2-18 and 2-17-08 Tazman Sea !

2-18-08 our time...
2-17-08...your time. !Hi everyone…It has been quite a day here in entering into the Tazman sea…!!! We are currently near the Milford and Dusky sounds... the sea is hig...and rolling.....and, That is putting it mildly !

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JOAN !!! # ??? couldn't get a link though my global phone to sing to you...so consider it done ! We are thinking of you, on your day ! Hope my e-card reached you !

Jenny and Kathleen, hope you both are feeling well, today and enjoying feeling the little ones growing insde each of you........CONGRATULATIONS once again!

to David and Anna...our thoughts and prayers are with you EACH day...hoping improvements come often !

Now, to you all…………
I was hoping to tell you all about our wonderful time here in New Zealand, as soooooo many people said that it would be a highlight for us, in comparison to Australia. However, in actuality, we have had several tough days at sea, and while in port, we have witnessed torrential rain…the first for New Zealand in three months of drought. Sooooooooo…many of our wonderful plans have been thwarted, time in ports shortened and today…our last day …CANCELLED ALTOGETHER. WE WERE to have enjoyed a fabulous last day in New Zealand today in Dunedin…visiting a castle, taking a full day scenic ride over the land and enjoying up close and personal time with the cutie pie penquins there…however the Typhoon in Australia created amazingly high headwinds with which we had to deal for the last two days at sea…and this put us behind arriving into DUNEDIN today. As a consequence, we missed out docking space and had to wait a LONG time for a container ship to clear, before we could dock in DUNEDIN. In fact, we had to wait so long, that by the time our time had come, the seas were so rough, that, ultimately, we were unable to tie up at all…and had to miss our whole day there. This also meant cancelling the overland adventure (3 full days ) for many folks…and a huge loss of revenue overall and many unhappy travelers. Everyone was so bummed as it really was the first beautiful, sunny day we had had in about five days ! The captain apologized for everything, as if he really was at fault, and reminded us all that safety came first and that the >20ft sea swells were simply too dangerous for us to navigate in tenders… and having only a few hours in port would not prove to be worth all the risk and trouble.
So…Instead, he offered free cocktail hour for all guests from 5:15-8:30p tonight, the band played some jazz, and $$compensation for all missed excursions.
OH WELL….what can one do? So frustrating to see the beautiful mountains and sunshine…for once, and NOT to be able to get off to meet the people.
I did spend time outside for awhile to photograph the pilot boat trying to navigate meeting up with our ship…quite the site (pics will be on shutterfly), and at moments almost felt threatened by the wind, myself…ultimately coming inside to safety. I did see a few albatross’ though and did catch a couple on “film”… I guess that the people of New Zealand are so very happy to have rain for their fields and for their hydroelectric plants…that we all must be sensitive to that and be happy for them. It is so important and they were really worrying about what they would do if rain didn’t come soon. No Worries for them, now. I so often take time to remind myself that travel really is a wonderful thing…a privilege and often, as in real life, doesn’t work out as one would have planned. Instead, considering others and trying to learn the impact of crisis provides a framework for new perspective. Yes, I am disappointed, however, the storm has cleared and now, we are poised for two magnificent days in the Milford and Dusky sounds…passes through beautiful high mountains and fiord like areas. We are Blessed to be here and to be able to see this.
Australia has had their problems, too, with the recent typhoon…and we can only hope that things will have cleared from there by the time we arrive in Melbourne in a few days. We have been feeling the aftermath of the typhoon…rough seas…>20 ft swells and lots of “rock’in and rolling” as we TRY to walk a straight line through the halls of the ship. Before bed, we must secure things, lest we find them knocked over, or on the other side of the room, in the morning. Sleeping is tough for those who have cabins in the bow…happily I planned ‘just in case’ and we are in the middle of the ship…a much more stable place. However, we are on the 11 floor and the top gets much more movement than the lower levels. So far, neither of us is sick ! As we have sailed in 40 ft seas, once long ago, without any problem, I don’t expect that we will have any problem this time, either.The weather is much cooler now…high 60/s instead of a hot/humid 90 only a few days ago. This is giving us all a nice break and a chance to wear all those clothes we thought we would not NEED. Actually, I kind of like the sea swells…they sort of lull my to sleep…all except the times when I almost roll out of bed……..JUST KIDDING.
Well…….what can I say…we did have several great times in NZ…meeting some lovely people and seeing more sheep than I EVER thought that I would ever see.
Auckland was probably the most dramatic with regard to buildings…and developed sea front. Even young girls went about on segways advertising the night club…there. We enjoyed our time there, relaxing and enjoying great Lebonese cuisine. We were spared the rain until later that day.
Christ Church was probably the most beautiful terrain…although with the cloudy/rainy day, twas hard to see…but, one could just imagine the beauty as one traversed over “hill and dale” …I think that I would LOVE to return, one day…God willing.
Wellington, was a lovely city…bustling and full of more interesting architecture…a real mix of old and new. The new was very avant guarde…..and a pleasure to see. Of course, there was a “Molly Malone’s”…too. (What city doesn’t have one???) Luckily, we did get a chance to see the beautiful rose gardens which bordered the Botanical gardens, just before the weather turned, and in retrospect, we SHOULD have gone to the festival there despite the rain…but, sometimes one just doesn’t feel like BEING a duck…ya know?
Now, I am enjoying the memories through our pictures, and will upload them before OUR DAY ends…
I so hope that you all are finding a way to access them to see them at:

http://otooleworldcruise2008.shutterfly.com (CRYSTALS) /password
Just in case you haven’t figured the site out fully, yet…when I add a NEW album…it is listed as featured…once to view them, please be aware that you can/should check all the albums…to see farther down in the list which ones, to which I have recently added pictures. Some of the albums, ie staff photos, pics of Pat and me, speakers etc will be constantly uploaded and ever changing…so keep checking those which interest you. The other albums, will be uploaded as we see the area…following the map our our cruise itinerary will help you to know where we are, and which ones may have new pictures. I am loading many pictures this time as I am not SURE that we shall be able to have another party as last year to showcase the pics…so, if you get tired of looking , or just want to view a few…by all means so what is comfortable for you !
It is my joy to share with you……..it is always your choice to “look”.
A couple nights ago, they put on a world cruise party for those of us who are doing the whole 108 days…and did a take off of the wizard of OZ. It was silly and cute…making a new story of Dorothy meeting her “down under” counterpart “Shiela” and the characters, including a cowardly “K…Roo”. Lots of singing a fabulous dancing and costumes…do wish I had brought my camera, but alas…I have spared you this time…and the beautiful memories will have to just reside in our minds. We do have the stories, though.
We are at sea, now, for four days…and happily, they brought on MANY new celebrities, speakers and those with new talent…so we shall have fabulous entertainment and interesting intellectual stimulation via the many wonderful and insightful talks given each day…usually three. I may be on deck most of today, however, to do the viewing of the sound…
Well…….guess this is all for now…! Next time, I may pick a few ports/experiences and just write about them…for fun…as MANY funny things happen around here each day ! I love that you all have chosen to be a part of this……with us……..it is fun to think of you coming right along with us even if it is virtually…and without any seasickness ! love from us both…Nancy