Talk about one classy chick!!!

Wake up call today was at 2:30 am so that we could wait in line at the airport to check in; we arrived by 3:30 am to the airport;however, the gates do not open until 4 a.m. but we were one of the first in line.

Long line to get on our flight which was the only one from Cairns to Sydney today...so we waited to be one of the last persons to board. I was about to sit in my seat which was in the second last row on the plane only to have the steward call my name and ask me to be moved up to the front in first-class. He asked if my friend Elaine would mind...and then he said, "Don't worry about it; after this flight, she won't be your friend anyway!!!" Well, I'm here to report that Elaine is still my friend even though I rode the three hour flight in first class.

Now let me tell you about flying in first class. First, they give you a glass of orange juice BEFORE you leave the ground. Then the seats are huge and recline and have a leg rest AND footrest..also there is lumbar support in the back of the seat. You had your choice of breakfast...there was either poached egg and bacon or cereal and yogurt. I chose the latter and then they come around with your choice of toast or croissant or both. I chose raisin toast.

Now for the bathroom. It is still an airline bathroom but they have real flowers in the bathroom and real towels to use. WOW!!!

I should have taken a picture but didn't think about it till now. Another spectacular view of the bridge and opera house on the descent to the airport. We still have 3 hours before we leave Sydney for the 13 hour flight to the states. I will have more than a 14 hour layover in LAX so expect phone calls or emails then as I will need something to pass the time.

Talk to all of your soon.

Love,

Gloria

Rain, Rain go away, I'm playing in a tropical rainforest today!!

Today is my last tourist day in Australia. Cairns is in the tropics and besides being known as the launching point for the Great Barrier Reef, it is also home to a rainforest. So today we spent the morning learning about its animals and fauna and then traveled in the longest gondola in the world in order to travel above the treetops of the rainforest. And as we climbed higher and higher, the rains started...which is sort of cool since we were in a rainforest. However, I may have forgotten to mention that the gondola has large open windows on each side. Needless to say, I did have my raincoat with me and put it on IN the gondola to stay dry. We got out and walked for awhile to get up close and personal, but after some drenching we went on our way to our next stop at the aboriginal cultural center.

Each area in Australia has their own tribe of aboriginals. But here we got demonstrations on how to play the digeredoo, how to throw a boomerang (and their is a slight difference for left and right handers) as well as their performance with song and dance. Throwing a boomerang is similar to serving in tennis. And playing the digeredoo takes some talent and coordination.

So as I wind down my time here, I have come to appreciate and know the culture and nuances of life down under. Life is the same pretty much anywhere you go....as long as you have food, family and friends....life is good no matter where you hang your hat.

Well, take care and stay safe and healthy and I will see you all soon.

Love,

Gloria

Bats in the belfry and The Great Barrier Reef was no barrier for me!!!

Forgot to mention that while in the dessert we took a a ride on a camel. There are only 21 million people in Aussie land but there are 60 million camels. We saw them in the wild while driving around. Also lots of wild dingos. There was this huge one that walked right by our room with two magpies flying with him. It was unreal. Almost like watching a real-life Disney movie.

When we landed in Cairns, our hotel, the Novotel, is one of the highly rated resorts. Yet in all the trees nearby there are thousands and thousands of bats in the trees. And near the evening they are flying all around...almost Alfred Hitchcok-like. What is with all these animals in aussie land!!!

The weather was drizzling today as we started our search for Nemo from our catamaran. Those who know me know that I am not the world's greatest swimmer. But give me a diving suit, a snorkel and mask along with a life jacket, and I am another Jacques Cousteau!!! I felt like I was in an aquarium only better....it was just like all the books you have ever seen...all the colors of the rainbow in both the coral and the fish. Saw a sting ray as well as humongous clams that were just opening and closing their shells. It was beautiful and spectacular...it was awesome because it was nature and it was real and I was there to experience all there was to see while just hearing my breath blow in and out of the snorkel tube.

