One Day Without Shoes 2011

If you know me well, you know I have recently become addicted to TOMS shoes. Not only are they cute and comfortable, but they have a fantastic program. For every pair of shoes (or tshirt) that you buy, the company donates one pair of TOMS to someone in need.



How often do you get to help so easily?



Every year, TOMS sponsors "One Day Without Shoes" to promote awareness of the people around the world who go without shoes and the medical and social problems that arise.



Well, today is One Day Without Shoes 2011. It just so happened that a cold front came through here last night, and it is presently 50f (that's 10c for my European friends, but then, you probably already knew that). Yeap, there are rain puddles EVERYWHERE.

Yes, it's going to be difficult to go without shoes today. Yes, I am going to be uncomfortable. Yes, I might even cut my foot or get sick.

But if I can get just ONE person to ask me why I am not wearing shoes, or why I am wearing a tshirt with a big crayon heart on it that says "one day with out shoes", I will have done some good today.

As Mother Theresa said, "We can do no great things....only small things with great love"



And thank YOU, Anna-Grace Veal,for introducing me to TOMS, and for being the butter to AJ's bread...the breath to his life!




" Be the change you wish to see in the world."--Gandhi




Blake Mycoskie, founder of TOMS shoes

WC2011 Tauranga, New Zealand

We arrived in Tauranga at a very civilized hour-9 am.




I was up and alert for the sail-in. I never tire of watching the Captain and deck officers and crew gently dock this lovely lady.





We had splendid views of the Bay of Plenty.




CruiseGran and I took the Tauranga Highlights tour. Our first stop was The Elms Mission Station.



It was here that it dawned on me that New Zealand is so young--even by American standards. The oldest houses there are just over 150 years old. Not the great stone and brick mansions of Europe, but simple, yet beautiful, wooden or stone homes. Inside photography was not permitted, but just click on the link above and you will be able to see what life was like for the Christian settlers who originally came to New Zealand in the middle 1800's.




The gardens are exquisite.



Tree sap--






Our wonderful guide took us on a tour through "the bush" - so lush and green.






It was interesting to learn that the settlers planted the distinctive Norfolk pines



- with their spaced branches, triangular pattern and top that resembles a cross- so that the locations of homes and harbor areas could be recognized from far away.



Giant ferns are constantly growing.





Our guide explained to us the silver fern-



has the distinctive leaf that, when the backside of the leaf is exposed, catches the moonlight and almost glows. The Maori turned over the fern when walking through the bush to mark their way. Now it is the symbol of New Zealand.

After a short stop at the Minden Outlook,





passing kiwi fields on the way



it was on to Mills Reef Winery for a bit of a tasting.



Nice staff- a bit of wine at 11 am never hurts me- and I liked the port
so much, I bought two bottles.



I think what impressed me most about Tauranga was how man and nature have merged in such a beautiful way. I would come to realize that the Kiwis are very sensitive to their beloved land, and take great pains to live in and with nature as synergistically as possible.

The countryside beauty astounded me. Fields of grapes and kiwi vines trellised. Greens of so many colors. And those magnifient Norfolk pines standing sentry.

Spring is Right Around the Corner

Despite the fact that it has rained for 3 days here and is unseasonably cool, Spring is here.

I found this serenely beautiful ikebana photo on The Improvised Life blog --





Happy Spring, Everyone!!!!!

WC 2011 Embarkation Day

12 February 2011

I woke up at my regular time of 6:30am- no jet lag!! We had another wonderful English-style breakfast..this time Eggs Benedict with, of course, extra hollandaise sauce.



A little souvenir shopping at Sky City (and a taxicab sprint across town to Jane’s purse place because she decided she really DID need that cute red leather purse after all!) and we were ready for the bus to take us to the ship.

While we waited, I had a lovely conversation with the owner of a beautiful white 1984 Excalibur, who was waiting to pick up a bride to take her to her wedding.



Here comes the bride!








New Zealand customs didn’t take long and we were processed and aboard the ship in time to have lunch in the Crystal Dining Room. Lunch was a wee bit decadent- spatzle with a wild mushroom ragout. Champagne flowed. Two of my sommelier friends Christian and Rafael kept pouring more and more. Perfect way to start any cruise. We saw many friends, including our senior waiter from last year, Sanli.



Unpacking was uneventful-I always bring 30 or so drip dry wire hangers as they take up less space. Our stewardess Evelyn was wonderful, making sure everything was just as we wanted it. This was her last cruise before her break- she had been on six months and was ready to get back to Estonia.

Our view from 9086.



SilverSea's Silver Spirit was docked a little ways from us.



She would follow us all along our route.

The ferry we took to Waiheke the previous day.




Dinner had been arranged by Bill for Silk Road. It was good to see Sigi, the Maitre d’ again. Christian convinced me to try an Italian Chardonnay which I surprisingly liked. French oak- not American. Must be something to that.

We left the selection of sushi and sashimi to the Chef (“omakase”, I believe is what you say), followed by Nobu Matsuhisa’s specialities, among them Waygu beef with three sauces and rock shrimp. As if that weren’t enough, I had one of my favorite desserts-sesame ice cream. Happy happy happy.

We attended the Maori show was an extended version of what we saw at the museum. Still nice. And we greeted many old friends.

Our sail away was not until midnight, but I was just too tired to stay up.

It was nice to be home- aboard Crystal Serenity.

WC2011 Waiheke Vineyards

As I said, we took the ferry out of Auckland harbor over to Waiheke Island, home of some wonderful New Zealand wineries.

The trip over was filled with scenic beauty.



(Can you imagine living up there???/)

The harbor, however, was NOT filled with taxis.

We started walking to the information stand. Two kilometers. Uphill. Nothing more needs to be said. Ever.


As we approached the town at the top of the hill, we managed to find a taxi- a DELIGHTFUL driver who was very willing to drive all six of us around for the day. A STEAL at $NZ 60 an hour.



First stop, Stony Ridge.



The entrance to the tasting room warmed my Buddhist heart. Isn’t the offering of roses charming?




The wine was great- I especially liked the Malbec and bought at bottle (which broke somehow while in transfer to the ship...domage) and got a terrific t-shirt for AJ. We didn't have lunch, as they were having a private party, but the cafe looked marvelous.



They also have an olive orchard--how much fun would THAT be?



As the grapes get closer to picking, nets are draped over the vines to keep away the birds.



But the growing never stops.







Then, across the ridges



and over to Te Whae (pronounced “te-fwa” in Maori)--a winery with the most amazing views ever.



Can you imagine waking up every morning to THIS?














For lunch, I chose a delicious rabbit and pork terrine with toast points. Perfect. Two different Sauvignon Blancs.....Astrolabe (lighter and less grassy) and Greywacke (more astringent and Sauvignon Blanc-like).





Sprinting back to the harbor, we barely made the 2pm ferry--but we did.

What a GLORIOUS day!