tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-322337132024-03-19T17:28:50.921-05:00Where I've BenBen Moorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14513790988776402812noreply@blogger.comBlogger327125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32233713.post-26734920725392346492023-11-26T19:58:00.002-06:002023-11-26T19:58:00.148-06:00New York City 2023 Geotracks<div>Here's a map of where we went in New York City.</div><div><br /></div><div>I used my iPhone 13 Mini and <a href="https://apps.apple.com/us/app/mytracks-the-gps-logger/id358697908" target="_blank">myTracks</a> app.</div><div><br /></div>
<iframe height="480" src="https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/embed?mid=1tlFQhbUNyvpQ5r_SJ04r4WJt9fuoe8w&ehbc=2E312F&noprof=1" width="640"></iframe>
<div><br /></div><div>Zoom in and you can really see some details.</div><div><br /></div><div>Overview:</div><div><a href="https://whereiveben.benmoore.info/2023/10/new-york-city-2023.html" target="_blank">New York City 2023</a></div>Ben Moorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12779518055843568946noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32233713.post-54978932219536944262023-11-19T19:15:00.001-06:002023-11-19T19:15:00.144-06:00New York City 2023 - Day 4<div><i>In mid-October 2023, we took a family trip to New York City.</i></div><div><br /></div><div>It rained all day Saturday. We split up. The 7-year old went to American Girl to get her doll's ears pierced and meet a friend for lunch. The 14-year old went to Tiffany's for lunch.</div><div><br /></div><div><div>Afterwards, the 7-year old went to the Metropolitan Museum and looked at the mummies. The 14-year old went to Billionaires Row and tried to talk her way into the lobby.</div></div><div><br /></div><div>The rain made for some interesting views of the Manhattan skyscrapers.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTp79-qQ0_80yaMGFx-6_lLkIw6YtIQJqR_llrGhjCI1Cse5Y0A3Yhpn1Vu9MJcIUdrT7gvu0MEG3me8QV3y8UcnioEsaEP1Sb_glwHyl9KrLYO19pDaJ00mLEaPTe1-i8yu6mK-4NT9FmuHFtiYkZ9QfKntida7I68sz4bUePsgzKDEisSTEZ/s2100/IMG_8616.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2100" data-original-width="1576" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTp79-qQ0_80yaMGFx-6_lLkIw6YtIQJqR_llrGhjCI1Cse5Y0A3Yhpn1Vu9MJcIUdrT7gvu0MEG3me8QV3y8UcnioEsaEP1Sb_glwHyl9KrLYO19pDaJ00mLEaPTe1-i8yu6mK-4NT9FmuHFtiYkZ9QfKntida7I68sz4bUePsgzKDEisSTEZ/w300-h400/IMG_8616.HEIC" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.app.goo.gl/5cPcXwzrbmpSrFiW9" target="_blank">Slide Show</a></div><br /><div>Sunday was the trip home.</div><div><br /></div><div><div>Overview:</div><div><a href="https://whereiveben.benmoore.info/2023/10/new-york-city-2023.html" target="_blank">New York City 2023</a></div></div>Ben Moorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12779518055843568946noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32233713.post-37039467218095450672023-11-12T19:49:00.004-06:002023-11-12T19:49:00.162-06:00New York City 2023 - Day 3<p><i>In mid-October 2023, we took a family trip to New York City.</i></p><div><div>We started Friday looking after some real estate business. When the grown-ups went to look at fixtures, we took the 7-year old to Twenty-Four Sycamores Park. This is a nice park in a quiet part of town. It has 2 sections, one for toddlers and one for bigger kids. Oh, and there are nice public restrooms there for the grandparents!