Tauranga was the last port of call before Auckland. Tauranga is a beautiful, charming and unique island. The main streets are made of a colorful tile and flower baskets hanging all along the way.  That Saturday, we were watching a boat and canoe race along with many other spectators. The event was to raise money for breast cancer cure and research. We were touched by that good cause, as my daughter Vicki is a cancer survivor. Four years ago, Vicki was diagnosed with stage 3b IBC, Inflammatory Breast Cancer, she lost both breasts. I know what my daughter went through for a year and a half with Chemo and radiation with suffering and pain along with the rest of my family because we all felt pain with her.  Life is fragile and we learn not to take anything for granted anymore. Everyday is a blessing and a gift from God. One more reason we shouldn’t postpone today for tomorrow, tomorrow may never come.  After two weeks of the Cruiser, we finally said goodbye to the friends we shared time with during the trip.  After that we checked into our hotel in Auckland. It reminds me of any other big city, quite modern and many high rising buildings.  We toured the town, did two days of shopping, and then took the fary boat to visit two islands.  One impressed me more than any words I can ever tell.  See Vicki’s Blog for the best explanation.  New Zealand is a big green country, just like I always thought it was.  After 4 days in Auckland, we flew to Fiji for 4 more days where we had made reservations at the Westin Resort. My first impressions of Fiji, I thought it was a little part of heaven, beautiful, sunny beaches, warm water, golf courses, green trees and flowers all over. Our hotel was an old traditional resort with the style and the charm of the Polynesian culture with very modern amenities. Our accommodations were also superb; we had a veranda overlooking the ocean, a perfect place to relax. All we wanted to do was lay on the beach, swim in the warm water, and enjoy it all poolside. Two days after, we were cooked pretty well from the sun. A few miles away from our hotel, there was a little town called Marina Beach. Every night we would go to diner at different restaurants and try different food. It was a place where at night everything came alive. Music, dancing and entertainment, yes Fiji is a beautiful Island, but there is a part of the land in the narrows island that is not so beautiful and rich. Tourists very seldom get to see it.  People are very poor and have nothing. Last January, they had a flood of water, 4 ft high that almost destroyed the town and the village.  We visited and met some of those people. They are kind, friendly and contented. They all speak the native language plus English and they also love America. Fiji was the last destination of our trip. We packed and hit the road for the airport. We left Sunday at midnight with Air pacific with 20+ hours in flight. We arrived home in Phoenix on Sunday night at 8 pm.  It was a long trip. I don’t remember Monday and Tuesday as I slept through day and night feeling like a zombie, but I honestly say I was blessed to have made 5 weeks of a memorable journey. Not only will I never forget, but also I wouldn’t have missed it for anything in this world. 

Love, Momma

Love, The Kiwi Girls 

After an amazing day in Melbourne, we set sail for Hobart, Tasmania.  Vicki toured the city and found it not only beautiful but full of culture and history. After Tasmania we were at sea for 2 days. On the second day the ship circled 3 Fiords: Milford, Doubtful and Dusky Sounds, all exquistie with water falls and lush green mountains. The next morning we arrived in Dunedin and Vicki and I took an excursion that took us to all the city’s highlights. Dunedin has the steepest street in the world. Vicki climbed to the tope and got a certificate for her effort. We visited Dunedin’s beautiful Botanical gardens, their famous railroad station and the University of Otago, where Greg’s daughter, Justine attended, and home to 25,000 students from all over the world. Next Port of Call was Christchurch where again we took an excursion. Christchurch could be a town in England as the architecture is very British and ornate. Next stop was Wellington where we were picked up by our 4th and 5th angels, Ed and Roz McEwen, a couple that Vicki and Greg met in San Diego last year. We spent the entire days with them and saw places and did things that tourists wouldn’t do. They took us to their beautiful home in Lower Hutt (outside of Wellington), we had a special lunch at their friends’ restaurant, we went to a farm and fed baby lambs, milked a cow and learned all about sheeps’ wool. We then visited a museum and learned all about the Maori culture, the first inhabitants of New Zealand. I am so impressed with how green and gorgeous New Zealand is and how friendly the people are.

