table for 8. Only one other couple had been seated, and they were from Sydney and Perth, but not with Cruise Critic. They were very pleasant, and we enjoyed talking with them. They had never come to the harbor to celebrate Australia Day before.

Finally 2 couples from Cruise Critic were seated with us. One couple had been moderating the Cruise Critic roll call. They had found out about this dinner cruise, and posted the information on the roll call. They then monitored the bookings and worked with the provider to have us seated together.

Unfortunately the cruise line did not follow through on their promises, and we were not all seated together. Our tables were scattered all around. We could manage that, but worse was the fact that the marketing was just that, marketing. The food was poor, sanitation in serving was worse and a large group of noisy locals was seated all together right next to us. They were so loud we could not carry on normal conversation. There was no narration of the sights we passed, but it was raining so hard we could hardly see them anyhow. When the fireworks went off we were in a very good location. Alice and I went outside to watch because the rain streaming down the windows made it very difficult to see. It was too wet to use the camera.

At 10:00 we Disembarked, donned our rain gear and made the long walk home. This proved to be the lowlight of our visit to Sydney.

January 27, 2015 - Tuesday - Embarkation Day

We awoke to rain, a real downpour. After breakfast, we whiled away the time with repacking and using the Internet before checking out at 11:30. With rain ponchos on we walked the short way to the baggage drop at the Overseas Passenger Terminal. There was no line, and our bags were taken immediately to the luggage staging area. We walked to the terminal and finally got out of the rain. 

The check in process went very smoothly. We were aboard by 12:15. Our statement would not be ready until 1:30, so we went to the Oceanview Cafe on deck 14 for a buffet lunch. We were overwhelmed with the size of the cafe and impressed with its openness. We found it to be well organized and efficient. We were very surprised that passengers were allowed to serve themselves. On other cruise lines we have not been allowed to touch the serving utensils for the first three days in an attempt to avoid the spread of "disease."

We shared a table with a very nice couple from Germany near Cologne. Sharing travel experiences made time fly. The announcement that staterooms were ready was made. We anxiously made our way to deck ten and our new home. It is very nice, spacious and with adequate storage. The game saver is covered shelving above the head of the bed. That is home to most of my folded clothes. The veranda is small, but adequate. The view is great, not obstructed in any way. The one disappointment is that there is no clothes line in the shower. We have had these on all of our other ships, and we were counting on hanging our quick dry clothing after washing it. Guess Celebrity really wants to sell their laundry. We will figure something out.

Next we toured the public areas. They are impressive. They are very large to accommodate the large number of passengers, yet they seem open but uncrowded.They are beautifully decorated. We returned to our stateroom. Still no luggage. It was dropped six hours ago. Off to dinner in our traveling clothes.

We booked this voyage over year ago and requested a table for six. We were seated at a table for two. We like each other, but meeting new people is part of the fun of travel. Sharing experiences at the end of the day rounds things out nicely. The servers are nice, but seem very rushed. They do not hurry our dining, but their scurrying does make us uncomfortable.

The assistant dining room manager visited at the end of our meal. I explained our disappointment with our seating. He took our stateroom number, and said he would pass it on, but made no promises. If a change was possible, we would receive a note in our room. Dinner was OK.

We returned to our cabin. Our luggage was in the hall. It seemed damp. We had heard other passengers talking about having clothes hanging all over the cabin to dry. We were about to learn why. When we opened the bags we found some damp and some very wet clothing. Our stewards told us to let then know what need cleaning and they would take care of it for us. The next two hours were spent unpacking. We hung the dry stuff and spread out the wet things. Thank god Alice had put the finer things in plastic. She did find a new top with the tags still on that had gotten very wet and faded from some dark piece. She assembled a laundry bag of stuff in need of attention. We will see what kind of attention it gets. Apparently the baggage was left in carts in the rain until it could be brought aboard. Don't know if that was the fault of the port or Celebrity, but they could have at least covered the carts with something.

We went to bed about 11:00. We were very tired with feelings of excitement and disappointment. This first day was one of very mixed emotions. 

January 28, 2015 - Wednesday - Sea Day

We awoke rested. The bed is very comfortable. I had been concerned about the rounded corners on the foot of the bed, but the lost length posed no problem for me. As we headed off to breakfast, Vishal and Derrick, our stateroom attendants greeted us cheerfully. We had met them yesterday and they are both professional, helpful and very friendly. They are very much like what we are accustomed to on Holland America. This is a terrific improvement over our experience on Oceania's Insignia.