The waves were huges with over 40 mph knots of wind. It was rough both going out and coming back but no one in our group experienced seasickness. They give you two ginger pills when you get on board and I guess that worked. Also they have a great thing here called Ginger Beer which is like a dark ginger ale...really good. It puts Canada Dry to shame.

Well, my journey here is coming to a quick end tomorrow, and I will be making my way back home.

Take care and see you all soon.

Love,

Gloria

The Hard Rock with no cafe!! Ayers Rock, Australia

Been living in the outback with my friends, the flies, buzzing around me. It is really desolate country here. Very harsh climate and land...I do not know why someone would want to choose to live here. Very hot during the day with temps close to 100 degrees...but no humidity.

Checked into the Outback Pioneer Hotel along with my friends, the spiders!! Get me out of this place!!! It is sort of a captive audience..in fact, it is the only hotel for anyone wanted to stay in Ayers Rock. We did some hiking around the rock. I guess the big deal about the rock they now call Uluru is the aboriginal art that is on the rock along with all the folklore of how the rock was formed.

Went to the rock at sunset where it is constantly changing various shades of pinks, purples and reds. They say it is a spiritual experience...and it was if you get my drift.

Packed up today after another couple of morning hikes at the Olgas which are a huge conglomerate range of hills near Uluru. Then got my traveling wings on and flew to Cairns, the home of the Great Barrier Reef. Tomorrow we will head out for the day to see the reef and snorkel. The reef is still 24 miles on the water from here so it will take us about two hours to get there. They say the sea is rough as there was a cyclone near here recently...and I forgot the dramamine at home. Wish me luck.

Take care and stay safe and healthy until next time.

Love,

Gloria

Shoo fly don't bother me cause I'm wearing my flynet!! and Star light, Star bright, I spotted the Southern Cross in the sky last night!!!

You really know you are in the outback as when you arrive at the airport the first thing greeting you in the entrance way is this huge spider web with this gargantuan spider in the middle as well as a million flies all around your face...yuck, get me out of this place!!! And they are real...no fake bugs here.

After getting over my bug phobia, I purchased a hat and flynet to start my travels in Alice Springs. It is really interesting how people live here. Like we went to their School of the Air (not in the flying sense but in the internet..formerly ham radio sense). The students are so spread out that they use mail and the internet along with skype to do their lessons. We also traveled to the Royal Flying Doctor Service....as that would be the only way a doctor and nurse can get to you or fly you to a hospital in an emergency.

Went on a three hikes today on different trails with my friends the flies. Saw Simpson watering hole, Stanley chasm and various fauna as well as animals mainly lizards and wallabys.

Learning a lot about the aboriginie people...they really do look like the guys in the geico commercial...sort of caveman-like features. They are very private and not very approachable. Their art is primitive but tells stories passed down from generation to generation as they have no written language. In fact, at the School of the air they talked about how many aboriginie children are learning English as a second language...strange to think that in 2010 in a country that speaks English their indiginous people would not know the national language.

Last night we went to a cattle station for a barbeque and had an astronomer point out all of the constellations to us. In getting to the cattle ranch, as we go out of town a little way the paved road ends and there is just dirt roads for miles and miles. I guess they don't have too much tax revenue as there is a lot of land with a little amount of people. It was cool to point out the Southern Cross which is on both the Australian and New Zealand flags. Also Orion's belt was easy to spot, but he is upside down in the southern hemisphere. I did not see the Big or little dipper as they do not appear down here till about 4 am. But it was the first time I really saw the Milky way....all the stars in the sky and planets such as saturn and mars....it was truly magnificent.

Tomorrow we will be on our way to Ayers Rock to view Uluru...the big red rock that is in many photos of the outback. So along with my fly friends I'll be traveling on my way to see Uluru at sunset tomorrow.

Take care and stay safe and healthy.

Love,

Gloria

OU, O Yah!

