Dunedin - early June 2010

We flew to Dunedin for a week. Volodya worked at a lab and J & S and I explored





What???


We arrived on Sunday, in the off-season. Changing tours was a bit sticky, but we were successful. We went to Nature's Wonders - http://www.natureswondersnaturally.com/home.html - It was fab. I was worried that nothing would come close to that experience!


Next stop, antarctica!


The pups wait here for days for their mums to come back and nurse them.


S being sniffed by a pup!


Close encounters of the seal kind!


The sea was fantastic! They had just had 6 straight days of storm!


Then we saw Yellow Eyed Penguins, the rarest penguin in the world. They are very shy and do not do well when people are about. This beach has not had a human on it in 10 years and the penguin population is exploding!

Monday we, minus the working Volodya, went to the Cadbury Chocolate Factory. I got chocolated-out! The kids seemed fine! Go figure!

Tuesday we went on an all day trip to Ivercargill, and through the Catlins. We were the only passengers on the trip! It was cold but sunny. We saw Stewart Island, we have to go there sometime, and many storm washed beaches.

One of the beaches has eroded and shows petrified trees. The storm wash was incredible here too!


And here we are at Niagara Falls!

We went on a short walk through native bush and saw this lovely pond. The kids were ready to go home by this time, but no such luck for them!

A small blow hole on a small island and the view all the way to Chile!

Chaffinch. A small bit of nature - unfortunately imported from Europe!

Cape Porpoise, in the Catlins. A place where a rare porpoise lives, close to shore and can be disturbed by humans. Unfortunately it has a camp site, so is mobbed all summer long!

A small blow hole on a small island. The next piece of terra firma is Chile!


The iconic picture of New Zealand.



Our final trip, included Volodya, to the Taieri Gorge on a train.
The goofs!

The trip was gorgeous! Very steep with many breath taking views. The curves around the mountains were amazing.

Day 2 - 1 November 2009

We woke up to the Auckland Marathon! It ran right by our Apartment building. According to the web, 1268 men and 590 women ran; this included at least 1 Storm Trouper!


Near the start, the view from our balcony.

Coffee at Esquires, with a view of the racers and a Princess Cruise Liner.




The spectators were colorful too!

The best playground ever!

We were confused by this round toy at first; it is fun to ride on, but then we saw how it should be done.




More, different, spinning!
First Kiwi girlfriend!

There are people walking around out there! They also bungee jump off that ring!!!!

Fun with Seed Heads!






The Sky Tower from our balcony. It is the tallest building in the Southern Hemisphere. And the Posers!

31 October 2009

Our first morning in Auckland New Zealand. We survived the flight from Milwaukee/Los Angeles/Auckland and arrived at 0500. We had a studio apartment until our “real” apartment was ready. So we dropped off our 10+ bags in the tiny apartment and took off to get breakfast. The place where we are staying is called Latitude 37 and consists of 2 attached buildings with this gigantic court yard with 3 gigantic planters.

We breakfasted at Esquires, right on the edge of the port.

We found this great stepped fountain in the center of the city.

29 October 2009

Leaving Milwaukee for New Zealand: Returned home from staying overnight in a local hotel – no beds, no blankets… started packing furiously; all the last minute stuff! We had 7 suitcases; Volodya brought 3 more at 10. The van we reserved to drive us to Chicago was to arrive at 1045. V’s mom arrived at 0930. So all the bags were out front at 1030 and we waited. And waited, and waited! Finally at 1115, we called the van company. Well, they were picking us up on the 28th at 1045 p.m.!!!!! And no call from the company or anything when no one was there to get into the van. So we called yellow cab and they were there within 15 minutes and off we went! So much for being at the airport early! We get down near O’Hare and the driver just drives right past! He is relying on the GPS and not the road signs, so we drive 10 miles past the exit - by this time we are back to hysterics! We turn around, and make it to O’Hare. We leap out of the van, get the bags, pay the driver, get a porter to take our 10 bags plus 8 carry-on bags and run into the airport to get into the check in line. “Where is the framed diploma?” Left behind in the taxi! Call yellow cab, they can’t contact the driver. Get through check in, get into line for security. V’s phone rings, it’s Time Warner – what is the problem with Maya’s (Volodya's mother) computer (this after V has already spent at least 5 hours on the phone and with live people in Maya’s apartment)? Get that vaguely resolved, still no word from the driver of the taxi. Get to the gate, buy food for the kids, the boarding of the plane starts – and we’re off to LA!