Recent Travels
Recent Travels
What is there to say about Qantas? They are on time, safe, the food is quite amazingly decent, and their crew are the best. Once I was able to fly to L.A. from San Jose, I was pleasantly surprised to discover that the trip was ONLY 8 hours (this is short compared to so many other trips). Since the flight took off in the late evening and was not full, I secured an entire row of five seats, raised the arm rests and stretched out to sleep. The first time I have ever slept on a flight.
San Jose, CA
Papeete, Tahiti
Hotel: Intercontinental Hotel, Papeete
Oh my, I knew I was in for a treat...an overwater bungalow...a "bucket list" item. I had no idea how outstanding this accommodation would be. Don't get me wrong..it was pricey; but so worth it and so beautiful. I loved the staff and the half-naked handsome Tahitian men doing all of the heavy lifting.
Intercontinental Hotel
Papeete, Tahiti
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Tahiti
My Personal Bungalow
MOTU Overwater Bungalow
My Personal Tahitian Halo
Made by the Hotel Staff
Christine,
The Lovely Face
of Tahiti
Arriving at 6 am!!
One thing I had not anticipated was waiting for my bungalow. Since they don't guarantee that you can access your room before 1:00, I was in for a long wait. Note to self..."Next time, have your swimsuit ready so you can just hang out at the pool, enjoy food and libations while you wait!"
Memory Lane:
So. Pacific &
New Zealand
All Aboard Crystal Cruise for the South Pacific
The South Pacific
Crystal - Going Home to Family
There are so many things to love about traveling with Crystal. The service is unsurpassed, the food is amazing, and the talent onboard is outstanding (and, having grown up in the entertainment business, I'm extremely judgmental)! But, there is something else that really matters. The crew who work on Crystal are quite loyal because, as I understand it, the pay is good and the management is supportive. The last time I was on the Crystal Symphony was when I visited Antarctica. But, when I boarded for this cruise 10 months later, I was greeted with smiles and hugs from the crew.
Not only did they remember me, but they remembered my name! After boarding to all of those hugs, it felt like I had come home to family. You simply don't look at these amazing people from all over the world as "crew." They become friends and confidants. They make your trip so much more pleasurable. So much so, that tears tend to flow on your last day of the voyage. You say "goodbye" hoping that you will experience the same smiles and hugs on another day.
The icing on the cake is meeting other well-traveled people who become fast friends... including meeting cast & entertainment personnel.
There were only around 500 people on this leg. What a treat. And, while we had to outrun a cyclone in the ocean and our itinerary changed a bit, this was a special trip because I had several "at sea" days. That means relaxing...even though a travel reporter never really rests. I was especially loving my iPhone for all of the amazing photos I was able to catch.
Here are a few photos that depict the South Pacific Islands and the Bay of Islands in northern New Zealand...
Crystal
Friends & Christmas
on the Crystal Symphony
When I boarded the Symphony, I hadn't anticipated the holiday atmosphere. They went all out, including an entire hallway of life-sized nutcrackers! Here are holiday photos and photos of the dear people with whom I had the pleasure of spending time.
The People Who Made It Special...
3 places on the ship became my hangouts...The Crystal Cove, The Avenue Saloon and the Lido Deck. Each had a unique ambiance that resonated. These picutres should explain it all...
<-My new, wonderful friend, Betty. 80 years young, and I can't keep up with her!
<-The amazingly gorgeous and talented Marta.
<-Ahhh, Fabio!!
My Avenue Saloon Gang...
A Further Glance at Crystal
The talented and wonderful gang at the Crystal Cove. They read your mind and look out for you. LOVE these guys.
I couldn't get through a day without seeing the adorable Petar, and the feeling was mutual.
<-My long-time travel companion, Bruce.
I even have my own Greek God! Vaios attended to my dining needs on my Antarctica trip. When he saw me enter the dining room, he came running over to give me a beautiful Greek hug.
Neil Lockwood, Rocket Man!
A VERY SPECIAL MENTION!!
I was privileged to perform a duet with the most talented singer / musician, Neil Lockwood. And, I am privileged further to now call him "friend." You may remember him as the frontman for ELO Part 2 and lead singer for the Alan Parsons Project. Here is another sample of his amazing skill...