</div></div><div><br /></div><div>Nearby is the terminal for the <a href="https://rioc.ny.gov/302/Tram" target="_blank">Roosevelt Island Tramway</a>. This is a 3 1/2 minute ride across the East River to <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roosevelt_Island" target="_blank">Roosevelt Island</a>. Vehicular traffic uses the Roosevelt Island Bridge to access the island from Queens, though the island is not designed for vehicular traffic and has several areas designed as car-free zones. Quite a difference from the Upper East Side. There are spectacular views of the east side of Manhattan as far down as the United Nations building.</div><div><br /></div><div>We caught a tax across town to rendezvous with the rest of our crowd at <a href="https://www.johnspizzerianyc.com/" target="_blank">John's of Time Square</a>, a quiet (at lunch) pizzeria. It's usually packed but at lunch we almost had the place to ourselves.</div><div><br /></div><div>After a short walk back to the hotel (through Times Square and Disney characters) we caught up on our napping.</div><div><br /></div><div>Dinner that night was at the <a href="https://www.broadwaylounge.nyc" target="_blank">Broadway Lounge</a> at the Marriott Marquis. While we ate inside, they had a balcony that overlooked Times Square.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHFpINtuAD2sSREXGlNdqAbWc1xNOq_xlPJ4PbxSp4Jv6q1lRl-f7sQWarx2u6fx_mYgEpxW5v0OHLlvlP9SAO1BNW4ImxPx7-EK-ui6oxIBzqSu_RqWPr83uXZaLls6MUQOFED48rxE6Xfb9fuJ6aIvX4Ldke1dheSJBwMD-LmMPa9vuMRS3q/s4032/IMG_8572.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHFpINtuAD2sSREXGlNdqAbWc1xNOq_xlPJ4PbxSp4Jv6q1lRl-f7sQWarx2u6fx_mYgEpxW5v0OHLlvlP9SAO1BNW4ImxPx7-EK-ui6oxIBzqSu_RqWPr83uXZaLls6MUQOFED48rxE6Xfb9fuJ6aIvX4Ldke1dheSJBwMD-LmMPa9vuMRS3q/w300-h400/IMG_8572.HEIC" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.app.goo.gl/y4JtfhwpWLzyZptW9" target="_blank">Slide Show</a></div><div><br /></div><div><div>Overview:</div><div><a href="https://whereiveben.benmoore.info/2023/10/new-york-city-2023.html" target="_blank">New York City 2023</a></div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Ben Moorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12779518055843568946noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32233713.post-68980916620872131602023-11-05T19:13:00.006-06:002023-11-05T19:13:00.145-06:00New York City 2023 - Day 2<i>In mid-October 2023, we took a family trip to New York City.</i><div><br /></div><div>The second day was packed. We started with a taxi ride to <a href="https://littleisland.org/" target="_blank">Little Island</a>. Little Island is in the <a href="https://meatpacking-district.com/" target="_blank">Meatpacking District</a>. That was a first for me!<div><br /></div><div>The name "Little Island" doesn't do it justice. It is built on the remnants of Pier 54. While it actually is little, It is packed with activities for children of all ages.</div><div><br /></div><div>Another taxi ride took us to the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Financial_District,_Manhattan" target="_blank">Financial District</a> and our next destination, <a href="https://www.oneworldobservatory.com/" target="_blank">One World Observatory</a>. At 1776 ft., it is the highest point in New York City. Needless to say, the views were breathtaking. There were even docents to tell you what you were seeing. It overlooks the <a href="https://www.911memorial.org/" target="_blank">9/11 Memorial & Museum</a>. We had lunch in ONE Dine restaurant on the 101st floor.