We headed to the dining room for breakfast. We have grown accustomed to having breakfast served on board. The menu was uninspiring, but our table mates made breakfast a pleasant experience. They were two couples from Australia. We had a lot of. Fun with them. The waiter told us that the breakfast is the same every day. We will serve ourselves in the Oceanview Cafe in the future. The selection is far greater, and the food is hot, not tepid.

this is a sea day on the way to Hobart. We filled our days with lectures, and I got a start on this blog. The lectures were very good. We had lunch in the cafe, and opened our internet account.

This is a formal night. We did not receive a table change note, so we dined at our table for two. For a formal night the meal was very ho hum. No lobster. After dinner we attended the captain's welcome and introduction of officers. This was followed by song and dance review of old Broadway shows. It was great. The cast of 14 is extremely talented.

When we returned to our room, we found a note that our dinner table was changed. We hoped we had not jumped out of the frying pan into the fire.

Sleep came quickly.

January 29, 2015 - Thursday - Hobart, Tasmania

We arrived in Hobart to cloudy skies. It was cold. We walked off the pier and headed toward the Tasmanian History Museum. We had been told there was a guided tour at eleven, but found out that it was a special interest tour that did not excite us. The general tour was not until 2:00.

We started to walk the city. Our first site was a park that is also an old cemetery. Many former dignitaries were buried here. It was on our way to Battery Point. We had been told this was a neighborhood of quaint cottages. We passed a sign telling us we had arrived in the district, but the houses were quite ordinary. As we walked on we met a couple we had breakfast earlier. They told us there was a circus not far away that had many of the cottages we were looking for.

We walked on through the neighbor hood. The streets were hilly and led to the sea. The houses became more beautiful and architecturally interesting. Before turning back, we walked a street that had houses facing the water. They had their own moorings or piers, and rails leading into their boat houses. Walking uphill on a different street we found Arthur Circus. This is THE place. The cottages are very old and lovely. The gardens are colorful.

One house we found was at the end of an alley. After taking a picture of the house, we walked out front where we met an older gentleman. When we asked where he lived, he explained that he lived in the house we had just photographed. He gave us a history of the area, and explained that most of these houses had been in the same family for over 150 years. His wife had purchased their home form her father in 1947 for 350 pounds. 

This was a lot of money then, but now the house would sell for over $1,000,000. He then agreed to let us take his picture in front of the house.

This cottage has 2 bedrooms, a large living room, kitchen and dining room. It is L shaped and runs well back on the lot.

We walked back toward the port where we visited Salamanca. This a nice old building that houses many galleries and local craft shops. The work is exquisite. 

Back aboard we learned that we had a new tape assignment. When we went to dinner we were directed to a table for 6. One of the other couples is from Newcastle, UK. The other couple is from Nottingham. We hit it off very well they made us most welcome. It seems like old times for us. We all get along so well together that we talk and joke till the waiters need to close the section to prepare for the second seating.

January, 30 & 31, 2015 - Friday & Saturday - Sea Days

We are crossing the Tasman Sea on our way from Hobart to Milford Sound, New Zealand. We had been warned that this crossing can be rough. It is, but it is not. The waves are 15 to 20 feet and the wind is 45 knots. Access to the outside is closed off due to the motion and the wind. We are spending our time in lectures.

The dining room is on deck 3. At dinner on Friday some waves were so high that they were above the dining room windows. We have never experienced that before. Alice and I maneuvered quite well. No serious wobbling. Others were not so lucky, and the seasick bags were put out. We definitely notice the rolling more on deck 10 than we did on deck 5 on our other voyages. It is not uncomfortable, just interesting.

February 1 & 2, 2015 - Sunday & Monday - Milford Sound to Dunedin

The ship arrived at the entrance to Milford Sound at 7:15 AM, and the pilot boarded. We had gotten up at 5:45 to be ready for this. Solstice cruises into the sound and is met by a local boat. This ferries passengers to land for the 2 day excursion to Dunedin. Solstice leaves and spends the day cruising to Dusky and Doubtful Sounds before arriving at Dunedin on Monday.

