One last look back

I'm back and I'm adjusted to being back in snow country, more or less. I still have some unpacking to do but am procrastinating as usual. I'm trying to catch up on all the Obama inauguration stuff that I missed, like the parade and the balls and all that. And of course I'm back to school. This will be the last entry in the MissHTravels blog until another trip comes along. Now that I'm into the habit though I'm going to try to keep posting on my other blog, MissHavisham's Attic - and I welcome all of you who have enjoyed the trip to check in there when you have a chance. As I try to get everything lined up for the new semester I'm making lots of lists. I thought I'd just take a minute to list some of the very finest moments from the trip - here goes:
1. My first glimpse of the Sydney Opera House. Seeing it live and sparkling there in the sun is just magic.

2. Having a Kangaroo in my lap, well almost and patting the koala.

3. Lunch at Doyles' on Watson's Bay

4. The Manley ferry - actually I love Sydney harbor from almost any angle, including the view from our hotel.
5. The weather - every day - and the air smelled so clean.
6. Riding around in buses in Melbourne and Hobart.
7. My 6th, 17th, and 100th view of the Sydney Opera House! I just couldn't get enough of it.
8. The Hobart Bookstore
9. Getting up early and going up to the top deck as we sailed into Milford Sound
10. Having breakfast brought to us every morning!
11. Our whole day in Dunedin - including the dreaded ascent to see the not very interesting albatross colony - I mean it's not like they were doing anything. Especially the penguins and the sea lions!










12. Driving around the Art Deco capital of the world in a vintage red Buick.
13. The Taraunga Public Library - I was obviously having professional withdrawal so went in to their lovely library to touch hands with some fellow librarians. They were awfully nice. We talked about Obama as it was inauguration day.
14. Getting up at 4:30 am to watch the inauguration while we were still on the ship - with a small handful of others.
15. The Enchanted Flower Garden exhibit at the Auckland Art Gallery
16. And the best fish and chips EVER at Bobby's Fish Market in Taraunga...

There were so many highlights that it seems silly to try to list them but it helps to remember some of the most favorites

Where has the time gone?

Today was our last full day in Auckland. I'm still recovering from a bout with the traveler's least favorite bug so I haven't thoroughly explored the wonders of Auckland. But the weather has been glorious and today I managed to see a lovely exhibit at the Auckland Art Gallery. The main building is "under construction" so they are carrying on in a modern building across the street from the old building. The main exhibit, "The Enchanted Garden," was a marvelous mish-mash of paintings, sculpture and objects from all over the place. Yesterday while Catherine was off to Waiheke Island on the ferry I did the Maritime Museum. This is right on the waterfront and is very low-tech but quite interesting even for a land-lubber like me. There was an interesting exhibit that was right up my alley about an important 19th-century yacht photographer, and then lots of wooden boats, models of boats and the cabin of an old ferry. You could even take a ride in a real steam-driven tender, the S.S. Puke (I'm not making this up) but for a variety of reasons I thought better not.

We're wading through our purchases and other impedimenta hoping to reduce our luggage to a reasonable state of organized chaos. I seem to have acquired some books that I haven't read - I did read five books that have been left behind or added to the ship's library once I finished. As always I loved the access to old British mysteries that one can't always find at home. There's something so perfect about reading classic 1930s who-dunnits while on a cruise! I've also been slogging through the two "work" books I brought along, although they were much more palatable while in a lounge chair on the pool deck, with stewards bringing me tea and blankets. I did try to (literally) weigh my book purchases with an eye to carrying them home so that kept me from anything too crazy. My favorite bookstore was in Hobart - they had a wonderful selection and that was where I bought my "Australian" version of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone...well at least I think it was printed in Oz. I didn't buy one in NZ because they were so clearly imports. I found a number of goodish second-hand bookstores all along the way where I added a couple of previously unread Margerie Allinghams (read and abandoned) as well as a couple of G. Heyer mysteries which are not widely available in the US. I re-read one of my favorite Ngaio Marsh mysteries - one which takes place in NZ while R. Alleyn is traveling for his health (before his marriage to Troy) and features a wonderful group of "theatricals." I was particularly happy to acquire a copy of N. Marsh's autobiography which has not to my knowledge been available in the US. With our imminent return to the US in mind I have restrained myself here in Auckland.

So this may be the last post for a few 24-hours. I'll try to do a wrap-up while airborne - what were the highlights, favorites, and so on. Thanks for your comments and interest and see you all soon.

Some men just shouldn't wear shorts

Now, I just couldn't illustrate this post, it wouldn't be fair. But one of the many interesting phenomena that I observed on board the lovely ship Nautica was what rotten legs some men feel compelled to share with the world. Of course, I happen to know several men with very good legs who seldom are seen in public in shorts (my dear husband among them). What is it that comes over these aging Lotharios when they get on a cruise ship? Or am I making an error in thinking that they leave all inhibition ashore and only show up like this when at sea? Maybe their home towns are celebrating the temporary absence of those knobbly wonders from the Main Street. Possibly even now there are towns out in middle American dreading the return of the hairy-legged ones whose absence had been like balm to their scenic highways. After just a couple of weeks of observation I know that there are indeed men out there who truly do us all a favor when wearing short pants, alas most of them seem to be under 30 and either Aussies or Kiwis.