</div><div><br /></div><div>A third taxi ride took us to <a href="https://www.thebattery.org/" target="_blank">The Battery</a> and the fabulous <a href="https://www.seaglasscarousel.nyc/" target="_blank">SeaGlass Carousel</a>. It's set back off the street and its hustle and bustle. It's clearly a hidden gem.</div><div><br /></div><div>Across the sidewalk is a great park.</div><div><br /></div><div>Another long taxi ride took us back to the Palace for a rest before we saw "<a href="https://newyork.mjthemusical.com/" target="_blank">MJ the Musical</a>" at <a href="https://broadwaydirect.com/theatre/neil-simon-theatre/" target="_blank">Neil Simon Theatre</a>.</div><div><br /></div><div>Everything was packed after the play so we walked back through Times Square and made it to the restaurant at the Palace just before the kitchen closed!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRdZnp_WgeSSj4OjVL5mwxwbGI4ZbVvzfX5CaZDN9nnPzQWkMo3qmxerZLjY0gmJmMZKcSKILujyXYKjzxH5mMtGgEl3DfLR4A9gXnWuFQBqdlgj_3CrtDRacY7L5zDdvDjwPNLxn7ifQ0OH9VaN_DmdIDpR5XCXCIuPQ3se1Dq1iOzwUxwBfd/s4032/IMG_1527.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRdZnp_WgeSSj4OjVL5mwxwbGI4ZbVvzfX5CaZDN9nnPzQWkMo3qmxerZLjY0gmJmMZKcSKILujyXYKjzxH5mMtGgEl3DfLR4A9gXnWuFQBqdlgj_3CrtDRacY7L5zDdvDjwPNLxn7ifQ0OH9VaN_DmdIDpR5XCXCIuPQ3se1Dq1iOzwUxwBfd/w300-h400/IMG_1527.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.app.goo.gl/p8pmHQyiskp4qUqA7" target="_blank">Slide Show</a></div><br /><div>Overview:</div><div><a href="https://whereiveben.benmoore.info/2023/10/new-york-city-2023.html" target="_blank">New York City 2023</a></div></div>Ben Moorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12779518055843568946noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32233713.post-78724197436257903162023-10-29T19:27:00.004-05:002023-10-31T16:00:45.116-05:00New York City 2023 - Day 1<i>In mid-October 2023, we took a family trip to New York City.</i><div><br /></div>After our 6:00 AM non-stop flight to <a href="https://www.laguardiaairport.com/" target="_blank">LaGuardia</a>, we took a taxi through Queens into Manhattan.<div><br /></div><div>As usual, we stayed at <a href="https://www.lottenypalace.com/" target="_blank">Lotte New York Palace</a>. We were on the 32nd floor with an incredible view of <a href="https://saintpatrickscathedral.org/" target="_blank">St. Patrick's Cathedra</a>l. The staff there is extraordinary. When the bellman delivered our bags, he brought a teddy bear to our 7-year old granddaughter.</div><div><br /></div><div>We were starved so we went next door to <a href="https://montereybrasserie.com/" target="_blank">Monterey</a> on 50th Street. When we visited in 2020, this was a good Italian place but the new Monterey was perfect with pasta for the granddaughters.</div><div><br /></div><div>Then we walked across Madison Avenue to St. Patrick's. It's always incredible and a great place for photos.</div><div><br /></div><div>The <a href="https://centralparkzoo.com/" target="_blank">Central Park Zoo</a> was next on our list. On the way, we got a glimpse of the <a href="https://111w57.com/" target="_blank">Steinway Tower</a> between the buildings. Before we got to the Zoo, we came upon ROCKS. The girls had to climb all of them. There were awesome views from the tops.