Wellington NZ

Australia 10-31 and 11-1-2012

I am a day behind in my blogs so I will try to inform aboutour last two days in one post.  As usualI am not able to upload photos because the satellite connection is too slow andI have limited minutes to work with. Yesterday we spent the day in Wellington which is the capital of NewZealand.  We began our bus tour going upMt. Victoria which gave us a beautiful overlook of the area.  The driver also pointed out several areas onthe mountain which were used in the Lord of the Rings movie.  He also informed us about some of the soundeffects used ie the marching in the movie of the armies was done by the walkingback and forth at the soccer stadium.  Atintermission during one game the audience was asked to march back and forth attheir seats.  We also went up a cable carto the top of a mountain and then to the botanical gardens.  Only glitch in that was that two people wenton our bus and the driver had the correct count and drove off leaving us at thetop of the mountain to be picked up later. We then went off to a church which was built obviously by a shipbuilder.  The roof looked like the bottomof a ship on the inside.  Veryinteresting.  We were then dropped offdowntown where Bob and I searched for internet. We finally found it at a bar on the wharf.  We paid 25.00 for two drinks to have theprivilege of using their wifi.  I wasable to contact Ingrid, Melisa and Gloria. Napier is a very nice little resortcommunity with beautiful black beaches and art deco buildings.  We wandered down to the National aquarium ofNZ which was small but fulfilled our need to be underwater for a shortwhile.  They had a tube which had fishswimming all around us including shark and rays.  They also had smaller tanks with turtles, seahorses and Hawksbill turtle.  A shortwalk back into town and then some attempts to get on the computer.  We listened to three bagpipers in the towncenter and then boarded the bus to head back to the ship.  Once we arrived  at the ship there was an old time bandplaying and some antique cars in the port. We watched the ship leave port with tugs pushing and pulling to get itout of the harbor.  We wet out then toget on the gym equip and get online to talk to the kids.  We were able to get Ingrid and Liesl buteveryone else must have been asleep. 

Akaroa

Australia Oct 30, 2012

Today we anchored off Akaroa.  We were brought into port by tenders andreturned the same way.  We went on ashort walking tour of to and then explored on our own.  The town was initially settled by Frenchsettlers but under British rule as the Brits got wind of their intentions andbeat them to the island and planted their flag. This is a gardener’s paradise. All small cottages and homes here have lovely gardens filledflowers.  Roses seemed to be the favoritebut other flowers flourish here.  Againwe are surrounded by the volcanic mountains created thousands of yearsago.  We had a very knowledgeable guidewho informed us of the various changes occurring on the island including thelucrative whaling done here in the 1800s. Unfortunately there are not too many whales in the area at this time,but eople here are hopeful that they may come back.  We strolled around the bay and admired thescenery.  We had a difficult time gettingon wifi with our computer and my ipod. Bob’s iphone worked.  Finally Iused the library computer to send off a message.  So much for lugging my computer on shoreexcursions. 

New Zeland

Australia Oct 29, 2012

Today we landed in port Chalmers and took a short bus rideinto Dunedin.  This is a very VictorianCity with buildings straight out of the Victorian era and very Scottish.  We took a short walking tour through townwhich was very informative.  We saw severalcathedrals and the train station which is amazing and intricatearchitecture.  Words cannot do it justiceso I will need to send along photos.  Westopped and had a beer and wine at Speight Brewery which has some recognitionfor their ales.  This is built on amountain so there was some up and down during our walking tour.  We also saw a Chinese garden which was quiteunexpected but lovely and serene.  Wewanted to go in the settlers’ museum but it was closed.  We came back to the port in time to contactthe kids and to have afternoon tea.  Bob was sufficiently tire when we returned to the ship and had a nap beforetea.  Looking forward to sailing away andseeing the scenery either side of the ship while going through thechannel.  I was surprised this morningwhen coming to breakfast with the breathtaking scenery.  NZ seems to be an island of mountains whicherupt right out of the ocean.  Literally.  Sheep were grazing on the mountainside andthere was a plant with yellow flowers everywhere.  I still don’t know the name of them. 