We had decided months ago that since we would return to this area on our way to Perth, we would take the overnight excursion from Milford Sound toDunedin. The brief ride to shore was smooth. There we boarded buses and set of for Queenstown. This excursion would give us the opportunity to see some of the interior of New Zealand. 

Fifteen minutes later we left the bus in the rain to visit the Chasm. We did not know what to expect. After a short walk through. The rain forest we were greeted by thunderous waters. A magnificent waterfall cuts its way through the rock carving a chasm of beautifully sculpted rocks. Awesome!

As the bus drove from here we learned that the manual rainfall averages 21 feet. Today as the rain beat down, waterfalls sprouted up all along the road. In dry times these are dried up, but today they were rushing down the mountainside. At on place I counted over 20.

Moving on, we marveled at the curving road as it ascended and descended pass after pass. Suddenly the driver pulled over. The engine was overheating. The driver went out in the rain to fiddle with something.  He returned, telling our guide that he thought all was now OK. Fifteen minutes later he was out to fiddle some more. It was decided that at our lunch stop we would have a mechanic look at it, and change buses, if needed.

The driver disappeared with the bus as we entered and took over a small restaurant. Lunch was served promptly. Our choice was lamb shanks or chicken. Alice had the chicken. I had the lamb shanks. They were braised to perfection. Two of them. Alice and I shared a Speights Old Dark lager. A delicious New Zealand beer.

Back on the bus we were told it had been fixed. Guess what! Five minutes later we were again on the side of the road. This time we waited for a replacement bus. It was smaller, some 4 people had to move to another bus. There were four buses in our convoy. About 180 passengers were on this tour. The new bus was very uncomfortable. The seats were narrower, and the shocks seemed to be shot. We bounced all over the place. 

Fortunately in three hours we arrived in Queenstown. Unfortunately this reduced our exploration time in the city center. We had 45 minutes before we had to board the steamship for our cruise across the lake to our buffet dinner. Dinner was fabulous. The meat and fish courses were prepared on an outdoor grill. The kitchen spewed beautiful salads, vegetables and desserts.

We sat with Rex and Barbara form our dinner table on Solstice. They were on a different bus, but we met on the steamer. After dinner we watched a display of dogs herding sheep. Then we saw a sheep sheared before sailing back to the city.

Our hotel was the Hilton Resort and Spa about 15 minutes by bus from the city center. The other hotels were walking distance. We did not mind because our room was beautiful.  The floors were black marble throughout. We had a tub, 2 sinks and a large shower stall with a handheld shower or an overhead rain shower. The bed seemed larger than a king. What luxury.

 The continental breakfast was very nice. We were scheduled to leave at 8:20. When I boarded the bus at 8:05, the only seats available were in the last row across the back of the bus. This meant sitting on the seatbelt retainer. Alice and I had the two seats to the right side of the bus. A very large man sat in the middle seat next to me. There was a bit of hubbub because a seats just in front of us were wet from overhead dripping. 

The guide asked for 2 volunteers to go to another bus so the wet seats would not be needed. With some trepidation, Alice and I volunteered. Had we just jumped from the frying pan to the fire? In 15 minutes we would find out. That would be our first stop.

When we got there, our guide introduced us to Toni. She was the guide on our new bus. When we asked if she had two seats together, she said she would check one thing. We got the first two seats behind her jump seat. What could be better. I put our hand baggage in the overhead, and we walked to the Main Street. 

The declared feature in Arrowtown is the mining museum. It tells the tale of the gold rush in this area. It is located in a very small building, but it has an extensive display. Thoroughly enjoyable!

We walked the Main Street and then down to the river. When we returned to the bus someone had put their thing on our seats. I searched out Toni to ask where we should go now. She said the things were hers. She did not want any of the others to take our seats. She is great. We were to learn that she was a far better guide than our guide on the other bus.

As the bus set off we were welcomed by all the passengers around us. We praised them on being much friendlier than the first bus. A good beginning. As we moved out, Toni started her narrative. What a wealth of knowledge. She covered everything. Flora, fauna, history, geology, weather, politics and local customs.

Before our arrival in Dunedin, she took us to the bridge where bunge jumping originated, a wine tasting, a delicious lunch, glorious countryside, a quick tour of Dunedin's central business district and a visit to the famous train station. 

We arrived at Solstice in time for dinner.