Big news in Ausssie land that OU beat Georgetown in the NCAA's!! Wow, how about those Bobcats!! This is another travel day here and I am waiting in the airport to go to Alice Springs, the heart of the outback and aboriginie country.

talk more later,

stay safe and healthy.

love,

Gloria

Here's a picture of the penquins after all!

Yesterday afternoon and evening were fabulous. We went to a individual person's wildlife farm where you could touch and feed almost all the animals especially the kangaroos. There were dingos, wallabys, tasmanian devil, emus, kukaburra, parrots and of course crocs.

Then we headed off to the penquin preserve where we could get pictures of the baby penquins waiting for mom or dad to come back with dinner. It was amazing. Just a little after sunset about 8 p.m. our time, the penquins start popping out of the ocean and start waddling up the beach to their nests in the hillsides. They count the penquins every night as there are weigh bridges they must pass so they can count. Last night there were 1,724 penquins who came back to feed their babies dinner. This is a daily occurence. Penquins mate for life and either the father or mother go out at about 3-3:30 a.m. before sunrise so they are not spotted by birds that are their predators. They fish and eat all day and then head back every day after sunset to feed their young. Wow, I'm exhausted just thinking about it. In fact, they have to take many breaks as they make their way up to the nest and many of them fall flat on their face because they are so tired. But they get back up and go on their merry way. And the squacking that goes on is infinitely noisy.

Today we had a lecture on aboriginal art and then the professor who gave the lecture took us to the art museum to see some of the pieces. It really helps for someone to point out what you are looking at and it makes sense of what you are viewing.

Then we were on our own for the rest of the day. So after a bite to eat, I rented a bike and took a ride along and on the Yarra River. Much of the bike path is on the river...in fact, a gate came down at one point and I had to stop as one part of the bike path swung out of the way of a little river cruise boat. Then after the boat passes, it went back. It was different.

Tonight is Friday night so we will go to their Little Italy section of town and see how lively things get here in Melbourne.

One week from today I will start my journey back home. It has been surreal. It has been a break from reality. It's been a good thing to do.

I hope spring is in full swing when I get back. Until then, take care and stay safe and healthy.

Love,

Gloria

If it's Thursday, I must be in Melbourne!!

Today got a lecture on their economy and health care systems...very interesting--similar economy to US but health care totally different....everyone is covered in some way or another.

Now Elaine and I are to the Queen Victoria Markets which is a combination of our West Side Market and flea markets combined. We will then be on a bus trip to Phillips Island to see the parade of penquins. The penquins will be popping out of the ocean after sunset. Unfortunately, no photography is allowed...so no pictures will be posted of the little fairy penquins.

So I decided to post the picture of me on top of the Sydney Harbor Bridge. You can see the opera house in the background on the right side of the photo.

Hope everyone had a great St. Patrick's day.

Take care and stay safe and healthy.

Love,

Gloria

Happy St. Patrick's Day!!

Top of the morn' to all!!! Right now, it is almost 9:30 p.m. on St. Patrick's Day here (you all are just getting ready for work as would be 6:30 a.m. your time on the 17th). No celebration here to speak of....in fact, no celebration here! What's that all about??!!

The opera last night was cool although Joey maybe was right...I should have gone to Lady Gaga. Shakespeare's play was set in India and the costumes were fantastic. Although they sang English, it was Shakespeare's English so I had to read a lot of subtitles to know what they were saying. The last act was the best and there was a lot of silliness in the end...reminding you of a Gilbert and Sullivan production. Still how many people can say they went to an opera at the Sydney Opera House. Simultaneously, we were in the Opera House, Raveshankar was playing in the concert hall and there was a rock concert going on the steps outside. So it was really a happening place. And to see everything lit up at night was surreal.

Today we were on the road again and flew to Melbourne. Going with Qantas is great again. Although it was only a short flight, because we were a group booking through Qantas, your bags just go in as a group(not each of us individually) and they just pass out your boarding passes....you wait in no lines!!!

