Day 30, Saturday, February 3, 2018 - Tauranga, New Zealand

Taurange, was not what I had expected at all, what a pretty place. I don’t know what it looked like 40 or 50 years ago, but today it is CLEEN and very westernized. Any westerner would be able to live here, I think. 

We arrived on time and woke to cooler temps, I had the alarm set for 7:00, but didn’t need too, as when the ship stopped rocking I knew we were docked.  It was about 6:30 am.  Our tour was to leave about nine so we had time to make ourselves ready to go and see the Maori, and some of the island.  It is cooler the high was only 73 F and a bit breeze. So Ed went up and got coffee in our cups, makes me more human,,, and after a bit of breakfast we then proceeded to the Queens lounge to wait for tour to be called. 

They finely called us and we got our seats on the bus and then found out our driver was taken ill,,, I saw them helping some one to a car out my window, she appeared to be distressed. But they found a substitute that was very competent. Paul, he did a great job all day. 

And we were off. It was quite a drive out to Bethlehem where the Maori tripe was, but pretty. On the way Michele  our guid who was also Maori, gave us lessons in the protocol we were to follow. 

There was a real ceremonial way we were to enter the grounds and Great the chief.  First we had to get a man to agree to be our chief,,, Ed wasn’t volunteering, to long in the military, you don’t volunteer LOL. but we  had a chief, now all the women were to enter first, men following, with the our chief in front. Then their chief came out and tried to intimidate our chief, then we were allowed to come in. Now the women, went to the back to sit down and the men set in front. There was some confusion on this step, have a bunch of 60+ people and you will soon see how many have paired attention.  One little lady way over 80, took off in her scooter, and was going to sit with the Maori. LOL 

So is we were going to be officially welcome and you needed to go through a type of receiving line and touch  noses and foreheads, looking in the eyes as you do it. Then we saw a demonstration of the warriors and introduction of one of the oldest members 90+ but he didn’t remember, just how old, but he got around well! 

Coming in to Tauranga 

Entering the grounds

The meeting house

Kids from the collage 

Feather blanket used in weddings and ther was a small one for baptism 

Then we left, and had a tour of the island and here are some pictures of that. 

This doesn’t look as high as it was, our ship was behind the tree. 

 

Day 29, Friday,February 2, 2018 - Auckland, New Zealand

Well here we are in Auckland, it is sunny, about 74*F, we arrived about 7AM and it is now about 8:30 AM and we are about to leave on our privet tour of the city. So I will be back with a report. 

We got back after walking around, after our tour. Ed left his backpack on the van and is right now down meeting the driver, to hopefully get it back. 

The tour was wonderful we have some wonderful pictures. Auckland is a beautiful city, and I can see why my parents loved so much, it is wonderful now, and in the 70s it must have been really something. So I will try to post some pictures of it. 

 

Supper bowl is here too

  

Botanical garden

Day 28, Thursday, February 1, 2018 At Sea, our third sea day

Well here it is the first day of February and our last sea day for a bit, we arrive in Auckland tomorrow and we will have three Port days in a row. So I felt I better get this post out today. And catch up again. You would think sea days were not very busy, but just the opposite, they are so busy it is hard to keep up with it all. 

The first two and a half sea days we really rocked and rolled, and we’re rocking today but not as bad.  We another formal/Galla night last night it was called “ Bollers and Bumper Stick” the dining room was all decked out with hanging umbrellas and sparkly Boller hats. It was fun, and they had a production show after. Surf And Turf was on the menu..

Inbetween  I had watercolor class, that was a real challenge and a difficult craft class, we did a necklace thay was a bear, lots of loops! Ed did tai chi, and went to the test kitchen to see our favorite chef, it seemed we were running all day. 

So now we are to land for our first stop in New Zealand tomorrow, and this sea day has been very busy again. Sea days are not rest days, but they are fun. 