</div><div><br /></div><div>We headed on to the Zoo only to find that they wouldn't admit us. There were plenty of people in it but there was a private event scheduled for later that afternoon.</div><div><br /></div><div>While everyone else found a bench and a concession stand, I struck out on a quest to find a <a href="https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/the-hidden-bolts-that-drive-manhattans-infrastructure-nerds-nuts" target="_blank">Randel's Bolt</a>. Knowing where to look took me hours of Internet searching but I found it. It's "off the beaten path" if that's even possible in Manhattan. There was a student sitting within 10 feet of it but he didn't know what it was. Now, I've read that there's another one in a different park. Maybe next time...</div><div><br /></div><div>On the way back, we found the doorman at <a href="https://faoschwarz.com/" target="_blank">F.A.O. Schwartz</a>.</div><div><br /></div><div>As the sun set, the spires of St. Patrick's were lit up.</div><div><br /></div><div>We had dinner at <a href="https://serendipity3.com/" target="_blank">Serendipity3</a>, one of our favorite places and walked back through <a href="https://www.timessquarenyc.org/" target="_blank">Times Square</a>.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG8JawZP3TUhw7noBAJVF1qqEUDt0D4yCIjXLpN0loI-GJDChK_sQvm7x6Lpd9e2s6Hxu7oblsVLqKDcwYZbijFyvv9UDCQZ2ywFY9q6F5TzzKupMulIJgpSCdCJ8uXGJR7qYGvkQGJVKUKTUkvrLnIalLbDtiY8JhyKwlA73KjXD13_F6T1I_/s5712/IMG_1505.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4284" data-original-width="5712" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG8JawZP3TUhw7noBAJVF1qqEUDt0D4yCIjXLpN0loI-GJDChK_sQvm7x6Lpd9e2s6Hxu7oblsVLqKDcwYZbijFyvv9UDCQZ2ywFY9q6F5TzzKupMulIJgpSCdCJ8uXGJR7qYGvkQGJVKUKTUkvrLnIalLbDtiY8JhyKwlA73KjXD13_F6T1I_/w400-h300/IMG_1505.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.app.goo.gl/DM9PJn2BcL3rYLEw6" target="_blank">Slide Show</a></div><div><br /></div><div>Overview:</div><div><a href="https://whereiveben.benmoore.info/2023/10/new-york-city-2023.html" target="_blank">New York City 2023</a></div>Ben Moorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12779518055843568946noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32233713.post-32941021815792241982023-10-22T19:18:00.006-05:002023-11-20T08:18:50.007-06:00New York City 2023Pre-pandemic, we used to visit NYC every year or so. My daughter's in-laws' family is from there and there are still strong ties.<div><br /></div><div>We last went early January 2020 and we all know what happened after that.</div><div><br /></div><div>We finally got back for Fall Break 2023. My daughter did an incredible job of squeezing in something for everybody!</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://whereiveben.benmoore.info/2023/10/new-york-city-2023-day-1.html" target="_blank">Wednesday</a>, after a 6:00 AM flight, we walked across the street to St. Patrick's Cathedral then down to Central Park to climb some big rocks. The Zoo was closed but I found Randel's Bolt.