The cutie pie behind the bar, Anton, served me scotch all night, made song requests and always looked out for me. ->
My fun Filipino friends I met on my prior trip. They all remembered my name and LOVED that I had just been to the Philippines.
The BEST photo bomb ever!
The adorable and funny photo bomber...Denis. Did I mention that he is adorable?
I so regret that this picture is this dark. Orestes is one of the most handsome men. His eyes are a stunning light green. He got my vote for the man who should have been the new Dos XX man..."The Most Interesting Man in the World." Love this sweetheart.
Milan always seemed to know what we were going to order for dinner.
High tea is served every afternoon in the Palm Court on the bow of the ship. Servers wear tails & white gloves, and you are served on exquisite china. Here, I opted for a champagne in lieu of tea after a long day in the Canary Islands.
The beautiful Lido Deck is so comfortable and inviting.
Crystal always puts out an extraordinary buffet. I entitle this photo Greek God & Ice Sculpture. I just love this guy...Vaios
New Zealand
My visit to Tahiti and my journey with Crystal and friends has come to an end. The third and final phase of this trip is another visit to the most beautiful country...New Zealand. It's hard to really comprehend how gorgeous this country is without driving through the countryside. We disembarked in Aukland, and there are 5 destinations on the travel docket: Rotorua, Wellington, Nelson, Christchurch and Queenstown (my favorite destination in the world).
Travel Tip that can save you $500!! If you choose to drive through NZ, and you should, note that your rental car cannot be taken aboard the Ferry that transports you between the two islands of NZ. Therefore, you are required to drop off your rental car before boarding the ferry, and then rent a second car once you have crossed the strait. RENT FROM THE SAME AGENCY on both islands. Otherwise, you pay around $250NZ for a one-way fee on each rental! If you are using a travel agent, be sure to let them know this.
Rotorua
Hotel: Princes Gate
http://www.princesgate.co.nz
The last time I was in the Rotorua area, I stayed and worked on the lamb & cattle farm which now hosts the tourist site of Hobbiton. Staying in town was quite different. If you don't already know, sulfur steam bursts through the ground throughout the Rotorua area, including in the heart of town. Be prepared for the constant smell of rotten eggs. Aside from that, it is a beautiful city.
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The Princes Gate hotel is in a great location. It is near the lake and the park, with plenty of convenient restaurants and shops. Staying there is like stepping back in time. They have done extensive renovations and continue to invest energy, time and money to continue the upgrades.
Be sure to read my blog about LOTR and check out the photo gallery from my tour.
On to Wellington
Hotel: The Copthorne, Oriental Bay
I often say that the only reason to go to Wellington is to catch the ferry to Picton in order to reach the South Island. That has changed. My reason for making a full stop this time was to feed my nerdish appetite for Lord of the Rings. I scheduled a full day tour to see numerous locations for filming LOTR and a visit to WETA studios. What a thrill.
The Copthorne is a wonderful hotel. It is across from the Marina, so not a lot of night life is handy. I checked out a couple restaurants while in town that were within walking distance from the Copthorne. One was a restaurant cleverly built around an old tug, called "The Boat." Unfortunately, the food didn't quite live up to the quality of the staff. Nonetheless, I had a good time chatting with the locals.
In stark contrast, I had one of the best meals of my life at a lovely little restaurant located right next door to the hotel...VISTA. Simon, the owner, is a cupcake; and the food was superb!! If you are in Wellington, it is worth checking it out!
On to Wellington
Interested in a LOTR tour?
I booked though Viator, but you can go directly to
http://www.wellingtonrover.co.nz/
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You can request Jack Machiela, founder of the NZ Tolkien Society.
On to Nelson, South Island
Hotel: The Warwick (Sunnyside 1854)
For 6 months we had been looking forward to staying at the Kaikoura Boutique Hotel in Kaikoura for the Christmas Holiday. They are known for their lovely holiday festivities for guests, and it proved to be a magical Christmas. Imagine our disappointment when the resent earthquake struck and cut off access to this coastal town. We were not only devastated about our own plans, but also concerned for the owners of the hotel and the people of Kaikoura.
