5/4/2009
Back home. There’s a man selling popsicles on the sidewalk outside. It’s great to be back. Only one more month and we leave for Telluride!!! Feel free to leave cash in our mailbox, a check will do…Thanks
Monday, May 4, 2009
We leave…
5/3/2009
After walking around downtown one last time we head to the airport, to catch our flight.
What another great trip. Many thanks to Christina for making all the arrangements, you missed your calling. You should off been a travel agent.
After walking around downtown one last time we head to the airport, to catch our flight.
What another great trip. Many thanks to Christina for making all the arrangements, you missed your calling. You should off been a travel agent.
It rains in Auckland too…
5/2/2009
Raining today, we are supposed to go on a harbor cruse, but decided on going to Devonport instead, a 5 minute ferry ride across the harbor. Devonport is a small community with the usual shops and Pubs; we end up at the Patriot for lunch.
After spending most of the day in Devonport, we return to the hotel to drop off the days shopping then back to the Irish place. We didn’t stay as long this night; we were tired from the night before. So early to bed…tomorrow we leave for LA.
Raining today, we are supposed to go on a harbor cruse, but decided on going to Devonport instead, a 5 minute ferry ride across the harbor. Devonport is a small community with the usual shops and Pubs; we end up at the Patriot for lunch.
After spending most of the day in Devonport, we return to the hotel to drop off the days shopping then back to the Irish place. We didn’t stay as long this night; we were tired from the night before. So early to bed…tomorrow we leave for LA.
Auckland is a city…
5/1/2009
The Hotel had a shuttle that took us into the city center from there we walked around the Quay (harbor). After lunch at Degree we went up in the Sky Tower to have a look around at the city from way up in the air. That night we ended up at an Irish Pub (tip: if you want to hear live music anywhere an Irish Pub is your best bet). Left the Pub about 2am then to bed.
The Hotel had a shuttle that took us into the city center from there we walked around the Quay (harbor). After lunch at Degree we went up in the Sky Tower to have a look around at the city from way up in the air. That night we ended up at an Irish Pub (tip: if you want to hear live music anywhere an Irish Pub is your best bet). Left the Pub about 2am then to bed.
Bye Bye Queenstown…
4/30/2009
We check in at the Qantas Counter, there’s a memo saying that our flight may be cancel due to poor visibility…it wasn’t that bad. Apparently Qantas has to have 100% visibility, because they have crappy navigation equipment. Well our flight was cancelled. A voice came over the loud speaker telling us to pick up our baggage and call some 0800 number to sort out our flights. Since everybody was calling we could not get through. Our only alternative was to take a bus to Christchruch and catch a flight to Auckland from there.
While seated on the bus before our departure a rep. from QF told us a QF rep will meet us in Christchruch to help us with our flight to Auckland….Ok good. While on the bus we struck up an alliance with this English couple that where living in Queenstown for the last 10 months, they had gotten through to QF and had confirmed that there was an 8:20PM Air New Zealand flight that QF had reserved for us, our bus was supposed to arrive Christchruch at 8:00PM. With 2 hours to go Christina was feeling uncomfortable about the flight details so she asked our English friends for more info. They ended up letting us use their Mobile phone ( for some reason I could no get through on mine) I was on hold for about an hour before getting through to QF. I told them our situation, and they confirm we where on the 8:20 flight. I felt bad for using the phone for so long but our English friends were really cool about and didn’t care…it was a free call for them.
We arrive in Christchruch and there is no won there to greet us, in fact QF didn’t even know about it. We then went over to the Air New Zealand counter. Our English friends and us were the only ones from the bus booked on the 8:20 NZ flight. Whoever did not confirm with QF got f’d!!! Since this was the last flight out to Auckland they had to spend the night at there own expense and fly out in the AM. We are so grateful for the English for letting us use there phone and Christina not trusting QF. 11:00p we arrive at our last Hotel, very plush and cheap. Our trip is all most over.
We check in at the Qantas Counter, there’s a memo saying that our flight may be cancel due to poor visibility…it wasn’t that bad. Apparently Qantas has to have 100% visibility, because they have crappy navigation equipment. Well our flight was cancelled. A voice came over the loud speaker telling us to pick up our baggage and call some 0800 number to sort out our flights. Since everybody was calling we could not get through. Our only alternative was to take a bus to Christchruch and catch a flight to Auckland from there.
While seated on the bus before our departure a rep. from QF told us a QF rep will meet us in Christchruch to help us with our flight to Auckland….Ok good. While on the bus we struck up an alliance with this English couple that where living in Queenstown for the last 10 months, they had gotten through to QF and had confirmed that there was an 8:20PM Air New Zealand flight that QF had reserved for us, our bus was supposed to arrive Christchruch at 8:00PM. With 2 hours to go Christina was feeling uncomfortable about the flight details so she asked our English friends for more info. They ended up letting us use their Mobile phone ( for some reason I could no get through on mine) I was on hold for about an hour before getting through to QF. I told them our situation, and they confirm we where on the 8:20 flight. I felt bad for using the phone for so long but our English friends were really cool about and didn’t care…it was a free call for them.
We arrive in Christchruch and there is no won there to greet us, in fact QF didn’t even know about it. We then went over to the Air New Zealand counter. Our English friends and us were the only ones from the bus booked on the 8:20 NZ flight. Whoever did not confirm with QF got f’d!!! Since this was the last flight out to Auckland they had to spend the night at there own expense and fly out in the AM. We are so grateful for the English for letting us use there phone and Christina not trusting QF. 11:00p we arrive at our last Hotel, very plush and cheap. Our trip is all most over.
We swing…
4/29/2009
14:10 our ride picks up at Shotover to take us farther up the canyon. It’s time for the Canyon swing. After a little hike we arrive at the jumping off point, we now see what we are in for…heart beats a little faster. After getting in our harnesses we half to decide who’s gunna go first…there’s five in our group three girls, two guys. The first to go was the other guy…He asked us if we ever done anything like this before, I said no, and he hadn’t either…He went off backwards. Watching him disappear into the canyon was weird…The whole event takes a little over a minute…the freefall is 4 seconds. Next was one of the English girls, who were really scared, the funny thing is that the day before they jumped out of an airplane. After they went, it was our turn. Christina went then me.
The swing is a really well engineered contraption. A lot of cables and safety devices.
My turn, I chose to step off the platform…the girls sat down, letting one the swing guys “pull the pin” Stepping off was kinda scary. I just couldn’t talk my legs into taking that first step. The guys joke and make small take while you’re standing there, I suppose to try and put you at ease. Finally I go…nothing fancy I just kinda fall off the platform. The 4 second freefall went by in the blink of an eye. It was real smooth, only a little wind noise. The whole thing only lasts about 2 minutes, your back at the top before you know it. Would I do it again…YES, but with a bit more style…Video coming soon?
After that we went to Minus 5. One of those Vodka Bars in ice. You get 2 drinks and a half hour inside. After Minus 5 we spent our last night in QT at our favorite Pub, Winnies. Queenstown will be missed; I can’t wait to come back again.
Shotover…
4/29/2009
At 12:50 we meet at the Shotover Jet boat agency. After a short ride up the canyon to the launch site. We dawned our life Jackets and boarded the boat. They don’t waste any time, your zooming though the canyon at about 80MPH, just missing the canyon walls by inches. Because of the rain the river was a little high, which made the ride that much more exciting. After about a half hour of spinning though the canyon it was over. I was drenched!
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