Australia Oct. 28, 2012

Today was another day at sea.  We spent the day as usual in computer classes and the highlight of the day was formal night with lobster.  We have been meeting new people at all the meals which makes for an interesting cruise.  The performer this evening was Alwyn Wright who is a violinist of some repute.  She has apparently accompanied several great singers and performed in several movies in a musical capacity.  Her performance was outstanding.  I finally had enough of the coughing today and went to the infirmary to buy an expectorant.  Today we planned the shore excursions for the next several days.  We will be going to a hobbit set, sailing on an America’s Cup Yacht, paddling a Maori canoe and several walking tours.  Tomorrow we will be in Dunedin near Port Charles.  It is said to be like Edinburrough.  We were randomly selected to be inspected by the customs and immigration so that occurs before we leave ship tomorrow. 

Australia Oct. 28, 2012

Today was another day at sea.  We spent the day as usual in computer classes and the highlight of the day was formal night with lobster.  We have been meeting new people at all the meals which makes for an interesting cruise.  The performer this evening was Alwyn Wright who is a violinist of some repute.  She has apparently accompanied several great singers and performed in several movies in a musical capacity.  Her performance was outstanding.  I finally had enough of the coughing today and went to the infirmary to buy an expectorant.  Today we planned the shore excursions for the next several days.  We will be going to a hobbit set, sailing on an America’s Cup Yacht, paddling a Maori canoe and several walking tours.  Tomorrow we will be in Dunedin near Port Charles.  It is said to be like Edinburrough.  We were randomly selected to be inspected by the customs and immigration so that occurs before we leave ship tomorrow. 

Australia Oct 27, 2012

Today was a day at sea with another day at sea to follow.  I initially had some concerns that we would have nothing to o on these days but I was wrong.  Today we began early in the morning with a lite breakfast and then work out in the gym.  After an hour on the treadmill both Bob and I headed to the salon.  He  got a haircut.  I got a facial.  Bob tried the spin class and found that it was more strenuous than he liked.  He felt that the instructor was training racers.  We attended two computer classes.  The first class was how to buy a PC and the second was to introduce the new windows 8.  He also informed us about a new windows tablet which is similar to Ipad but can run Office and has a sp port.  We attended High tea again.  We were also invited to an Indonesian lunch which was interesting but good.  There were items on the menu that I would not normally have chosen but since it was  presented to us we ate it.   With such a large lunch we opted not to have dinner but did have a snack of pizza about 9:30.

Tonight the performer for the show was a one man act “Mr. Fish” .  He was quite comical performing silly tricks and encouraging people to clap with his jabs.  He also did juggling from the top of a ten foot unicycle which he referred to as a suicycle.  The  boat was hopping with bands playing Motown, rock and roll and whatever else you might like to listen to.  Bob was too tired to stay for all of it but I stayed up to listen to Ben and Halcats,  and the piano bar.  Toward the end members of one group came down to jam with the other and it made for some wonderful music. 

 

Australia Oct 26

Today was a gray and cloudy day in Hobart.  The wind was strong making it also a cool day.  Bob and I did a little walking around town.  We stopped in a few gardens and enjoyed the similarities to England.  Well groomed front and back yards and gardens.  The city was dotted with little parks with well-kept gardens.  The homes were definitely early century homes many with tin roofs.  We spent a little time in a small café on the waterfront and gawked at the tall ship sitting just outside.  We were also able to chat with both our children and grandchildren on face time.  The satellite on the ship is nice but you cannot leave it on and use it like home because it can get very expensive.  It is nice to not think about it on shore.  We managed to get back on board ship in time for tea and in time to miss the rain which came as we boarded.   The remainder of the day we relaxed in our room.  The area surrounding Hobart is quite scenic with islands dotting the river and mountains rising up around the city.  The shoreline itself seems to be elevated and you can see homes dotting the hillside.  It very much reminded me of Naples or some of the Greek islands.