It is such a pleasure having a home base to return to while venturing out and exploring a new country. We have fallen in love with New Zealand AND our “host” family (Thank you, Gareth and Kula, Aston and Tamara!), and are so looking forward to more exchanges in the future – we already have … More The Coromandel: A Tropical Paradise
During our trip through New Zealand we had the good fortune to be able to meet with several groups of cancer patients/survivors, carers (care partners) and advocacy/service group leaders as part of the ongoing work Andrew and I do together at Patient Power. Andrew is very active in a number of Facebook groups that focus … More Meetings with New Zealand Patients/Survivors & Carers
On our way back from Paihia we stopped at a lesser-known natural attraction – a family-owned and run glow worm cave. There is a well-known tour of this kind of cave run by one of the big adventure companies that is quite pricey. This version, however is run by the 14th generation of a single … More Glow Worms, 360 Views & A Dinner with Distant Friends
Paihia is a relaxed beach town on the eastern coast of the North Island. It’s known as a gateway to the dive sites and sandy beaches of the Bay of Islands. Our primary reason for choosing Paihia specifically was the great reviews we got about scuba diving in the Bay of Islands area. As I … More Paihia: Jungle Beauty and Diving Delights
The highlight of one of our early days on the North Island was a visit to Shakespear (yes, NO “e” on the end) Regional Park. It is described as an “open sanctuary integrating conservation, recreation and farming….providing a pest free habitat and a safe home for wildlife.” It is located at the tip of the … More Shakespear Park: Poetically Beautiful
I have to admit that I am no wine expert…I like wine well enough, but I usually trust the more knowledgeable good graces of others to tell me what is good wine and what is best left behind. I really planned this day excursion knowing that Ruthie and her buddy, Lauren, would really enjoy it … More Waiheke Wine Tour – Wow!
Andrew and I have agreed that if it weren’t for dear family, friends, and our pup Donovan, we’d just miss our home bound flights in a few weeks and stay here. Not sure New Zealand would be too happy with us – there is that small thing called a visa overstay…sigh. A girl can dream. … More A Beach Day
Yes…It’s a long way to New Zealand. Yes…flying Economy sucks a bit. (Not the worst thing I have ever done but when the bucks roll in I’m going business class – at least!). No…I did not sleep most of the way. Ever try to sleep sitting up, smushed between two sweet but also-tired travelers? Bet … More Down Under: Looks Like Paradise to Me
Wow! Time really does fly…and it accelerates just like Mom told me it would as the years go by. I realize that “getting older” and “getting OLD” are two different things, but in either case, time seems to have a faster and faster clock speed as the years go by. This past year had a … More Heading into the 2018 Home Stretch – Looking Back
I am so glad that Andrew and I are now much closer in geographic proximity to many of our loved ones…not all, but many. We will continue to be “digital nomads” of a sort – travel is a shared passion I doubt will ever be quelled in our life together. But I feel so blessed … More Redirecting My Energy
Living La Vida Loca 