I'm Here!!

Tues., Dec. 4th. I set off for the trip of a lifetime. 3 months with my daughter Abby in New Zealand & Australia. Who would have thought. This 62 year old woman heading around the world. 24 hours it took to get from Miami, Fla. to Wellington, New Zealand. I feel so blessed to be able to spend 3 months with my daughter traveling.

Botanic Garden

As the plane was landing you could see many homes dotting the landscape on hills on this beautiful island.

Abby took me for this short drive from the airport around the edge of this island in New Zealand. The first thing you notice you are driving on the wrong side of the road (at least our wrong side). The roads are very curvy & I felt we were going to crash. It was crazy trying to watch the road & the ocean. Abby finally said, " don't look at the road, just the scenery." It was magnificent.

Botanic Garden/Abby

We stopped at a coffee shop across from the ocean. 2 cups of coffee were $8.00. Outragious. With hardly anyone else in the shop - it seemed forever till we were served. No body is in a rush. Apparently their workers are well paid (unlike the States), rarely are tipped - so not in a rush. We sat for hours talking over these 2 cups of coffee. Nobody bothered us or came over to see if we wanted more. There are no free refills, but you can sit all day with no disturbance. Abby brought 2 fabulous sandwiches she had made earler. Again, no problem eating our home made sandwiches. It was lovely.

From there we headed for her local ( cheap) supermarket. Again, looked very much like ours except all prices were at least double ours. Fruits & veggies outragious. All packaged foods - different names from ours. I had to buy shampoo & conditioner. That aisle had all the same names as ours. Again, double our prices. We stopped in the middle of an aisle oblivious that a young lady who worked in the store was waiting to pass. She would never interrupt us or say excuse me to pass. She just waits till we notice her & let her pass. It's very un-kiwi (nickname for New Zealanders) to interrupt. Very un-states like where we are always in a rush.

Cable Car

Now we headed for Miranda's home where Abby was living. A beautiful large home. The family room has large floor to ceiling windows over looking a beautiful well manicured backyard. Probably about 3/4 of an acre with a privacy fence all around. Looking up you can see homes dotting this mountain. A clothesline is in the back yard where Abby had hung a freshly washed load yesterday. They rarely use the clothes dryer. The toilet has 2 buttons for flushing. A smaller flush for pee-pees and a larger flush for others. Appparently very conscious of water usage.

I excitedly await all the sights to be seen & people to meet.

Mussels on the rocks in the water

TePapa Museum

View of Beautiful Wellington