</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiMHqjkt0xrHMN-DJHArM3iSo6sFUKUEQhMUhjXOAIisTeUHarZQahMj6MJSTMUy9iNwa1Qsr6kRpiryLWuBYEs7P94V0uvsnNhl7l2w8SeS1HA1E8CNM0-mcc-VdkObsp2mALqjGE2lALN8r51cdxUgNK0oryKzFGU1iRqL1wXG9xZjcWmvqZ5" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img data-original-height="919" data-original-width="690" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiMHqjkt0xrHMN-DJHArM3iSo6sFUKUEQhMUhjXOAIisTeUHarZQahMj6MJSTMUy9iNwa1Qsr6kRpiryLWuBYEs7P94V0uvsnNhl7l2w8SeS1HA1E8CNM0-mcc-VdkObsp2mALqjGE2lALN8r51cdxUgNK0oryKzFGU1iRqL1wXG9xZjcWmvqZ5=w300-h400" width="300" /></a></div><br />We hit Serendipity for dinner and visited Times Square.</div><div><br /></div><div>Thursday was packed. We started at Little Island near Battery Park.</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiBFPZtnnVRkF5EJsgxUkLznuXGCRK9QRBdUO-d6i0Q4u7aqRSGmJrt1EML_uXdNkxPTtC-4v49synV69wnGme_DFojkaGFs78PpVL0fm34KZfesrz20p0CUSH6hSCxur2PKgFJ_M0RS845Nyc4kjrhgLYfxKn332Fv0F8rNQfJiZ1sqLtyHAAH" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img data-original-height="806" data-original-width="1434" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiBFPZtnnVRkF5EJsgxUkLznuXGCRK9QRBdUO-d6i0Q4u7aqRSGmJrt1EML_uXdNkxPTtC-4v49synV69wnGme_DFojkaGFs78PpVL0fm34KZfesrz20p0CUSH6hSCxur2PKgFJ_M0RS845Nyc4kjrhgLYfxKn332Fv0F8rNQfJiZ1sqLtyHAAH=w400-h225" width="400" /></a></div><br /></div><div>Then nearby to One World Experience's observation deck. It was as inspiring as the 9/11 Memorial & Museum was moving.</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhOCwheB-BnqYqxUa38txUltBhYt8bi878-iXNXXJv5TAFuVbpWU9ozvB0nbaxAJ_EJ6Nj7HBgsMCQRqBk0AF2pfZ59GAW5Mkd130krsHg3TM9b3mvrwfYWscvjv5SF62pixLkeuD3yMEny-B6CGxW6tXj3cGFpSW34eQBGpR0LXrtY4wPm3-Wn" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img data-original-height="919" data-original-width="517" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhOCwheB-BnqYqxUa38txUltBhYt8bi878-iXNXXJv5TAFuVbpWU9ozvB0nbaxAJ_EJ6Nj7HBgsMCQRqBk0AF2pfZ59GAW5Mkd130krsHg3TM9b3mvrwfYWscvjv5SF62pixLkeuD3yMEny-B6CGxW6tXj3cGFpSW34eQBGpR0LXrtY4wPm3-Wn=w225-h400" width="225" /></a></div><br />After a lunch 1700 feet in the air, we took the girls to Battery Park and found the Sea Glass Carousel.</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhEvzagkRyWd6bNjU3OYd2OorQXjmvnaDIzFHvJuuYPtyzDZgo00i_9po2KLFqvL4cRTRO26ddI4_XD3SwZr9L_pAA9zEC__w9Vjj0p9OKAMP5K2FqmozzzkDSwu6AT1d_yddKQFWsgcnt_Dwj0szo5TYvyGUvLOk1PdjfjAH2_fLUzlJkIUQis" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img data-original-height="919" data-original-width="1226" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhEvzagkRyWd6bNjU3OYd2OorQXjmvnaDIzFHvJuuYPtyzDZgo00i_9po2KLFqvL4cRTRO26ddI4_XD3SwZr9L_pAA9zEC__w9Vjj0p9OKAMP5K2FqmozzzkDSwu6AT1d_yddKQFWsgcnt_Dwj0szo5TYvyGUvLOk1PdjfjAH2_fLUzlJkIUQis=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div>There was a playground nearby so the girls worked off their lunch.</div><div><br /></div><div>After a taxi ride back to Mid-Town, we hit "MJ" at the Neil Simon Theatre.</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgiu7a9bGO7uhBS9ghlHbyCt68lqGmutOSiFtFSph0CW7GAxuEXL3a_vATtiwOpos3Q48KOl5mrDuyYkhRIcNkxXVvqNm6M_k-bbKPRFbsyZ8xgwKPciH45tbh7wlsZHTxyO2CFUaRmP9Xa0t1RcaOaVISe29y-vsK6pYp3OyUYjwAnNJstfTZc" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img data-original-height="919" data-original-width="690" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgiu7a9bGO7uhBS9ghlHbyCt68lqGmutOSiFtFSph0CW7GAxuEXL3a_vATtiwOpos3Q48KOl5mrDuyYkhRIcNkxXVvqNm6M_k-bbKPRFbsyZ8xgwKPciH45tbh7wlsZHTxyO2CFUaRmP9Xa0t1RcaOaVISe29y-vsK6pYp3OyUYjwAnNJstfTZc=w300-h400" width="300" /></a></div><br />Times Square was hopping as we passed through.