Art project 

Update to our Alofi Niue post

We just left Alofi Niue, and the captain came on and informed us our good weather was over for a couple days. We are going to be going through a gale and he said to button down the hatches. We will experience in excess of 40 miles an hour winds. So I am letting you know that we may not have internet until we get to Auckland on Friday. Bearing in mind we are going over the dateline so when we wake tomorrow, Monday for you will be Tuesday for us. 

I will keep you posted if I can. 

(Backup) Day 25, Sunday, January 28, 2018 Alofi, Niue 🇳🇺

Well here we are in Alofi Niue a New Zealand island, and when they said there wasn’t much here especially on a Sunday, they weren’t kidding. It was again a tender port, and a bit tricky, I don’t think they really want visitors LOL.  We landed and started the long track up the hill to see what we could see. 

This was just a quarter of the way up, thank God it was a cloudy day!

It got some fame during WWI

Since nothing was open we walked back down the hill to the tender,and it started to rain, I always get a kick out of people dressed in swim attire and they want an umbrella!  Oh well, it didn’t bother us, we went back to the ship for lunch. 

Day 25, Friday, January 26, 2018 Avatiu, Rarotonga, Cook Islands

I am be hind again, as I did not think we would get in to Rarotonga, the captain was not painting a very good picture the night befor, so I thought I would have plenty of time to do the blog. But we did! It was a bit of a chalange to get on the tenders, for the sea was rocking, and  rolling. So they didn’t let anyone who couldn’t walk down the steps on there own, would not be allowed off.  We could walk so we got off, and proceeded to walk our five miles, or 10,000 steps around the island. It was HOT with very little breeze, but we saw a bit of the town and met some nice towns people. What we didn’t do is stay hydrated, which I paired for later, but I get ahead of myself. 

 

Getting on the tenders this morning was really something, first we go up to the Lido to get the tickets or I should say Ed went up this time when he we.nt to get coffee. And he came back with 29 and I couldn’t believe we were that far back, but it seems people have been cheating, some how keeping there tickets, so the can cut the line...... so they started with #40! So we were in the middle of the pack. We finished getting dressed and packing the backpack and waited to be called after the tours went. 

Then we were called and that was an experience in itself. The ship was rocking and the tender was rolling so everyone needed help getting in and even escorted to your seat so you didn’t fall!  Coming back it was the reverse, wow this crew really preformed outstanding, they were able to get 780 people over and back and no one got hurt. 

So after walking around and looking for a rugby shirt,,,, we came back and took showers and went to my favorite place for lunch the Dive-In by the pool to have a hamburger and Ed a hotdog, and a G&T not too smart, as they tasted great, but drinking alcohol when your dehydrated and no water,,, well, and through a straw,,, so guess who got a belly ache later. 

So that night Ed went to dinner alone, I stayed in the room and drank lots of water, and went to sleep.

27 January sea day

Next day it’s a sea day, you would think it would be a laid back day, but we are both so busy Ed with Tai Chi and me with watercolor and crafts class, and because both of my classes are so popular you have to go early, in watercolor class to keep my seat I have to get there at 8:30 and wait tell 9.  And yesterday they had, 

 Chef Charles Lallemand 

in the test kitchen to demonstrate two great dishes, so we went there, then we were hungry, so we went to lunch, and that holds the seats for Kathi and I, for the 2:30 crafts class! We made a paper beads, that was fun and I will do that at home.  Then it was come back and get gusseyed up to go to the captain’s Dinner. It was by invitation, you only get one chance. 

It was a very nice affair you were suppose to have an officer at each table, we were a table for nine people which made it a bit awakward as they set 5 of us in a bench seat, and on the other side they had the cruise director, Harmash and Cynthia a young administration officer then another couple from Seattle. They were nice, but they were really the only ones Ed could converse with as he was on the end. The dinner was very good we were served lamb chops and I mus say they were the best I have ever had. Then we were given another gift, sure glad we aren’t flying home LOL.