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Archive for March, 2007

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In Europe and Home Soon!!!!!!!!!!!

Monday, March 19th, 2007

Our Photo Link: http://www.flickr.com/photos/chrisjentravel

All of the photos on the pages are also in the sets that run along the side….its easier to use the sets to navigate and there are additional sets under “more sets”

We are definitely getting a little homesick!

More Photos from New Zealand and Europe will be up soon!!! Keep checking!

32 hour flight to Europe-37 hours hotel to hotel

Monday, March 19th, 2007

New Zealand was amazing. We had plenty of time to see most all of the two islands and more than enough time to drive through the mountains and past endless farms and herds of sheep. We were ready for a change of pace and excited to leave for the last leg of our trip.

The flight that we had pre-booked said that we had one layover in Dubai – a middle eastern country. We boarded the plane and (our huge mistake) had just never thought to add up the exact hours (time change and all). We were wowed by the inside of the Emirates plane – the economy looked more like first class – hot towels, personal TVs with video games, huge seats. The stewardess came by and gave us a menu of the meals and drinks and they were undoubtedly the best gourmet meals we had had the entire trip and sounded nicer than any we could afford in Europe. We sat back and with a sigh of relief, tuned into up-to-date movies, shows and music videos – almost basking in the small luxuries that we had gone without for so long. But, of course there’s a gruesome catch.

After buckling our belts and laughing that we wouldn’t want to get off the plane we noticed the plane’s course. We were headed from Auckland to Brisbane Austraila….not Dubai. Then we noticed another stop in Singapore, then Dubai, then Milan Italy and FINALLY Rome!!! So, although the tickets only listed 1 stop, we actually had 4. We sat and added the hours. 32. [read on]

Oamaru, Te Anua, Milford Sound, Queenstown – February 26 – March 2, 2007

Monday, March 19th, 2007
The next day we drove through beautiful Christchurch, then stopped further down the coast in Oamaru, a quiet town known for its limestone constructed buildings, turn of the century architecture and colonies of blue and yellow-eyed penguins. It is reportedly ... [Continue reading this entry]

Kaikora – February 24-26, 2007

Monday, March 19th, 2007

Once out of Picton, the landscape changed drastically from what we were accustomed to.  We drove over endless bare, dry mountains the golden color of beach sand; the only green was on those with perfectly ... [Continue reading this entry]

Ferry Crossing to Picton, February 24, 2007

Monday, March 19th, 2007
The 3-hour ferry ride to the South Island was smooth and picturesque. There are the usual good views of the surrounding mountainous coves, a short sea crossing then a maze of waterways of the expansive Marlborough Sound leading into Picton. ... [Continue reading this entry]

Taupo to Wellington – February 18 – 24, 2007

Tuesday, March 6th, 2007
From the exciting Tongariro crossing, we headed through 4 equally quaint towns, all with something different to offer.  First was Taupo- located on Lake Taupo, New Zealand’s largest lake. Second was Rotorua- a clean and relaxing town to unwind ... [Continue reading this entry]

Tongariro Crossing – February 17, 2007

Tuesday, March 6th, 2007
Tongariro National Park is located in the center of the North Island. The region is filled with contrasting landscapes, from alpine mountain forests and streams to barren volcanoes, craters and emerald lakes. It is best known to outsiders ... [Continue reading this entry]

Taranaki – February 16, 2007

Tuesday, March 6th, 2007
After our time underground we were anxious to get back to the beach. We drove next to Mount Plymouth, the base town for the Taranaki region, known for terrific surf as well as Mt. Taranaki, which looms over the whole ... [Continue reading this entry]

Waitoma Caves – February 15, 2007

Thursday, March 1st, 2007

The Waitoma region of the North Island s small but has over 300 mapped underground caves, like a town built over Swiss cheese. There are a variety of activities centered around the caves, like abseiling (repelling), blackwater rafting (tubing in ... [Continue reading this entry]

Raglan – February 14, 2007

Thursday, March 1st, 2007

Driving back through Auckland and South towards the West coast, we felt like we were getting into the real New Zealand – surf, mountains, volcanoes and endless adventure activities. We knew little about our next stop, Raglan, other than the ... [Continue reading this entry]