</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjUQb9uM4sfJuj2XPzEZKnS2zCETdfSPhfKQcvkZquB60n63mvD1k_uDyOzlbQXiHDKR1uvMhQjtc9sz_18AbeH_XjcZSjENe-Nl2Ga0Mu1aupALCTZ57lp1FGMS2ZVnaXKVZe9sRf8iZ66cx0uo3n6TDwZ8gA6XU2LR7ENPM6ynW7P_0LGCEHo" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img data-original-height="919" data-original-width="1226" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjUQb9uM4sfJuj2XPzEZKnS2zCETdfSPhfKQcvkZquB60n63mvD1k_uDyOzlbQXiHDKR1uvMhQjtc9sz_18AbeH_XjcZSjENe-Nl2Ga0Mu1aupALCTZ57lp1FGMS2ZVnaXKVZe9sRf8iZ66cx0uo3n6TDwZ8gA6XU2LR7ENPM6ynW7P_0LGCEHo=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div>We made it back to the hotel just before they closed the kitchen.</div><div><br /></div><div>Friday was dedicated to some real estate business. When the grown-ups went to look at fixtures, we took the 7-year old to Twenty-Four Sycamores Park.</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh9LWkgLEeSNuUFhzVPD5C5lspwmb4VwgSwDjBnWrKs7RypDcy7RvsN8msv7xDWylqPUjcT8mWt5c7csXp2hZpV_C15YPNTb7Yydf2A9Lp75cTAEdvumoezrbPVRAMIoU9iGe1AhGuhhOZDHZxikExyVqkyADx8Rqf9GtJjVYLDN5y8RveCgCS5" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img data-original-height="919" data-original-width="1226" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh9LWkgLEeSNuUFhzVPD5C5lspwmb4VwgSwDjBnWrKs7RypDcy7RvsN8msv7xDWylqPUjcT8mWt5c7csXp2hZpV_C15YPNTb7Yydf2A9Lp75cTAEdvumoezrbPVRAMIoU9iGe1AhGuhhOZDHZxikExyVqkyADx8Rqf9GtJjVYLDN5y8RveCgCS5=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></div><br />Then rode the tram to Roosevelt Island.</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhsQTYKjFgDZaGmZqPzLeTzi9cIfUotVNCzpWmfMEj7W8weT5aZ2PoazA3Fgam4eqwzX9luQL2_CjGh1PggQfzDuf4aVaZFp4EwngscurG67l2Lv0mHES-T_DO96_GuR4X2mzzR8jOEGtnBeULwK0ppzL0XC2jHu5o7UDG3yNcCESfR61NetRyq" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img data-original-height="919" data-original-width="1226" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhsQTYKjFgDZaGmZqPzLeTzi9cIfUotVNCzpWmfMEj7W8weT5aZ2PoazA3Fgam4eqwzX9luQL2_CjGh1PggQfzDuf4aVaZFp4EwngscurG67l2Lv0mHES-T_DO96_GuR4X2mzzR8jOEGtnBeULwK0ppzL0XC2jHu5o7UDG3yNcCESfR61NetRyq=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></div><br />A taxi ride took us to John's of Time Square, a quiet (at lunch) pizzeria.</div><div><br /></div><div>Dinner was at the Broadway Lounge at the Marriott Marquis.</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi7Wkuj451kE2p1mrH-taDOMfp4QylhiuOQY3wxfkpDzRqazK4qXfQV4CAR-JEvqhjN6AcwaQ3huYolixjvqu6q-wtJax2KGpqKyYil6PFj5HmEJoZp_LZ6YgWPxX3nbxmGp-lRAG3jaY6FHUWLF1nd2gSVeUKfyLEBUT95h5BcD7SEy6XYVdP5" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img data-original-height="919" data-original-width="690" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi7Wkuj451kE2p1mrH-taDOMfp4QylhiuOQY3wxfkpDzRqazK4qXfQV4CAR-JEvqhjN6AcwaQ3huYolixjvqu6q-wtJax2KGpqKyYil6PFj5HmEJoZp_LZ6YgWPxX3nbxmGp-lRAG3jaY6FHUWLF1nd2gSVeUKfyLEBUT95h5BcD7SEy6XYVdP5=w300-h400" width="300" /></a></div><br /></div><div>On Saturday we split up. The 7-year old went to American Girl and the 14-year old went to Tiffany's.