We can't wait to explore and share our trip with you!
February/March down-under Adventure 2015 :
2 -Connie retires from St Jude Medical!!
3 - Wayne flies to Ft. Lauderdale
5- Adventure begins! Fly to San Francisco, drive to NAPA
11- Fly to Auckland New Zealand, arrive the 12th
15- Board the Diamond Princess for 12 day cruise
27- Arrive in Sydney, Australia
28- Fly to Oahu, Hawaii
3/2- Wayne's birthday!
3- Fly to Las Vegas
6- Return flight to Ft Lauderdale cancelled! Bonus day in Vegas!!
7- Return to Ft Lauderdale, arrive the 8th
10- Wayne returns to Pennsylvania
February 2 - Connie retires from St. Jude Medical.
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February 5- We flew JetBlue to San Francisco, takeoff delayed due to severe thunderstorms, but landed only 10 minutes off schedule. This was Wayne's first trip with JetBlue; chosen because we each got a free checked bag. They accommodated us with seats near the front due to Connie's back problem, which caused us to bring a walker as a precaution. They also have free TV, snacks, and customary soft drinks. I would definitely use them again. Checked into the Best Western "The Vines" in downtown Napa; less than $80/night for a very clean, utilitarian room and free breakfast at Denny's. Excitement for the day: Connie nodded off on the plane, dumping her bloody Mary in her lap and Wayne broke his sunglasses in half loading the bags into the car. On the bright side, I won't need sunglasses as it is forecasted to rain until Tuesday. Anyone familiar with Wayne's vacations knows how it usually rains; arrived in drought conditions, flash flood warnings up now that I've arrived.
We enjoyed a wonderful dinner at Angele's: French onion soup, sweet oysters, shrimp and lobster, and monkfish from the menu shown.
February 6- Rained all day, which worked to our advantage, as there were few others visiting the Calistoga wineries. Connie purchased passports in advance on line yielding considerable savings versus "just showing up" for a tasting. First, we received a great education in all the basics, and some advanced, knowledge of wine making and it's history from Ryan, a seasoned sommelier at Hall winery. The 2011 Kathryn Cab was impressive and a "must-have". Next, we visited Twomey winery. The 2012 Bien Nacido Pinot Noir and 2010 Merlot Napa Valley were stand out. Stephan shared great recommendations for local restaurants and also some great New Zealand haunts! Our final tasting of the day was at Sterling, where we were upgraded, riding the closed tram up to the tasting room. Charlie wonderfully paired 4 wines with the cheese and meat tray. We purchased a 2012 Zinfandel club wine and brought it to dinner with us. Excitement for the day: As we traveled to the #1 Trip Advisor restaurant, Tra Vigne, a tree fell, blocking the main highway. We quickly decided to try the Farmer and Fox, recommended by Stephan from Twomey, for eclectic (and delicious) British/Scottish fare and music from Tommy Dorsey to Cream. We dined on smoked duck wings with gorgonzola, Dungeness crab sampler, pop overs with apple butter, and lamb.
Early morning panorama of a Napa vineyard
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Classroom set-up for private lesson at Hall winery "wine 101" 1.5 hr class with Ryan.
Ryan, a most excellent sommelier at Hall Winery
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February 7- We were greeted with a mostly sunny day as we continued visiting vineyards on our Calistoga passports. First stop was Madrigal where we were hosted by Darcy and Jose, with continuous samples. The 2012 Zinfandel was a pleasant surprise, but the tasty port was the highlight of our visit. Second was the Castillo di Amoroso, an authentic Tuscan castle with various sheep, fancy fowl, owls, hawks and bats to naturally patrol the vineyard, eating all types of neer-do-well vermin. We were treated by Cindy to the IL Baronet Tuscan. Next stop was Château Montelena, subject of famous game changing movie "Bottle Shock", which chronicled the 1976 events that legitimized California wines on the world stage. We bought the movie, nothing else. Our touring ended at Tamber Bey Vineyards. Excitement for the day for Connie was the animals at the Castle and for Wayne it was the 20 second old Mozzarella cheese appetizer at Tra Vigne.