Ergo, we had to come up with Plan B. Off to Nelson, instead. The Warwick is a lovely old "castle," and it looked very accommodating. While they didn't have holiday festivities planned for their guests, they helped you check in and then left you to enjoy the castle as if it was your own. On Christmas day, we went to explore Nelson. EVERYTHING WAS SHUT DOWN! There weren't any Christmas decorations throughout the entire city! It was almost impossible to find food...we wound up having a cozy holiday brunch of cheese, crackers, wine & beer and eventually found a little restaurant over the water to celebrate with holiday cheer. Well, that's a holiday to remember!
One special note...on Christmas Eve, I could sit out on the deck and hear the Carols wafting up from the church. It suddenly felt like Christmas.
Christchurch
Hotel: Heritage Christchurch
Christchurch was a bit of a shock. I had assumed that it would have recovered from the earthquake 5 years ago. I was wrong. (See my blog for more details on the sad condition of Christchurch.)
I managed to find a few bright spots in the city. Our hotel was in the Old Government Building (one of the few buildings that seemed to survive the quake) directly across from the cathedral. The accommodations were fabulous, and the O.G.B. Bar & Cafe turned out to be a great little hang out.
It was difficult to find an appealing restaurant in town; but, with perseverance, I found myself dining in an alley with a trio of great little restaurants called Strange & Company I chose the one with the New Orleans atmosphere and food. It was quite enjoyable and the General Manager was a gregarious chap.
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Be sure to read my blog about the devastation that has befallen Christchurch.
This is not a painting ..."as is" from my iPhone.
Really? Matt Damon is going to serve my wine??
Queenstown
I have often said that Queenstown, New Zealand is my favorite place on earth. I'm not sure that I've changed my mind after 46 countries and well over 100 locations. (If I were to count my home country of the US, I would put Santa Fe, New Mexico right up there.)
I wanted to cap off a month-long trip with a few days soaking up the beauty of Queenstown. The drive from Christchurch to Queenstown is breathtakingly beautiful. With the beginning of their summer, the roadways and highways were simply paths through fields of lupine, sea lavender and Queen Anne's Lace and glacier-fed rivers and lakes and majestic snow-capped mountains. Yes, it really is like that.
The Rees Hotel did not disappoint. Our room felt like a tree house with a wall of glass allowing us to look out over the lake and the hills. The Rees, named after the first settler of Queenstown, is a gorgeous lodge-type hotel. The service was great; and, while it was a bit outside of town (a good thing), their shuttle service was there to transport you into the thriving center of town. The sun rose at 5:00 am and set at 10:00 pm. The weather was perfect, and I could not take enough photos. We had fun hanging out at a local Irish pub..which is a tradition. Please enjoy this visual parade!
Hotel: Rees Hotel
Heading Home
Oh my...this is one of those return trips from, well, you know where. We took a small flight from Queenstown to Aukland. We barely checked in in time, but we took a deep breath and bolstered ourselves for the long flight to L.A.
We flew American, and the flight was as normal as a 12-hour flight can be. The nightmare began upon landing in L.A. Mind you, we had to go through customs in order to get on our short flight to San Jose, but we had a 2 hour layover.
Upon deplaning, they had special orange tags for us to show priority for our transition. That should have been a clue! This process turned out to be the most ridiculous, circuitous process I have ever experienced. People trying to send us into the wrong lines, running with your luggage that you had just pulled off the carousel so that you could recheck it, if only you could figure out where! Oh yes, the next terminal down. You have got to be kidding me. We now have 1/2 hour before our flight is scheduled to take off. Great, we figure out where we need to go....oh no, we just thought we did. Now we are meandering up and down, back and forth in the correct terminal. But wait! There's more! We now have to board a bus to go to the satellite terminal. If I hadn't said anything, the bus we needed to get there on time would have taken off without us. We get to our gate realizing we had about 5 minutes to board just when we hear that our take off is delayed. Really???
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Needless to say, at least 3 hour layovers in L.A. in the future when coming home. I'm exhausted just writing about this.