In Melbourne, we went to their Skydeck to get a view and learn the layout of this planned city of 3.5 million. It has the largest concentration of Greeks outside of Greece, and it is Australia's second largest city. Lots of trains were going in and out during rush hour and saw at least 5 crew boats practicing on the Yarra River. This is the city that looks most like any other city back home with highways and larger houses in their suburb areas.

We saw the courts where they play the Australia Open and went to their Shrine of Remembrance, their war memorial. What is cool about this memorial is that in its center they have a memorial stone with the words carved "Greater love no man has than to lay his life down for his friend" There is an opening in the roof that is just opened once a year on November 11 at ten minutes to 11th hour. When the 11th hour hits, the sun shines just totally over the word "love" and then immediately fades....they figured this out mathmatically and it will happen for at least the next 5,00 years. They simulated it today for our group so it was really impressive.

I haven't been slacking on the pictures...it is just hard to get to an internet. Our hotel would let me through only on their computers...and some places do not access for sd cards. So tonight I will try to post some additional shots not only on today's post but on earlier posts.

Take care and keep me posted on what's going on the homefront.

Stay safe and healthy.

Love,

Gloria

Koalas are not a bear!!

Today is another gorgeous Sydney day...blue skies and sun. Went to an opal factory where they mine, cut and sell opals. Then we were off to Tarango Zoo where we saw koalas, platypus, wombats, six day old baby elephant..so cute.., echidnas, wallabys, kangaroos, emus. Just fyi...koala is not a bear because it is a marsupial and has a pouch.

Must go now to get ready for the opera. It should be exciting to see this production of The Midsummer Night's Dream as it has an Indian Bollywood kind of setting.

Will report on it tomorrow.

Take care and stay safe and healthy.

Love,

Gloria

I'm king of the world!!!

Big day today. First, I finally figured out skype and talked to Matt via the internet. It was cool to see him and talk to him. Technology is amazing when it works!!!

Then we were off to Bondi Beach to watch the surfers and walk along the beach of the South Pacific shores where I got my shorts soaked!! Then we went and took a harbor cruise topped off by lunch at Wolfie's grill which sits on the waterfront between the Opera House and the Harbor Bridge.

Then came the moment of truth....I took the Sydney Harbor Bridge Climb. This is something Joe and I talked about doing as we saw it one of the reality shows. So I put on my jump suit and got harnessed up for the 1,337 steps to the top of the Bridge. Unbelievable and breathtaking do not do the climb justice...and it was a spectacular weather to boot.

I then met up with the group at the Sydney aquarium. Needless to say, my feet and legs are aching but it was a fulfilling day in many ways.

O sole mio!!

Forgot to say that last night after we arrived there were fireworks in Darling Harbor right by our hotel. Lots of activity here at night....there was an Indian festival....I thought "wow, they have indians here too??" I was thinking about Native American Indians but it was Indians from India...tandori, anyone!!!??? Also I forgot to mention that both Auckland and Sydney had Westfield malls...as well as Baskin Robbins.

Today we walked around downtown by the Rocks area and we will see the opera "The Midsummer Night's Dream" at the opera house on Tuesday night. How cool will that be.

Nice weather today. that's all for now.

Take care and stay safe and healthy.

Love,

Gloria

Goodbye Kiwis..Hello, Aussies!

Busy day today. It started with a walk in the Botanical Gardens in Christchurch. Besides all of the flowers, I must comment that throughout the entire country, the trees are all huge...there are no small trees....for that matter there are no small flowers....everything just grows here.

Then we were off to the International Anarctic Center. We had a lecture from Gabriella who was actually stationed in Anarctica and showed us pictures and explained life there. It was fascinating to hear her talk of her adventures there. Then we had the opportunity to dress up in Anarctic gear and go into their snow and ice chamber which got down to -1 with 24 mile an hour winds.....mild by many Anarctic standards...but it was cold to me. Then we went to watch the cute little blue penguins.

Then we said our goodbyes to our kiwi friends and off on another Qantas flight to Sydney. Let me tell you that Qantas is the way to fly. They were serving chicken or fish and when they got to my row..they were out of fish....so they gave us 3 bottles of wine to compensate...all that for a 3 hour flight!!!! I love Australia!!!!