One of the ever vigilant sheep. The castle animals were Connie's excitement of the day. The Castle of Love, view from one of 5 turrets,
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Finally had dinner at the #1 rated Tra Vigne. Wayne's excitement of the day was the often recommended Mozzarella cheese appetizer. We also shared the sumptuous short ribs.
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20 second old mozzarella on wood-oven toasted French bread
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February 8- The bipolar weather continues as 1-3" of rain with rare west coast tornados predicted. Once again we drove about a half an hour to Calistoga to visit wineries on our passport. First stop w's the Close Pegase vineyard. Despite only 6 people tasting we were largely ignored, we learned later that this is commonplace. The 2011 Mitsukos Pinot Noir was nice, though. The Tank Garage featured eclectic labels and named wines featuring random mug shots; St Jimmy 2012 Pinot Noir and the 2011 tempranillo Never Dream Alone; both very nice. Our host Josh treated us to their members only speak-easy room pictured below. Down the block we had lunch at the Créole restaurant Evangeline's, recommended by several winery hosts. We enjoyed the Oxtail soup, dirty rice and the special of the day, Yaya gumbo. The excitement of the day was our visit to Bennet Lane, owned by the Lynch's, where we joined their club and ordered cases of wine to be shipped home. Of note was the 2009 Bordeaux blend $95, 2009 Syrah $47, and the new 2012 Cab. Carlos was a great salesman!
The Speak-Easy prohibition era private room at Tank Garage vineyard and the Indian motorcycle.
The great guys that sold us at Bennett Lane Vineyard
A tiled cave at Del Dotto winery
Wonderful seafood paella tapas at Zuzu, downtown Napa
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One of the thousands of racks each aging for over 9 years at Schramsberg's mile+ of caves. The racks line 4 deep on either side of the hand-dug caves by Chinese laborers whom had just completed tunneling through the Rockies for the countries first trans-continental railroad.
Our Schramsberg guide demonstrates how riddling moves sediment to the neck of the bottle where it is frozen and forced out by the 105 PSI pressure naturally created within the bottle.
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Schramsberg Historical Landmark plaque as oldest hillside winery in America.
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Looking down hand dug cave lined with aging bottles of most excellent sparkling wine.
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The beautiful tasting set up that greets you in the tiled cave at Del Dotto, which some locals loving call it "El Blotto" for all the wine you will consume before you leave!
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February 9 -We set out to the St Helena Del Dotto winery which features beautifully tiled caves lined with their entire inventory of 60 gallon oak casts of various blends of Bordeaux wines. It took 2 years for German masons to complete the caves and the grand 4 story entry, reminiscent of a European palace. The $60 pp tasting fee included delicious meats and cheeses also made at the winery by the former infomercial tycoon who built this fine winery. For dinner, we headed back to downtown Napa at Zuzu, thoroughly enjoying Monterey stuffed squid, seafood paella, Sangria, and roasted spaghetti squash with moon cheese.
February 10- We retrieved my repaired sunglasses and set out to our last winery; Schramsberg, where we learned about and tasted sparkling wines at the second oldest vineyard in the valley, (Beringer is the oldest). Over a mile of caves were dug by hand by the same Chinese laborers who had just completed the intercontinental railway. The sparkling wines are bottled with sugar and yeast put in each bottle, capped with a bottle cap and individually stored for 10 years developing 100 pounds per square inch pressure. The sediment is collected through riddling (turn 1/8" per day for 2.5 weeks), then the neck is frozen, the cap removed, the sediment plug shot out of the bottle and corked for an additional year before being labeled and sold. We stopped at the Culinary Institute of America for sausage and corn chowder and artichoke soup before driving to San Francisco Airport and a nights stay at the hellacious airport Travelodge.
We flew on Hawaiian Airlines to Auckland with a brief stopover in Honolulu. It was like the good old days; no bag fees, free meals, and drinks, including alcohol, blankets, pillows and movies.