Love, Momma

We finally boarded the Millennium Cruise Ship on Sunday afternoon after we got set in our cabin, we had 4 more hours before dinner and the Cuise wasn’t going to leave until Monday morning. We went out and did some shopping for a few hours. In the morning after breakfast we went to watch Super Bowl on a big screen. I was surprised to see so many Americans rooting for the Cardinals. And at the end I was very disappointed to see my beloved Arizona losing to the Steelers.

The first Port of Call was called Phillip Island. It was late afternoon when we arrived. The important site was to see the Penguins and a few historical sites. Vicki and I didn’t go because it was late and was getting dark. Many people who went were dissatisfied because they were cold and were unable to see much. After 2 days on board our next Port of Call was Melbourne. Once again we found our 3rd Angel waiting for us at the pier. Eddy is my daughter Vicki’s, sister-in-laws boyfriend. With Eddy as our guide and chaffeur we visited  the entire city of Melbourne. We had lunch in a very fine French restaurant on the river. We climbed the top of Austrialia’s highest building, over 92 stories, to see the most beautiful panorama of the city. I also wanted to see the Rod Laver arena, the site of the Australia Open.  We made stops here and there having coffee. After 7 hours we returned to the ship. We then sailed for our new Port of Call, Hobart, Tasmania.  Vicki went on a tour of Hobart without me. I chose not to go as my back was hurting and it was a long 8 kilometers to the center of the city. Again we were fortunate to find perfect weather. Next Port of Call will be New Zealand.

Tell you more about it next time!

Love Momma

After a glorious week in Adelaide we arrived in Sydney on Tuesday, late afternoon. Paul, our very dear friend was waiting for us at the Baggage Claim at Sydney airport. I met Paul on a cruise to the Bahamas with my daughter, Jan. We stayed friends and kept in touch through the years. He visited us in Arizona a few years ago. Paul, like Enzo in Adelaide, was our chauffeur and guide and took us everywhere. We stayed at the Shangri-La, 5 star hotel, right on the Sydney Harbor. Our room was on the 23rd floor with the most spectacular panorama view of the Opera House and the Sydney Harbor Bridge and the City itself.  Every morning I had my coffee sitting on the window ledge watching boats and ships coming  in and out of the harbor and everyday I saw something new. Sydney is surrounded by harbors and green hills. We were blessed to have perfect weather, 75-80 degrees especially when the weather in Melbourne was over 116 degrees.  We were on the go all the time, sightseeing the city and surrounding area. We visited the Zoo and beautiful state parks and had lunches and dinners in fine waterfront restaurants. One day Vicki and Paul walked the Sydney Harbor Bridge and visited the Sydney Opera House. I stayed at the hotel and watched the Australian Open Tennis matches. Just before we said goodbye to Paul and the beautiful city by the sea, we went to the Italian quarter, on the outskirts of the city, and had the most delicious gelato and cappuccino. Paul then drove us to the Celebrity Millennium cruise ship which was going to be our home for the next 2 weeks.

Love, Momma

It is amazing how your mind can communicate all the way to heaven. It was Christmas eve when I looked at my sons picture and I asked him to come visit me. (He went to heaven last summer) I told him how much I miss him. On Christmas Day I had him on my mind all day between crying and sadness I tried my best to sheer up for the rest of my family. All in all we had a nice day with my daughters, sons in laws, grand and great grand children. I was thankful for living in this beautiful country that I love so much. I was thankful for the health we all share, also thankful for having my own home and the need to be independent when I think so many people are suffering for one reason or another the world is in such  a demise.  I’m thankful to God for giving me  41 years of my sons life that I wouldn’t trade for all the gold in this world.

After dinner when I came home the house was dark except for one room, My son’s bedroom. The light was so bright that it illuminated the hallway, the stairway and all the way to the living room. I stood there frozen looking up wondering how that light came to be when nobody was home and every thing was locked.  The last time I was in my son’s room was many weeks ago and I would of known if the light was left on.  Immediately I called my daughter and told her of my discovery. I don’t know if you believe in spiritual appearance, but this makes a believer out of me. I know my son came to me and my prayer was answered.