</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj8vAHMO-UKdTvyY-QXlZ523MutFNOLcPSx-529_kF2BqmFZArVTMnbtnFOmdywHHbG4sLmkWED-8nSdCVZTkUEaioFC6T9URhd8twbeIbPJAtzFAZKb6T4PQNamrwzP4XaJQwDDKlvd6p7Q9jGInU0iVy2_Vm46Aa91HvSS7Jzko_Np0-_Kj_D" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img data-original-height="919" data-original-width="1226" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj8vAHMO-UKdTvyY-QXlZ523MutFNOLcPSx-529_kF2BqmFZArVTMnbtnFOmdywHHbG4sLmkWED-8nSdCVZTkUEaioFC6T9URhd8twbeIbPJAtzFAZKb6T4PQNamrwzP4XaJQwDDKlvd6p7Q9jGInU0iVy2_Vm46Aa91HvSS7Jzko_Np0-_Kj_D=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Afterwards, the 7-year old went to the Metropolitan Museum and looked at the mummies. The 14-year old went to Billionaires Row and tried to talk her way into the lobby.</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgE11O8vpkpSRnXzQhCbDpO_nvsOTdtrbdgmJ6jvXo1Kr74_npWA2v5aENq-Dy2kLNz4ewdQt-IJWVvxW0Zg25gasZujIHthNRIfhQqqAeG9EmLAs6rQ0czcDMucgSPeMoOQpiuyRXl5n5Uv3rMlKpgPTsBHWiV51NWiUYkW8uxuykil_8lV_X1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img data-original-height="919" data-original-width="690" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgE11O8vpkpSRnXzQhCbDpO_nvsOTdtrbdgmJ6jvXo1Kr74_npWA2v5aENq-Dy2kLNz4ewdQt-IJWVvxW0Zg25gasZujIHthNRIfhQqqAeG9EmLAs6rQ0czcDMucgSPeMoOQpiuyRXl5n5Uv3rMlKpgPTsBHWiV51NWiUYkW8uxuykil_8lV_X1=w300-h400" width="300" /></a></div><br />Sunday was the trip home.</div><div><br /></div><div>What a trip!</div><div><br /></div><div>Other Posts:</div><div><a href="https://whereiveben.benmoore.info/2023/10/new-york-city-2023-day-1.html" target="_blank">Day 1</a></div><div><a href="https://whereiveben.benmoore.info/2023/11/new-york-city-2023-day-2.html" target="_blank">Day 2</a></div><div><a href="https://whereiveben.benmoore.info/2023/11/new-york-city-2023-day-3.html" target="_blank">Day 3</a></div><div><a href="https://whereiveben.benmoore.info/2023/11/new-york-city-2023-day-4.html" target="_blank">Day 4</a><br /><br /></div>Ben Moorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12779518055843568946noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32233713.post-54507440106881942632023-05-07T19:30:00.005-05:002023-05-07T19:30:00.155-05:00Magical Places<div>These are the places I've been that you just get that tingly feeling when you're there. In no particular order:</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgUXPmSzp0kBkRMVWqlc08f6BFNj8_2AONYi0uf9zUpB3uhViZzWvD4HquFILo4iSJsNM6_t55ClMm0JnF-l5wEzOh93oVW1izkHXBd4Rb_CrsJY3D5Rgeqa03EL6o9Oxdf6meFZ9LPjQozP7R496g00BgFtxm4cobjToEzqk3jIn_hV5PZvQ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img data-original-height="929" data-original-width="696" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgUXPmSzp0kBkRMVWqlc08f6BFNj8_2AONYi0uf9zUpB3uhViZzWvD4HquFILo4iSJsNM6_t55ClMm0JnF-l5wEzOh93oVW1izkHXBd4Rb_CrsJY3D5Rgeqa03EL6o9Oxdf6meFZ9LPjQozP7R496g00BgFtxm4cobjToEzqk3jIn_hV5PZvQ=w300-h400" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://whereiveben.benmoore.info/2023/04/karioitahi-beach.html" style="text-align: left;" target="_blank">Karioitahi Beach, New Zealand</a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhUlaWZIp9gn6PFF7Vg4D5eJrI3C7NcGdvV5FuNWMvyv318nuCSW5yIXfiGyoEWQyKST6h2PtRq_aCDKn_v47CvYh9IcyrMF4yW9PdAD1AYzvWki0pjNCrlp-Zxg7ZHOEd8U7GniCV-ztDmN2O76DGaP8rn8gGnYkHjB02gXDQGhoZUGUHUmg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img