February 11/12- Lost as we crossed the International dateline (and the equator).
February 13- Landed in AUCKLAND New Zealand!! Checked into the Quadrant hotel after midnight. Hotel was very clean, spacious suite, with over 60 Boston College transfer students (they had their own rooms). Auckland is truly a wonderful place, the city of sails. Took the harbor cruise, saw the lighthouse, visited the 650 year old volcanic island (see picture), under harbor bridge with spectacular views of the city. Stopped for lunch and afternoon on the island of Davenport. We shared our first dish together of world famous New Zealand green mussels, prepared in a tasty wine sauce, at a picturesque sidewalk café just down the block from Connie's new business venture (see pictures below).
February 14- Valentines day! Did the city hop-on-hop-off tour bus visiting the Auckland Museum, quaint shops, war memorial park. Caught Connie totally unprepared with a very lovely Valentine's card, the first time I was able to 1 up her!!! Had VERY fresh fish app's and dinner at the Auckland fish market.
February 15- Explored back alleys full of boutique shops and had brunch at a sidewalk café off Queens street. Hiked back up the hill (Auckland is all hills, most very steep) to get our 4 suitcases and 2 backpacks on a high capacity taxi to the Diamond Princess.
February 16- Rotorua, the "thermal wonderland of New Zealand". Private tour of volcanic geysers, mud holes, Kiwi 360 orchard (Kiwi is NZ's national fruit, one known as the Chinese Gooseberry), tram to highest point, with 4 Australians, while the NZ driver poked fun at the Aussies all day. Revelation of the day: Connie discovered the NZ national emblem, the Kiwi, is a bird not a fruit.
February 10- We retrieved my repaired sunglasses and set out to our last winery; Schramsberg, where we learned about and tasted sparkling wines at the second oldest vineyard in the valley, (Beringer is the oldest). Over a mile of caves were dug by hand by the same Chinese laborers who had just completed the intercontinental railway. The sparkling wines are bottled with sugar and yeast put in each bottle, capped with a bottle cap and individually stored for 10 years developing 100 pounds per square inch pressure. The sediment is collected through riddling (turn 1/8" per day for 2.5 weeks), then the neck is frozen, the cap removed, the sediment plug shot out of the bottle and corked for an additional year before being labeled and sold. We stopped at the Culinary Institute of America for sausage and corn chowder and artichoke soup before driving to San Francisco Airport and a nights stay at the hellacious airport Travelodge.
We flew on Hawaiian Airlines to Auckland with a brief stopover in Honolulu. It was like the good old days; no bag fees, free meals, and drinks, including alcohol, blankets, pillows and movies.
February 11/12- Lost as we crossed the International dateline (and the equator).
February 13- Landed in AUCKLAND New Zealand!! Checked into the Quadrant hotel after midnight. Hotel was very clean, spacious suite, with over 60 Boston College transfer students (they had their own rooms). Auckland is truly a wonderful place, the city of sails. Took the harbor cruise, saw the lighthouse, visited the 650 year old volcanic island (see picture), under harbor bridge with spectacular views of the city. Stopped for lunch and afternoon on the island of Davenport. We shared our first dish together of world famous New Zealand green mussels, prepared in a tasty wine sauce, at a picturesque sidewalk café just down the block from Connie's new business venture (see pictures below).
February 14- Valentines day! Did the city hop-on-hop-off tour bus visiting the Auckland Museum, quaint shops, war memorial park. Caught Connie totally unprepared with a very lovely Valentine's card, the first time I was able to 1 up her!!! Had VERY fresh fish app's and dinner at the Auckland fish market.
February 15- Explored back alleys full of boutique shops and had brunch at a sidewalk café off Queens street. Hiked back up the hill (Auckland is all hills, most very steep) to get our 4 suitcases and 2 backpacks on a high capacity taxi to the Diamond Princess.