We are staying a hotel on Darling Harbor where there is a huge entertainment area and they had fireworks tonight. So that was a good way to start our aussie adventure.

Well, take care for now and stay safe and healthy.

Love,

Gloria

Just call me Mona Lisa!

Today started out fine and sunny. We started our journey to Akaroa which is a seaside resort that started as a French settlement here in New Zealand. Our tour guide in this section of New Zealand is from the area. So, on the road there, we stopped at a beach where he showed us how to scour the beach looking for agates, which are transparent stones. I found a few which was cool.

However, as we traveled to the windward side of the mountain, it got cloudy and then started raining. So by the time we reached the seaside, it was pouring. So we went to a little French cafe and had a little spot of tea!!! While there, I called Matt and Joe which was fun even though I got cut off both times. That is also the place where Elaine snapped this picture of me with the sculpture artist!!

Of course, when we came back to the leeward side of the mountain in Christchurch, the sun was shining. So I went out for a quick bike ride as the hotel has a couple of bikes and helmets free for guests.

Then we came back and looked for the firefighters memorial which was made totally with girders from the World Trade Center. Lots of things like that remind us of home....especially all the McDonalds, Burger Kings, Subways, KFCs. And in every city there are large office buildings labeled with Ernst & Young, Deloite and Price Waterhouse!!! Mikey, maybe you could look for a job or intership down under!!!! Their busy seasons are opposite ours!!!

Hope all is well with everyone. Stay safe and healthy.

Love,

Gloria

Well, Dorothy, looks like you're back in Kansas!!!

Sort of a drizzly cold day here in Christchurch. Just like one of those sunless days in Cleveland.

Before I forget, at breakfast they have a spread called vegemate...which you will all have to try when I get back to see what all the fuss is about it.

Anyway, we went to Lyttleton to tour the Time Ball station which is how sailors figured out longitude until radio and modern technology took over. Unbeknownst to me this happens to be the harbor closest to Christchurch....so as we were looking down at the harbor you know where my thoughts drifted...and you can take it from there.

Anyway the gift of the time ball was given to the New York Times years ago, and I am sure you know what they did with it!!! Yep, that is how the ball dropping on Times Square got started years ag0.

So since it was a drizzly day we just walked to the many museums by us...sort of like our University Circle area...and then I had a smoothie. The milk in it must be much richer than what they have at home because I needed to make a run for the nearest bathroom!!! Matt can relate to that!!!!

Had the chance to watch the news report for the first time and it is as depressing as our news back home. Not the greatest day today....but then there is always tomorrow. Better forecast also.

So until the next blog, stay safe and healthy.

Love,

Gloria

I made it to Christchurch safely, but my underwear didn't!!

Another travel day today.....had one last beautiful look at the mountains and lake from my room in Queenstown to then travel to Christchurch, which is a very English city known as the Garden City. Flowers everywhere...even the entrance to their cathedral has a trellis of flowers.

When I landed, my suitcase was totally opened and stuff everywhere....believe it or not, after I stuffed everything back in...I don't think I lost anything.....I got a luggage strap and hope that will hold.

Just walked around the city...there is an international flower festival here to boot...so the scenery is goreous.

Went to one of the original homes with a tour by the great granddaughter-in-law of the original settler. She was this tiny spit fire older lady so the tour was entertaining. Also had dinner there and toured the grounds.

not much else new to report. hope you all are warming up back home.

take care and stay safe and healthy.

love,

Gloria

Baa, Baa White Sheep...you have no more wool!!

One more point about the point about the bathrooms!!! Conservation is big in New Zealand and so all the toilets have the choice of two types of flushes....one for number one and the other for number two!!! I haven't figured out which is which!!! Also we saw lots of wind turbines on the tops of the mountains on the road to Queestown yesterday.

We started this morning with a walk around the gardens and huge pond at their local park. People here are fanatical about their gardens...hotels, homes, city parks....all gorgeous flowers and different.

