---

Travelogues
...headin' down the highway,
lookin' for adventure...

Thursday, February 24, 2000

We had hoped to leave Brownwood at 7:30 a.m. but had continued our marital "discussion" about exactly how much luggage we needed and found ourselves deeply involved in various adjectives describing the luggage. I called them necessary and Roger preferred the word sinful.

We will have four and a half days to explore Auckland before boarding the Sky Princess for a 14 day cruise. After circling New Zealand clockwise from North to South we will sail to Tasmania and then on to Melbourne ending with four days in Sydney--almost a full month.

I don't have to work very hard to achieve a full-blown last minute snit. Roger had been monitoring the weather via the net and as I am standing on top of the suitcase to make sure that, that last warm woolly turtleneck sweater is compacted to the size of an onion peel, Roger casually states that his predictions for cold weather might be off a bit. He realizes he was monitoring temperatures from the wee hours of the morning New Zealand time. In addition to my quandary about the weather, the cruise information suggests proper attire for all occasions which includes three formal and three semi-formal dinners. After packing and repacking several times, I compromise and take out the formal dinner purse.

It is now 7:30 a.m. plus two hours with beautiful B.wood, Texas in our rear view mirror and four (4) bulging suitcases in the backseat of our Explorer. We are barreling down Hwy.183 for Austin. I have a public relations firm based in Austin and there are loose ends to tie up before boarding our 2:00 p.m. flight to LA. Having spent the last month working 12-14 hour days, we have planned a much-needed good night's rest at a hotel near the LA airport before boarding the flight to Auckland.

Thursday Afternoon and Evening

In order to reach "agreement" about the four suitcases, I had promised Roger that I would ensure that he not have to heave-ho the luggage. I had stuffed my pockets with dollars, which I planned, to wave down porters and valets.

We were packed tighter than sardines in airplane seats two sizes too small for a stuffy America West (a.k.a. America Worst) flight to LA via Phoenix. After finally uncanning ourselves in LA we then had a long cold wait at the airport curbside for the hotel shuttle. It was early evening by the time we crawled onto the bus and I knew I was in big trouble the minute we pulled up to this aging Day's Inn, a long two story L-shaped thing with one lone and very dour desk clerk. Our room was predictably upstairs in the far, far corner. Trailing behind an exhausted and justifiably grumpy husband, I kept mumbling at least we could get something to eat. I had noticed an adjoining restaurant flashing bright neon--open, open, open.

Don't expect authentic Texas barbecue next to a run down Day's Inn in the seedy part of LA.

Friday, February 25, 2000

We started today off on a better note with a good nights sleep and lunch at a wonderful soul food restaurant ("Steppin' Up') a few blocks down the street. Anyplace that calls green beans, string beans and has homemade sweet potato pie is real.

Waiting for the 8:30 p.m. flight out of LA to Auckland we bumped into the "tour" group at the gate. Roger's brother, Joe who owns a travel agency had booked the cruise for eight couples including himself and his wife, Connie (who were to arrive a few days later) and ourselves. Three of the couples were from Salt Lake City, Utah with additional houses in St. George, two from Flagstaff, Arizona and one from Prescott, Arizona

The couples were sitting together and waving madly with welcoming hellos and full of good cheer. (Joe had given them a picture of us so they knew who we were.) A man tapped me on the shoulder and said, "I think those people are waving at you." As we headed towards the group, I turned my head to him and said, "No, we're just famous." Given his reaction, I reminded myself that my ability to deliver comedic one liners needed a little work and I had best keep my mouth shut amongst strangers. As we reached the group and made the round of introductions I felt certain I would never keep everyone's name straight but knew instantly that this was a great group of folks. They were all pumped and ready for a good time. I was to learn on the cruise that my instincts were right. Although a little older than Roger and I, we couldn't have had better traveling companions. They had more energy than most 18 year olds, loved a good laugh, and knew how to create a party at the drop of a hat.

We boarded the flight for Auckland and also lucked out with our seat mate, a professional classical ballet dance instructor. A few years ago, I worked with Ballet Austin so we immediately began a conversaton about similar experiences working with ballet dancers and their artistic "temperaments." After noticing his T-shirt, which advertised a good New Zealand wine, we switched gears and talked about wines with Roger readily joining in to share favorites and best buys. Our seat mate gave us a great starter list of New Zealand and Aussie wines and before long, our conversation drew in the stewards who shared lists of their favorites.

Sunday, February 27, 2000

I just realized we lost a day somewhere along this 6500 mile, 13 hour flight. I also lost a bit more than time and my lesson learned was don't eat a large unrecognizable airplane dinner at midnight with three glasses of red wine. This a.m. I look "dreadful" as my seat mate would say but perhaps my greenish pallor will off-set the dark circles ringing my eyes.

Strolling around the airport in Auckland waiting for luggage, I overhear someone telling a new comer that New Zealand has over 200 earthquakes a year. However, as I make my way outside and stand with sweat pouring down my turtleneck and absorbing my wool jacket, I am more concerned about the heat. It's 70 degrees and only 6:00 a.m. in the morning. I am trying desperately to remember a few cool things I might have packed and the only cool thing I can recall is my long formal sleeveless gown for one of the formal dinners. I wonder, "will it really work with my frayed, yellowing tennies as I tromp about the streets of Auckland?"

Tying my jacket around my waist while waiting for the group to assemble for the bus to take us to the hotel, I start to get really excited and Roger starts taking pictures. We are both beside ourselves as it is finally sinking in that the adventure is about to really begin-WE ARE IN NEW ZEALAND!

I stare at the stacks and stacks of baggage our group is carting toward our chartered bus and I am certain there is no way all this is going to fit in that small space.

We were told by the stewards that New Zealand has had an incredible amount of rain and it's evident as we head to the hotel and look out the bus at the lush oversized Norfolk pines (courtesy of Captain Cook) and vivid colors of plumeria and bougainvillea. Auckland sits on a narrow straight with the sea of Tasmania and Australia on one side and the Pacific on the other. The city of 1.5 million is spread over deep green volcanic mounds--thick lush green. For some reason which totally escapes me, the bus driver begins to point out the various roof tiles and describe in detail what they are made of and how they are made. I am however just beginning to lose a bit of my queasiness and I start scoping out the cafes. I am suddenly very hungry and realize it is early Sunday a.m. and not a one appears open.

We dropped off our luggage on the floor of the hotel lobby (chained together with others from our group) and I'm making note of just how many pieces of luggage each couple has. Since most of them have four or more, at some point, I will share this with Roger.