February 16- Rotorua, the "thermal wonderland of New Zealand". Private tour of volcanic geysers, mud holes, Kiwi 360 orchard (Kiwi is NZ's national fruit, one known as the Chinese Gooseberry), tram to highest point, with 4 Australians, while the NZ driver poked fun at the Aussies all day. Revelation of the day: Connie discovered the NZ national emblem, the Kiwi, is a bird not a fruit.
Auckland NZ from harbor
View from our 14th floor balcony at the Quadrant hotel in Auckland, NZ.
Beautiful Auckland war memorial park atop a mountain overlooking the harbor.
One of the quaint shop lined streets of Christchurch the trolley (they say "tram") winds through on the hop-on/hop-off tour.
Retirement won't hold Connie down, as she immediately opened shop in the village of Davenport, across Auckland Harbor.
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Sailboat passing the famous harbor bridge, Auckland
This volcanic island in Auckland harbor is only 650 years old. The vegetation is the only thing that thrives on the volcanic rock. Once this decays and forms a layer of soil, other vegetation can flourish.
Geesers (geysers) in Rotorua, New Zealand. The central part of NZ's north island "sacred waters" includes mud pools geysers, volcanic lakes and rainbow springs.
World famous New Zealand green mussels in Davenport
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February 17- At sea, met Alan and Tracey of New Zealand at trivia. Alan is a locomotive Engineer, commuting to Australia, 2 weeks on 2 weeks off. Tracey is a coordinator at a retirement village. They are on their 20th anniversary cruise, lots of fun. Later, Alan and I performed the HAKA, a ritual Māori war dance in front all the ship's guests.
February 18- Akaroa, south island, New Zealand. Took a 90 minute bus trip to the earthquake-ravaged city of Christchurch. Riding a turn of the century (early 1900's) hop on/hop off city tour trolley, we saw botanical gardens, the Avon river, the badly damaged namesake cathedral, and Hagley Park. We lunched on the patio dining on fresh oysters, broiled calamari, wonderful eggplant, potatoes and chorizo tapas with a refreshing NZ sauvaugn blanc at the Curator's Cottage. Excitement of the day: our tour bus labored and overheated repeatedly over the steep mountain roads, causing us to be nearly an hour late, but since it was a Princess excursion, the ship awaited our return.
February 18- Akaroa, south island, New Zealand. Took a 90 minute bus trip to the earthquake-ravaged city of Christchurch. Riding a turn of the century (early 1900's) hop on/hop off city tour trolley, we saw botanical gardens, the Avon river, the badly damaged namesake cathedral, and Hagley Park. We lunched on the patio dining on fresh oysters, broiled calamari, wonderful eggplant, potatoes and chorizo tapas with a refreshing NZ sauvaugn blanc at the Curator's Cottage. Excitement of the day: our tour bus labored and overheated repeatedly over the steep mountain roads, causing us to be nearly an hour late, but since it was a Princess excursion, the ship awaited our return.
Great friends Tracey and Alan Wheeler from NZ sporting champagne we finally won on the last night of the cruise after 2-3 trivia contests a day for better than a week.
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Much like a New England clam bake, the Māori cook their hangi in a deep hole lined with stones in the volcanically active soil. This is the provided lunch we enjoyed during our visit to the Te Puia Thermal Reserve In Rotorua.
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The Curator's Cottage served delicious Tapas for lunch in Christchurch, south island, New Zealand.
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The view down one of the quaint, shop-lined streets of Christchurch which the hop-on/hop-off trolley passed through.
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This beautiful view over a mile above sea level of Akaroa NZ, was afforded us during the frequent stops our bus made to prevent overheating.
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February 19- Arrived in Port Chalmers, a beautiful harbor town with many colorful cottages. Took a 7 and a half mile shuttle to Dunedin, a Scottish pioneer settlement, the 4th largest NZ city. We toured the original Cadbury chocolate factory, the fully restored and functional train station, and the oldest church in the city; a Presbyterian Cathedral.
