December 28, 2024

MANTA, EQUADOR

The port immigration officials in Manta, Ecuador take a rather long time to process us, as we have to pick up our passports and everyone on the Ship has to be seen and processed, regardless of their plans to get off the Ship. Therefore, we decide to just spend the afternoon, checking out the port shops, the Mall across the street and the Beach. The Little / Olson Family join Scott, Bob and Sarah, Sherry and I. The Mall del Pacifico is packed with Holiday shoppers as it is the last Saturday before Christmas 12/21/24. We quickly get our essentials and then seek the sunshine of the beach.

In the port shops, we discover a unique plant called TAGUA, it first produces a tasty fruit in the seed pods. These fruits if left alone turn into a hard ivory that they craft into a variety of statues and products.

WELLINGTON, NEW ZEALAND

By Patricia Patrick • March 4, 2026
We had a beautiful sunny day to explore Wellington ! Was a very nice change from the stormy, big swells weather we have had the last two days! Wellington is the Capital city of New Zealand and the CBD is nice and big with lots of shops and museums. We didn't make it to the LOTR studios due to the time crunch but we took the cable car up to the top, for a scenic overlook of the port and then leisurley walk down through the Botantical Gardens, parks and historical cemetary.

ROTORUA CITY HIGHLIGHTS - NEW ZEALAND

By Patricia Patrick • March 3, 2026
Rotorua became a bonus city for us. Our Port stay in Tauranga got cut down to one day, due to NZ biosecurity regulations and since we really wanted to do Hobbiton, we decided to get off the ship and stay in hotels and get back on the ship, in a few days. Due to a variety of factors, the Ship ended up doing a quick pick up of us in Tauranga, three days later. The Kiwi's we encountered along the way, who helped with all our last minute details, were amazingly kind, hospitable and generous. Below is our tired, chilly group huddled at the security shed, outside the Port in the wee hours (1:30 am) Monday morning, awaiting our final hurdle of getting back on our Home. Home sweet home! What an adventure!

ROTORUA, NEW ZEALAND

By Patricia Patrick • March 3, 2026
Rotorua, New Zealand is known for it's geothermal activity ( geysers, mud pools, hot springs) and rich Maori culture . I saw lots of that last time I was here in 2016, so this time I wanted to see their Redwoods in Whakarewarewa Forest. John and Colleen joined me in exploring. Their redwoods are smaller than the ones in Muir Woods California, but still impressive. Both are planted forest dating back to around 1908.