Wellington, New Zealand February 10, 2011

Today we are in the capital of New Zealand.  I didn’t have a tour booked and neither did Mary and Jim, so we set off together at 9:15 a.m.  We walked into town taking in the sights along the way – the Parliament Building which looks like a huge beehive a beautiful Anglican Church and the beautiful modern, clean city.  Jim and Mary were here before, so they gave me a guided tour.   We took the tram up the hillside to go to the Botanical Garden which is built all along the hillside and then walked our way down marvelling at the beautiful sights along the way. 

At one of the cafes in the Rose Garden, we met one of my new friends from aboard ship, Michele Boyer.  We joined her at her table and Mary and I had a beer, Jim a Soda Water.  Then we were off again to finish our tour of the gardens. 

I am keeping my resolve to dance the soles out of  the only pair of dancing shoes I brought with me, so now every place I go, I check the shoe stores to see if I can find another pair.  We were sent to a store called Gubbs where they were supposed to be available, but they only carried tap dancing shoes.  Some of the ladies found some in Auckland, but I was too busy arranging to have my glasses repaired at the time, so I missed out .  Hopefully in Sydney, Australia some will be available.  If not, I’ve been told that I might have some luck in Hong Kong and they should also be cheaper there.

After the shoe store adventure, we stopped for an ice cream cone – it was well past lunch time and we needed a “pick me up”.   Mary and Jim still wanted to go to the museum, but I had had enough so we went our separate ways.  Since I hadn’t a clue where to go to catch the shuttle bus back to the ship, I walked, arriving back around 3:15.  I had been walking about for 6 hours – not bad for an old broad! ! !  After a nice rest I got all decked out and went out for diner and dancing!!!   Ah – what a life ! ! ! !

 

 

I have been told that the average age aboard the ship is 72.  It is amazing how many disabled people travel.  Several are in wheelchairs and there are motorized scooters available for those who require them.   Multitudes of them are using canes  and some of them walkers.  It is not always easy for them to manage the gangplanks to get off the ship, but most of them don’t let that deter them.  I have to admire them for not giving up and staying at home.