Author Archives: steve

Patmos, Greece

Posted on October 19, 2011 by steve

Patmos is a small Greek island in the Southeastern Aegean. It wasn’t on our itinerary, but because of a strike in Rhodes to protest the Greek financial situation, that port was inaccessible, and Patmos was substituted. I don’t know what … Continue reading →

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Kusadasi and Ephesus, Turkey

Posted on October 18, 2011 by steve

The port in Kusadasi was certainly busier than the last time we were here, when we were the only ship. Either things are quieter in the Middle East or people have just gotten used to it. No circling gunboats this … Continue reading →

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Filippi and Kavala, Greece

Posted on October 17, 2011 by steve

The ship was rockin’ and rollin’ last night, I guess still feeling the effects of a cyclone over the Black Sea. It was still raining when we docked a bit late in Kavala, a hillside community in Macedonia (Northern Greece). … Continue reading →

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Istanbul

Posted on October 16, 2011 by steve

This is our first time on Oceania, although they are owned by Regent, a high end line Dani and I once took for an enjoyable Mediterranean cruise. The Insignia is a beautiful ship, with by far the nicest finish work … Continue reading →

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New York to Istanbul

Posted on October 15, 2011 by steve

With a lull in Linda’s projects for Disney, she was able to get away, so for her birthday we booked a cruise in the Mediterranean. When Delta changed their flight schedule, our connection through JFK became dangerously short, so we … Continue reading →

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Thai Beef Salad

Posted on October 10, 2011 by steve

This is my favorite salad recipe. We originally got it from Standolyn Robertson, Jamie Robertson’s wife. She served it at a dinner that was memorable because it was the night, twenty years ago, that a micro burst blew down our … Continue reading →

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Rocco’s Italian Grille

Posted on October 9, 2011 by steve

It had been a while since we’d been to Rocco’s. The food is always great, but we’d had some disastrous wine service during a Wine Syndicate event, and hadn’t been back. Saturday Ron and Bev invited us to join them, … Continue reading →

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Coogee

Posted on September 13, 2011 by steve

Although it was an early morning, our plane flight from Aukland to Sydney was otherwise painless, and, taking advantage of the two hour time shift, we were in Coogee by 11am. this is the town where Pamela grew up, so … Continue reading →

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Rainy Days in Auckland

Posted on September 11, 2011 by steve

The rain caught up to us today, but that was okay, as it gave us an excuse to relax. At noon we walked down Queen Street and found a ma and pa Korean restaurant for a tasty lunch. After lunch … Continue reading →

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Back to Auckland

Posted on September 10, 2011 by steve

On the final day of our Tauck Tour we headed back to Auckland. We’ve had almost perfect weather on the trip, particularly considering that winter is just ending in New Zealand. It seemed that we’ve been ahead of rain almost … Continue reading →

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TSS Earnslaw & Walter Peak Sheep Station

Posted on September 9, 2011 by steve

Today we got to sleep in, because our excursion to the sheep farm didn’t start until almost noon, when we walked across the street to the dock and boarded the TSS (Twin Screw Steamship) Earnslaw, for the 45 minute trip … Continue reading →

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Queenstown

Posted on September 8, 2011 by steve

We arrived at the Queenstown airport (actually in Frankton) about 6pm, and as predicted no one was there except security and the janitor. Since our luggage had magically preceded us, we were in Queenstown within minutes. The Crowne Plaza Queenstown … Continue reading →

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Milford Sound

Posted on September 7, 2011 by steve

In the morning we caught our same private jet for the flight from Wellington at the tip of the North Island to Manapouri Airport, about two thirds of the way down the South Island. Flight time was less than 90 … Continue reading →

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Martin Bosley’s

Posted on September 6, 2011 by steve

While Dani had dinner with her friend Laura, I went across the street from our hotel and had a solo dinner at Martin Bosley’s, which has been voted New Zealand’s best restaurant. The emphasis here is on fish, which is … Continue reading →

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Wellington

Posted on September 6, 2011 by steve

Wellington certainly deserves its nickname as the windy capital. As the world’s southernmost capital city, it was surprisingly warm today–mid fifties–but a constant breeze made a good jacket a requirement. The day dawned with scattered drizzles, a contrast to last … Continue reading →