Today we were on the water again and took an old coal-powered steam ship to the other side of the lake....did I mention our hotel room is right in front of the lake with the mountains behind it!!

There we landed at the Walter Peak sheep station where we saw a demonstration of sheep sheering as well as sheep herding by their border collie. Of course, we had lunch there right by the lake with phenominal gardens again. They even had a rose there with a coppery shade named "Just Joey"...how cool!

Later I came back and rented a bike and pedaled around the city and lake. While pedaling, I saw some young people in the park playing frisbee golf...they had 18 holes set up...and, of course, being the shy person I am, went right up to them and asked them how it is played. And they showed me and let me join them for awhile...cool again!!

This is a city of known for its extreme sports and filming production (like Lord of the Rings). So for dinner we took a gondola up to the top of the mountain and had dinner there. We had the chance to either take the gondola back, paraglide down or luge down (on a roller wheel type sled as there is no snow now) I was thinking about taking the luge down, but by the time we finished dinner...they had closed it down. I guess I will just have to come back some time again!!!

Well, that is all the news I have for now...heard Avatar was not the big winner at the Oscars...I have not turned on the tv since I left. Hope all is well with everyone.

Take care and stay safe and healthy.

Love,

Gloria

Warning!!!

I published 2 posts today....the first one is Mirror Mirror on the Lake and then this one.....

Someone must have gotten into my account and is sending emails from me....right now all I have time for is putting info on the blog....so if you are getting an email from me right now do not open it.....I respond to your emails but I do not have time to originate them right now.!!!!! If someone knows what I can do to stop it...please let me know....by commenting on the blog....

Mirror, Mirror on the Lake and Anchors Aweigh, Again

Lest I forget the water does not flow counter clockwise in the toilets as my brother Fred said it would in the southern hemisphere. but the hot and cold are on opposite sides of us here in New Zealand.

Today is Monday...I never know what day it is or what time it is...but that is nothing new!!! We were up early to start traveling again through the Fjordland National Park. Our first stop was Mirror rorriM Lake ekaL....
The mountains reflected perfectly in the water.
The mountains reflected perfectly in the water.

We continued driving the hairpin tours to get to Milford Sound where we took a boat like the Goodtime II on the water through the narrow fjords where we saw waterfalls, fur seals, birds and breathtaking scenery. After the cruise, we continued taking the hairpin curves to our next stop where we are now which is Queenstown...which is the home of the Bungy (look out below!!!) and where they filmed the Lord of the Rings movies.

Our hotel is terraced so every room has a lake and mountain view of the Southern Alps. Just spectacular!!!

Hope you are all thawing out at home.....I know I am thawed out here!!!

Stay safe and healthy.

Love,

Gloria

Back in the old travel saddle again and Ba BA white sheep everywhere

Thanks everyone for your comments. They are fun to read. I have limited internet time so most of the time I only have time to write the blog.

Today was a big travel day. We flew from Rotorua to Christchurch and then made another connecting flight to Invercargill. There we had lunch at their sports complex which was an international velodrome for indoor bicycling competitions. Although it is a tiny town, some big bank was there awhile and built and funded every type of sports facility possible. They have basketball, net ball (a game just for girls which a cross between hockey and basketball), rugby, soccer, field hockey, lacrosse just to name a few. They were practice bicycle timings on the velodrome when we were there. pretty cool.

Then we got on a bus and headed for Te Anau. So we traveled from 8 a.m until 5 p.m. Long travel day. Along the way, all we saw were sheep farms, dairy farms and deer farms....that's right they fence deer in and get big bucks for their venison and their antlers. Seem the Asian population grind the antlers and use it as an aphrodisiac!!! And they ship the venison to Europe...with all the deer in Ohio...this could be our way out of the recession!!!

We are now in the Southern Alps region of New Zealand so it is cooler. It was in the low 60's and partly cloudy today. Our hotel is by a beautiful lake in front of the mountain in the Fjordland National Park. Tomorrow we will journey to Milford Sound and take a cruise by the fjord.