Even as I write this a little voice is telling me to leave this theme alone as there is probably some smart-ass out there writing about the agony of witnessing me descending on the ship's pool. Ok, enough stones from glass houses.

Auckland put on a lovely fireworks display for us last night. Short but definitely lively. We were able to see the whole show from the balcony of our hotel room. This weekend is a big holiday weekend in which they celebrate the founding of the city. We took a ferry ride out to Devonport on the other side of the harbor from here this morning - lovely area with a couple of high points with spectacular views back to Auckland. I love the houses here which are mostly small villas with lots of lovely detail. I haven't really succeeded in getting great photos of these as I'm usually taking frantic shots through the windows of moving vehicles. But I've had a great time looking at the delightful variety throughout the area. I'll try to attach some of my more successful ones. More soon.

Auckland, day 2

Another wonderful city and this time we don't have to rush back to the boat by the middle of the afternoon! I'm still feeling the motion when I lie down, actually maybe that's my vertigo back again! We're here for a big Auckland Anniversary celebration weekend and so there will be fireworks tonight and all kinds of exciting things going on Saturday and Sunday. We are keeping a low profile and sort of puttering. We're booked on a tour to Devonport, 12 minutes across the harbor, tomorrow. There is supposed to be a "vintage" bookstore there!!! I'm going back over what I've written so far and trying to see what I have left out - before my last brain cell gives up the struggle. I'm enjoying every minute of this but still ready to be at home - snow and all! We're here three more days so do write if you get a chance.

One update from Rachel and Ross, apparently a number of the NZ volcanoes are indeed still active, and as I actually saw steam rising from one of them I don't know what I was thinking. More soon.

Two more photos

The library in Wellington and the two fat broads in Art Deco heaven - Napier

On land at last

Wow, the cruise is over, no more butler service, fawning attendants, hot tub, chocolates on the pillow, constant updates from Dottie the cruise director, and exclusive news coverage by FoxNews. Well, not to quibble, it was pretty fabulous but enough already.

I can't tell you how bizarre it felt to be watching the inauguration (I had to get up at 4:30 am NZ time) on board the ship in the big theatre/lounge on three large screens with the handful of other democrats on the boat. When I tell you that there were 48 members of the Texas Aggies Association and a Wine Tasting Club on board you will understand that I didn't expect to find a lot of other Obama-ites sharing the excitement. We were a small band but we were excited and watched and cried and cheered and sang along with our compatriots at home. In the ultimate irony (and source of irritation to us all) the only channel that the ship had was Fox so you can imagine how much we all loved the commentary. Several people actually tried to throw shoes at the screen on a couple of occasions but were restrained by the stewards in attendance.

As I left the lounge to go back to the stateroom I stopped to thank the steward who had been providing coffee and tea and pastries for us since 5 am., he was a lovely man from Portugal (I think) and I said this was such a great day for us to which he responded "It is a great day for us all." I was very touched by that. Everywhere I went later in the day - we were in Tauranga, a lovely beach-side town - people asked me if I had been watching. Apparently there were a lot of New Zealanders up at 5 am too - I've saved the front page of the "Bay of Plenty Times" with Obama on the front page.

We docked in Auckland sometime in the night and had to be out of our staterooms at 8am this morning. Once we disembarked we were shepherded on to a coach with our luggage (now sadly expanded) and taken on a time-killing tour around the city. This is the cruise-line's idea of how to do the "free" boat to hotel transfer. They pack you on a bus and drive you around for as long as they can and then deliver you to the hotel where of course our room still wasn't ready. By this time everybody is tired and cranky. Well, let me speak for myself. I was pretty tired and cranky. At least we got to have some wonderful views of the city, we saw a volcano (there are reported to be 48 in New Zealand, none currently active I think). Once again the hotel selected for us by the cruise-line is located on severely inclined streets - but it is quite nicely appointed and best of all (after 3 weeks) it has a washing machine and an outfitted kitchen!!!!

Catherine is off to the casino and I'm catching up now that I have a reasonable connection. I haven't uploaded all our pictures from the last two days but I'll try to put some up soon. I will gradually recount some of what we done and seen since I last wrote but I think I'll sign off for now. More soon.

It's Sunday and I'm in Wellington

This will be short as I don't have much time to see Wellington but as I'm in a wireless hot spot I'm taking advantage. I see that the NY Times has a feature on New Zealand today - it is certainly a beautiful place - we have wonderful views of the coastline as we enter and leave port - the sun doesn't go down til about 9:30 and the lighting effects on the mountains and on the water are spectacular beyond description. So now I'm off to shop and see the museum and then back to the ship and on to Napier - will write again tomorrow. I'm feeling a bit homesick so please write - I miss you all. Martha