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Marlborough Sound

Posted on September 5, 2011 by steve

At the Rotorua airport we caught our private charter jet for the 45 minute flight to the South Island. This is the way to travel! The 100-seat British Aerospace BAe 146-200 was pretty spacious with only 17 of us! The … Continue reading →

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Rotorua

Posted on September 4, 2011 by steve

We departed from Auckland this morning for our drive across half of the northern island that comprises New Zealand. After a rest stop for some honeycomb and vanilla ice cream (who says 9:30 is too early for ice cream?) we … Continue reading →

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Waiheke Island

Posted on September 3, 2011 by steve

For our first day on the Tauck tour we met our group at the bus at 8:15 and headed to the ferry dock for the 40 minute trip to Waiheke Island. The island is a beautifully unspoiled place, with 8500 … Continue reading →

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Auckland

Posted on September 2, 2011 by steve

Today I had breakfast while Dani slept in, enjoying her last completely unscheduled day before we join our tour. We walked a mile or so down Queen street to the Quay, stopping on the way to buy ten used CDs … Continue reading →

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Sydney to Auckland

Posted on September 1, 2011 by steve

After breakfast at the Four Seasons, where Dani got one last Crumpet, a new favorite, we headed to the airport and out flight to Auckland, New Zealand. New Zealand is really into rugby, and the rugby World Cup is going … Continue reading →

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Tetsuya

Posted on August 31, 2011 by steve

Our concierge suggested we add Testsuya’s to our list of dining adventures in Sydney, and Pamela’s relatives all said we’d like it best. They were right. This is the restaurant that should have three Michelin stars. It’s located in a … Continue reading →

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Jenolan Caves

Posted on August 30, 2011 by steve

Our driver, Trevor, picked us up early for the 100 mile drive to Jenolan Caves. The caves are in the Blue Mountains, southwest of Sydney. Along the way we stopped near Leura, where Pamela used to live, to see the … Continue reading →

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Sydney Zoo

Posted on August 29, 2011 by steve

We spent a delightful day at the Sydney Zoo, courtesy of Pamela. It’s just a short ferry ride across Sydney Harbour from Circular Quay. It’s a great zoo, and the animals were very cooperative, standing where we could see them! … Continue reading →

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Quay

Posted on August 28, 2011 by steve

Quay (pronounced “key”) is a three-star Michelin restaurant that has been voted best restaurant in Australia and Asia. It’s on the third floor of the Overseas Passenger Terminal at Circular Quay, and has a spectacular view of the Harbour Bridge … Continue reading →

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Australia Museum

Posted on August 28, 2011 by steve

We spent a pleasant day at the Australia Museum, which has upgraded their video projection since our last visit ten years ago. Their insect and mineral collections are really extensive, although it’s the dinosaurs that draw the kids. Dani points … Continue reading →

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Rockpool Bar & Grill

Posted on August 27, 2011 by steve

Portions of this entry were originally written by Dani for her blog. Rockpool Bar & Grill is a short walk from the Four Seasons Hotel. It’s a beautiful room, which looks like it may have been a bank in another … Continue reading →

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Breakfast Point

Posted on August 27, 2011 by steve

A more extensive version of this entry was written by Dani for her blog. After breakfast we went to Circular Quay, and the same wharf where we met Pamela to catch a ferry to her neighborhood. The water taxi service … Continue reading →

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Hunter Valley Wineries

Posted on August 26, 2011 by steve

This post was shamelessly cribbed from Dani’s blog. Today we went to the Hunter Vally wine country. This was exciting for Dani because it was her first time on a wine tour someplace where she’s over the legal drinking age. … Continue reading →

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Becasse

Posted on August 25, 2011 by steve

This post was cribbed from Dani’s Blog We met Pamela in the lobby at 5:30 and headed over to Bécasse for dinner. The restaurant recently relocated from a 90 seat location to a 24 seat spot in an upscale mall. … Continue reading →

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Circular Quay

Posted on August 25, 2011 by steve

Circular Quay (prounounced “kee”) is the waterfront area next to the Sydney Opera House. It’s just a block from our hotel, and we met our friend Pamela there, where she arrived from her house by one of the River Cat … Continue reading →

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