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From Gran Canaria to New Zealand We are on our way to New Zealand from the Canary islands. We live here, but are Norwegian. We work here as; he - nurse, she - teacher. karen lived in New Zealand years and years ago, and now we are on our way back - so karen can "show off" this lovely country of her youth.

Home again

SPAIN | Friday, 10 Aug 2007 | Views [445]

So we are home again. It's hot and my fot is hurting. It is swollen and complains about long planetrips. 26 hours New Zealand - London. And, since the plane was delayed we had to run and stress through London Airport (Heathrow) to get oour next connexion.... Read more >

Tags: Philosophy of travel


Our last day

NEW ZEALAND | Tuesday, 7 Aug 2007 | Views [712] | Comments [3]

Our last day. We're in an internet cafe in Birkenhead. The plane leaves at 23.30 and them we have about 38 hours of travel before we arive home. Auckland - Hong Kong - London (26.5 hrs) 3 hrs wait, then London - Madrid. Another 3 hrs, then Madrid - Las ... Read more >

Tags: Philosophy of travel


The Kauri Museum

NEW ZEALAND | Saturday, 4 Aug 2007 | Views [627]

Meinita took us to the Kauri museum in Matakohi. A lovely museum, absolutely worth the trip. Of course we have our own private chauffeur. Lovely Meinita! On the way back we went to the Muruwai beach. We walked and climbed and the results is on the pictures:... Read more >

Tags: Sightseeing


Tiritiri island bird-sanctuary

NEW ZEALAND | Friday, 3 Aug 2007 | Views [562]

We took the ferry to Tiritiri island bird sanctuary. It was a lovely day and we had a lovely walk throught the bush listening to and watching birds. Tiritiri was a grazing island until in the 80's. It's incredible how the island has been transformed from ... Read more >

Tags: Sightseeing


Floods and fire

NEW ZEALAND | Wednesday, 1 Aug 2007 | Views [535]

The news here show pictures of floods. Dead sheep, landslides, flooded houses and roads. We ourselves have been spared, though. From the Canary Islands we hear that a huge fire is blazing through the mountain around our village. The temperature is around ... Read more >

Tags: Philosophy of travel


School visit

NEW ZEALAND | Tuesday, 31 Jul 2007 | Views [522] | Comments [1]

Lucky me spent three days at St. Mary's primary school. This is the school where Avril, Susan, Maria and Meinita work.(The girls we climbed Rangitoto with, remember?) And since Maria is teamleader, I got permission to stay and learn. I had such a lovely ... Read more >

Tags: Culture


Wellington

NEW ZEALAND | Saturday, 28 Jul 2007 | Views [466]

I, Karen, spent 6 hours in the 6-story Wellington museum -Te Papa, while Erik was on a "Lord Of The Rings tour" and at a tattoo-museum. We both had a lovely time. We walked around the city and the shops were open real late in the Cuba-district.... Read more >

Tags: Relaxation


Christchurch

SPAIN | Thursday, 26 Jul 2007 | Views [474]

Christchurch a town full of cultur, old and new. Buildings in Gothic and Victorian style meeting todays modern art through the artfestival that started while we were there. Very facinating!

Tags: Culture


Trainpass

NEW ZEALAND | Sunday, 22 Jul 2007 | Views [586]

We bought a trainpass and took the train from Auckland to Wellington, ferry to Picton, train to Chirstchurch and the Tranzalpine to Greymouth and back to Christchurch. It's a good idea, but it lasts only 7 days, so we had to buy a new ticket when we ... Read more >

Tags: Travel Tips


Rotorua

NEW ZEALAND | Friday, 20 Jul 2007 | Views [660] | Comments [3]

We added some pictures from Rotorua, but no stories yet. First ting you notice is the icredible smell! Sulphur.Not a place for pregnant women or asmatics. Otherwise - as usual - really friendly people. We flung us with a touristgroup - maorivillage-outing, ... Read more >

Tags: Sightseeing


Everyday- things

NEW ZEALAND | Friday, 20 Jul 2007 | Views [472]

Holiday is more than sightseeing. It is also everyday-things like wathing old movies on TV or new movies in old cinemas. We just came out from this cinema I remember from I was a young girl/child in this country. The stars (and moving clouds)and the ... Read more >

Tags: Philosophy of travel


His majesty - The Anchient Kauri

NEW ZEALAND | Friday, 13 Jul 2007 | Views [449]

We went into the forest of Tane Mahuta and came out as someone else. It was a moment of awe when we encountered this enormeous tree. It is possibly more than 2000 years old. Makes you think it was around when Jesus walked the earth. The trunk is 13m in ... Read more >

Tags: The Great Outdoors


Waitangi Treaty grounds

NEW ZEALAND | Friday, 13 Jul 2007 | Views [438]

The Waitangi treaty was signed here in 1840 between maori chiefs and the British crown. The first thinking that the crown would protect their land, the latter not quite thinking along the same lines. Anyway - the Waitangi treaty is important and referred ... Read more >

Tags: Sightseeing


The homestead and a kiwi

NEW ZEALAND | Thursday, 12 Jul 2007 | Views [434]

We went on a trip up north with Meinita. First stop in Whangarei: A lovely preserved house from 1886, originally buildt in kauriwood for a Dr Clark and his family. It has been in continuous use untill 1976, but made up with the original inventory from ... Read more >

Tags: Sightseeing


KAWAKAWA - Hundertwasser's toilets

NEW ZEALAND | Thursday, 12 Jul 2007 | Views [415]

Never, ever, have I taken a pee in such a toilet. Built by the Austrian  artist and architect Friedrich Hundertwasser. He lived here his last 25 years and wanted to give something back to the comunity. Never more will I take a leak without thinking of ... Read more >

Tags: Culture


Glowworm caves

NEW ZEALAND | Thursday, 12 Jul 2007 | Views [684]

Off the highway we saw a little sign to glowworm caves and turned of. It was the  Kawati caves, owned by a maorifamily. The guide told of how her ancester found the caves, and it was inhabited! Here comes the story: This cave was discovered by Roku ... Read more >

Tags: Sightseeing


Puhoi

NEW ZEALAND | Sunday, 8 Jul 2007 | Views [462]

An interesting place. In 1863, the first settlers from Bohemia arrived. They came from a city like Praha, much like what parts of it looks like today - to Aucland, which was a shack-rubble-place. And they were then sent upstream in maoricanoes to live ... Read more >

Tags: Sightseeing


Maori in the city.

NEW ZEALAND | Saturday, 7 Jul 2007 | Views [452]

Meinita took us to the gathering "Maori in the city". It's not for tourists really, and it was an interesting study of maori life today. Hardly a european face. Lots of families and small children. Lots of different stands. Quite a few kids ... Read more >

Tags: Culture


Auckland zoo

NEW ZEALAND | Friday, 6 Jul 2007 | Views [412]

"We're going to the zoo, zoo, zoo - what about you, you, you?" We had a nice day, even though it did rain a bit. One spell of rain gave us the lovely experience of a leopard seeking shelter right in front of us and some delighted children (although ... Read more >

Tags: Relaxation


Rangitoto island

NEW ZEALAND | Wednesday, 4 Jul 2007 | Views [407]

You might not know that, but I went to Rangitoto college 1965-68. So an offer to join a group of teachers to climb the volcano, was not put down. A lovely day, a lot of fun and a stunning view - and a dramatic downpour to finish off. Pictures in the gallery.... Read more >

Tags: Adventures


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