The "business end" of the Dunedin train station
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Fully restored Dunedin train station contains shops and art galleries, as well as New Zealand's pride and joy soccer team the All Blacks hall of fame
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The first Presbyterian church of New Zealand
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February 20- Sea day, the ship transited the Foveaux Strait and headed northwesterly along the coast of NZ's south island until we entered Fjordland National park, which comprises 5% of New Zealand total land mass. This breathtaking scenic wonder, some of which was featured in the "Lord of the RIngs" movies, featured towering mountains and water falls.
The Diamond Princess enters Milford Sound in Fjordland national park, NZ.
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Typical backdrop during entire cruise through Fjordland. When we reached the end, the ship turned around and it was just as spectacular on the way out into the Tasmanian Sea.
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Connie found it a little cooler than Fort Lauderdale on deck as she shot over 100 images of the breathtaking Fjords.
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February 21/22- At sea; Memorizing words and practicing HAKA moves, we took Mamba, Cha-Cha, and waltz dance lessons. I kept my more prolific dance moves under wraps, in respect of Connie's compromised physical health LOL.
February 23- Hobart, Tasmania, Australia settled and built by convicts sentenced to the numerous penal colonies throughout Australia in the 1800's. This was a day of unique memories, as we hired a private guide with 8 fellow travelers to visit a wildlife refuge, cheese/winery, Port Arthur bridge, and Richmond village.
February 23- Hobart, Tasmania, Australia settled and built by convicts sentenced to the numerous penal colonies throughout Australia in the 1800's. This was a day of unique memories, as we hired a private guide with 8 fellow travelers to visit a wildlife refuge, cheese/winery, Port Arthur bridge, and Richmond village.
No, this isn't Connie before morning coffee, it's a real life Tasmanian Devil, face to face at the Bonorong Wildlife Park, Tasmania.
Richmond Bakery renowned for their scallop pie, which we both ordered and subsequently ate before we thought to take a picture.
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As were all of the species at the park, the iconic Kookaberra is only found in Australia.
Stopped at Wicked Cheese Co. where the cheese was made from scratch behind the glass walls, displayed this whimsical sign. Eurythmic fans can't avoid humming the tune as they read.
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February 24/25- At sea, steaming to Melbourne, the geographical furthest point on the globe from Easton, Pennsylvania. More HAKA practice, trivia and excellent food.
February 26- Melbourne, Australia, a culturally diverse metropolis boasting the second largest Chinese and Italian population outside their respective native lands. We enjoyed roaming the shop and café packed alleys, took advantage of the free trolley encircling downtown, had lunch on the library steps with about 100 on-lookers taking in an excellent guitar-strumming street performer. We hopped off the trolley in the Korean section where Connie got a haircut while I waited patiently next store accompanied by a beer and great appetizer.
February 27- Left the Diamond Princess to continue our adventure with two days from our Rendezvous Hotel harbor base at the Rocks section of wonderful Sydney Australia. The day started on a sour note as our cabby was indignant for a short fare to a harbor hotel and threw back a 30% tip! The Rendezvous Hotel Sydney at the Rocks staff were just wonderful, checking us in to a grand upper floor room instead of the reserved first floor studio. We spent a long day sightseeing and shopping. After walking over 6 miles up and steep streets, Connie 's back gave out, and we retired before dark.
February 26- Melbourne, Australia, a culturally diverse metropolis boasting the second largest Chinese and Italian population outside their respective native lands. We enjoyed roaming the shop and café packed alleys, took advantage of the free trolley encircling downtown, had lunch on the library steps with about 100 on-lookers taking in an excellent guitar-strumming street performer. We hopped off the trolley in the Korean section where Connie got a haircut while I waited patiently next store accompanied by a beer and great appetizer.
February 27- Left the Diamond Princess to continue our adventure with two days from our Rendezvous Hotel harbor base at the Rocks section of wonderful Sydney Australia. The day started on a sour note as our cabby was indignant for a short fare to a harbor hotel and threw back a 30% tip! The Rendezvous Hotel Sydney at the Rocks staff were just wonderful, checking us in to a grand upper floor room instead of the reserved first floor studio. We spent a long day sightseeing and shopping. After walking over 6 miles up and steep streets, Connie 's back gave out, and we retired before dark.