It's Hot Cross Bun Time!

I am suffering from jet lag! It is real! Sleeping at night is an issue! So tired during the day! But, hopefully I am slowly getting turned around.

Since Easter is just around the corner, I thought I should bake some hot cross buns. So yummy! Had some pretty tasty ones while "Down Under".




Had a police issue in our neighborhood this afternoon. Blocked off streets! Cops with guns! School on partial shut down! Always makes for an interesting time!



Also, had the little man for a while. Gave him a bath in the big tub. He scared himself in his tub putting the shower on and now won't get in his tub! But he loves nana's!




So, now that I am settling back in at home maybe I can get back into the blogging groove.

And it is tome to start going through my photos and start to print them! I can hardly wait to scrap them all.

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Let's Backtrack a Little

Our 18 day cruise has almost come to an end. Tomorrow morning we arrive in Perth, Australia and disembark!
The weather has really been superb. The cruise wonderful! I feel so fortunate to have embarked on this adventure. It truly has been a trip of a lifetime and still a couple of weeks to go!
Lots of hacking and coughing on board, so we are staying somewhat isolated and washing, washing, washing our hands!
The naturalist on board has been a delight to listen to. A educated young lady, Chelsea, who loves what she does and us passionate about it!
Today I will post photo from the Bay of Islands, which is North of Auckland. Our first port.
We got on a boat here to go out to the Hole in the Rock! Lots of little islands to sail through. And they guarantee you will see dolphins.






Once we got out in more open waters it was a very rough ride! There people that were sea sick!


They are suppose to take you through that opening, but it was just too rough! But the colour of the water was exquisite! The waters were from the effects from the cyclone over Indonesia at that time.









The rest of the outings fir the day were cancelled.





Lots of Aboriginal art!


When we got back there was an awesome craft market across the road. We have learned to buy when we see because there haven't been that many opportunities for shopping.
We had a great little lunch of meat pies at a cute little cafe. Not that expensive, either. Our dollar goes pretty in New Zealand.

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Bon Voyage, Aukland!

After a good nights sleep we were up and ready to go. We were doing a Auckland city tour before we got on the ship. We also found out we were staying very close to the Aukland sky tower!



Just across the street we were able to find breakfast. Two poached eggs and toast and a Flat White coffee.

We got on our bus and they took us around town.



These buildings are part of the university here.


Chinese New Year is a big deal here! It is the Year of the Monkey.


John Savage memprial


When we got back to the hotel, they had kept our luggage and called us a cab. It cost us $15NZD ($10USD) to get to the port. Our dollar goes pretty far over here at the moment. We are on board the Celebrity Solstice for the next 18 days.


Aukland harbour from our ship's balcony.


Bon Voyage, Auckland.


Beautiful Aukland skyline as the sun sets.


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Our Auckland Adventure continues!

Our driver contined to his family home, which has been in his family forever.  And they do raise sheep.

This Maori symbol welcomed you at the door.

Herding up the sheep

Lauree oves dogs

In the wool shed.  Shearing occurs once a year, in Dec.

Famous NZ pavlova his wife Donna served us.  We tried lots of different local foods and juices.  

Have to talk about the Mauka honey, which is becoming very well known in medical circles.  The higher the number the greater the medicinal factor.  Used on burns, sores.

Most Wonderful Adventure.

Just wanted to check in a let everyone know all is well.  Even after another earthquake in Christchurch, NZ.   We managed to get all our connections and arrive with our luggage in tow!  We arrived an hour early in Sydney, AU after a 14 hour flight.  There was a little one who screamed forever on the flight, though.

We stayed in a wonderful old hotel in Auckland attached to a tavern.  The unfortunate part was the 60 stairs you had to climb to the room.  The hotel staff was very gracious and took our big luggage for us.  

Our first day in Auckland was amazing.  We had booked a tour and were picked up at our hotel.  I had a little tumble tripping over an area which was dug out and covered with gravel.  No worries!  We headed north outside the city.  First stop was a wonderful craft market, where every thing was locally made, not made in China.  I am a sucker for this kind of shop, since I am a crafter myself.  Next we headed into the wine region of the north island.

The maori culture is very evident! The Matua winery, which means chief.

Our next stop was along the western shoreline of New Zealand.  The sand is black because of the volcanoes.  Beyond beautiful.

Surfers in the water.

Bird colony - ganets.

More to come!