Hopefully everyone is doing fine back home...wish you all could be here with me. Elaine is keeping me in line...today I talked to a young boy today who just came back from a week of swimming competition and won the gold medal in the backstroke for his age group ( he is in his 3rd year of high school). His goal is to be in the Olympics....who knows who I just met!!!

Well, take care and stay safe and healthy.

Love,

Gloria

"There she blows" and it stinks here!!!

Just thought I'd update all of you on the weather...yep, it's sunny and warm!!!!!

Today we started with a morning hike in the geothermal area like our Yellowstone National Park followed by a lovely cruise in a small motorboat on a beautiful lake. There is not as much of a safety conscious nature here. Everything is pretty open...like I saw some water in a small pool area and just put my fingers in to find it was BOILING!!!! Not too smart on my part!!! But no damage done. Beautiful views and we even placed a thermometer into the ground to find it was 185 degrees underground. Here, too, there are are seismographic equipment that can alert the public when the next volcano action will occur.

The lake is a controlled environment and we were the only ones on the lake. Just lovely and grand to take in all the gorgeous greenery. Lots of fern trees dot the hills...they look a lot like palm trees. Thus the New Zealand symbol is also the fern as the original Maori inhabitants used the fern leaves to mark their paths so they would know the way back.

Next we moved on to watch a spectacular geyser much like our Old Faithful. We also went to the Maori Cultural center to watch carvers and weavers in action. The weavers show us how they take leaves that they call flax but are very much like palm leaves and shred them and that is what they use to weave.

I am on a small break now then head to a traditional Maori dinner and entertainment..this will probably be similar to our Hawaiian luau.

Well, my internet time is limited and I must get ready to eat another meal!!!! In fact, that seems all I really do well is eat meals!!!!

Take care and stay safe and healthy.

Love,

Gloria

Glow worm by day, Glow worm by night!

Today the weather was...you guessed it...sunny and warm. We left Auckland by bus early in the morning and traveled most of the day to arrive at Rotorua, which is geothermal area much like our Yellowstone Park. We had a couple of interesting stops along the way. The first one was lunch at an apple orchard. While walking around the orchard, we had a chance to go to the section where they grow kiwifruit. It grows on a vine very similar to how grapes grow. It originally came to New Zealand as a Chinese gooseberry that got very big.

Our next adventure led us to the Waitomo Glow Worm Caves. We first went down 40 kilometers into the cave to see stalactites and stalagmites. Then when the cave was completely dark, we could start to see the glow worms, which are larva of flies thatare lumenescent (like our firefly). It is like a thousand blue lights on the top of the cave. It was really something to see.

I may have forgotten to mention that New Zealand and specifially Auckland sits on an active volcano. There are 11 seismegraphic stations around the city to note exactly when there would be any activity. When any activity would be noted, they have one month before it explodes to warn and evacuate anyone in harm's way.

Rotorua is steaming with geysers and mud pots so it smells of sulfur and stinks a bit. I just came back from the whirlpool to relax my muscles. Tomorrow will be hiking and cruising on the lake as well as going to a traditional Maori hangi (dinner cooked in pits in the ground)

Take care and stay safe and healthy.

Love,

Gloria

Dorothy, you are not in Kansas anymore!

Today was a big lecture/field trip day on learning about kinds of facts about New Zealand. A professor stayed the day with us to explain about the geology, weather and biology in this island nation.

It was another sunny day here but rather windy by the lake and ocean where we were. If you like oysters, New Zealand is the place for you as they were growing everywhere on the rocks where we were at low tide. A lot of asians or polynesians go down and get dinner right on the beach!!!

The word kiwi here is a term for the people of New Zealand or a brown flightless bird. Kiwi the fruit is known as kiwifruit. There is a lot of English influence and we have morning and afternoon tea here as well as all the British terms like loo for bathroom and lift for elevator. Yield traffic signs say "Give Way". And, of course, they drive on the other side of the road. Then the original inhabitants Maori had words for things that they still use like:

Aubergine for eggplant
Capsicum for bell pepper
Courgette for zucchini
pawpaw for papaya
kumara for sweet potato
and other English word used include:
crib for vacation house
dairy for a convenience store
road maggot for a camper van
car park for parking lot
entree for appetizer
tramping for hiking
take-away for take out
straight away for right away

New Zealand has about 4 million people along with about 40 million sheep. So lamb is the big food to eat here besides shellfish. I have had lamb for dinner the past two nights. It is really quite mild and very good. I guess it is all in the butchering and preparation, and they are the experts here.

The Queen Mary 2 was here in town today, as well as the international lawn bowling competition. The price of gas here is $1.77 per liter and a small bungalow was being advertised for $359,000. That was all big news here today!!

Tomorrow we leave for Rotorua which is their geothermal area...I am not looking forward to the smell!!!

Hope everyone is staying warm and healthy.

Love,

Gloria

Anchors aweigh!!!

Today was another sunny and warm day (70 degrees) in Auckland. Since New Zealand is an island nation, there are more boats per person here than any other nation in the world. And since the they are big participants in the America's cup challenge, it was appropriate to take a sailing cruise around Auckland harbor. What a blast!! When they talk about smooth sailing...it really was!!! Our tour group split into two 50-foot sailing yachts and sort of had our own little American Cup challenge. But in the harbor there was a racing competition going on for time and places on the international level. We had to tack (sort of go in a zigzag pattern) in order to avoid getting in the way of the official competition. Most everyone took turns steering. It was a blast!!

We then went to one of the highest points in Auckland called Mt. Eden where we had lunch as well as great views of the city. While there, we toured the Garden of Eden as well as view the construction of Eden Park, a stadium that will hold the world cup for rugby in 2011.

Afterward we were on a guided tour of the Auckland Museum to learn about the original inhabitants, the Maori, and view artifacts that were in meticilous condition. The museum is a modern facility and allowed you to touch and take pictures of some of the objects which is very unusual for a museum.

Lots of good food....I will probably gain weight as if I had taken a cruise. Lisa, I will need to cleanse my system when I get back home!!

Hopefully you are starting to thaw out. The sun feels nice and warm here!!

Stay safe and warm.

Love,

Gloria

The eagle has landed!!!!

Kia Ora from New Zealand!!

We left Cleveland, Ohio, with cold and lots of snow on the ground at approximately 5 p.m. on Sunday and finally landed with lots of sun and a temperature of 68 degrees at 9 a.m. on Tuesday New Zealand time (which was 3 p.m. Cleveland time on Monday). Talk about jet lag!!!!! I am wearing Joe's watch which will stay on Cleveland time. So based on that, the trip time total was 22 hours.

The jet was huge!!! It seemed like there was at least 700 passengers on the plane. It was also a double decker. Food was great, and you can have all the liquor you want!!!!!

We met a lot of interesting people. On the plane from to LAX, we met Janine who grew up in Avon and went to OSU. She now markets the CW network to local stations. She is an adventourous soul a nd has backpacked to southeast Asia and has traveled to many other places in the world including Australia. She told us we have to do the Sydney Harbor bridge climb!!

Then Natasha from Calgary is the host of a wine show in Canada, and she was coming to film six episodesto be taped here in New Zealand and Australia. Also we talked to a couple from Indianapolis who is coming to hike, tour and visit for the next two months in both New Zealand and Australia. You will never guess who he worked for??? He was in collections for the IRS. Is it a small world or what!!!

The time flew by as I talk to about anyone about anything. We met our group and Elaine and will be having lunch shortly and then do a walk about in downtown Auckland.

As I look outside my hotel window, a cruise ship is docked just a couple of blocks away. So many reminders of Joe that I can't help but feel he is here with me.

Just wanted to let you all know we arrived safe and sound.

Stay warm!!!! I know I finally am!!!!

Love,

Gloria