data-original-height="929" data-original-width="620" height="450" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhUlaWZIp9gn6PFF7Vg4D5eJrI3C7NcGdvV5FuNWMvyv318nuCSW5yIXfiGyoEWQyKST6h2PtRq_aCDKn_v47CvYh9IcyrMF4yW9PdAD1AYzvWki0pjNCrlp-Zxg7ZHOEd8U7GniCV-ztDmN2O76DGaP8rn8gGnYkHjB02gXDQGhoZUGUHUmg=w300-h450" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://whereiveben.benmoore.info/2022/07/galley-head-lighthouse-clonakilty-cork.html" style="text-align: left;" target="_blank">Galley Head, Ireland</a></div></div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhGp7HjSPhfJjLD3izcZR1D5qoo90oyMHnwoIUWXqk9OYyRE5pmRKXdGhjzVmvJ4iMIYXFSJb9bhpO6enpymK5xj7CJsM2UmnQk-vqn0yKYw4MY7fVYIeobMgxkVxiliy_9b_SryD1abRJLti5qyXgDdJkWxF-OwbT5fJKWWFNeQFHcGRcSrQ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img data-original-height="929" data-original-width="1238" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhGp7HjSPhfJjLD3izcZR1D5qoo90oyMHnwoIUWXqk9OYyRE5pmRKXdGhjzVmvJ4iMIYXFSJb9bhpO6enpymK5xj7CJsM2UmnQk-vqn0yKYw4MY7fVYIeobMgxkVxiliy_9b_SryD1abRJLti5qyXgDdJkWxF-OwbT5fJKWWFNeQFHcGRcSrQ=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://whereiveben.benmoore.info/2012/05/manarola-italy.html" style="text-align: left;" target="_blank">Manarola, Italy</a></div></div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiEUC9rc5JcUDyoXWKNej81PgUf44MkNB79UmmQxBi5Yd9Gvi1VZqcuaj6wTyD6uhDh6axblRb1sibogp3veamRlf4m65txJaIOIJv51h9EQfCzhOy8ZO7aZIYd1Pf8ITvprPbno2oFsNYGDe_REUYE2kOohYSxu96xf53xbzRCsIC2uEBMZw" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img data-original-height="929" data-original-width="1238" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiEUC9rc5JcUDyoXWKNej81PgUf44MkNB79UmmQxBi5Yd9Gvi1VZqcuaj6wTyD6uhDh6axblRb1sibogp3veamRlf4m65txJaIOIJv51h9EQfCzhOy8ZO7aZIYd1Pf8ITvprPbno2oFsNYGDe_REUYE2kOohYSxu96xf53xbzRCsIC2uEBMZw=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://whereiveben.benmoore.info/2012/04/colosseum-rome-italy.html" style="text-align: left;" target="_blank">Colosseum, Italy</a></div></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://whereiveben.benmoore.info/2007/07/anne-frank-house-amsterdam.html" target="_blank"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://whereiveben.benmoore.info/2007/07/anne-frank-house-amsterdam.html" target="_blank"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgQ53tn5k_aw0bnDZ5f-XFD0vVd7JQPngb1Hl1fNbDuZh47iqd5tLgkUQTOGqWKc5nWIr_TnSfSsygln1K2mWEO7OrSM9xoAZ9Qyju5YIKbkp30uNSI0u9RZOdGl0l1QLGxzXb1Mdtxtyc1qaxXcScBg3CjDGxNiQgc9pbJ4_N2XjXbAZghLg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img data-original-height="929" data-original-width="696" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgQ53tn5k_aw0bnDZ5f-XFD0vVd7JQPngb1Hl1fNbDuZh47iqd5tLgkUQTOGqWKc5nWIr_TnSfSsygln1K2mWEO7OrSM9xoAZ9Qyju5YIKbkp30uNSI0u9RZOdGl0l1QLGxzXb1Mdtxtyc1qaxXcScBg3CjDGxNiQgc9pbJ4_N2XjXbAZghLg=w300-h400" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://whereiveben.benmoore.info/2007/07/anne-frank-house-amsterdam.html" style="text-align: left;" target="_blank">Anne Frank's House, Netherlands</a></div></div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiOJ8dV5qNsdILtm_5yBp24_pfOyuK5R1zFGjrLLtvENbQMWAiDLTeH3T5KRBrSizyHuKva5kqi_g5l0KAlMMv0sz7A5KpgXxtyfdyGj7qP561666tLQqXSiEIpTmk6SvEZO5YHLGvTFNM2_cpw3_oXL4schImg2vGejSiC7NcOUr_L4xQt5A" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img data-original-height="733" data-original-width="978" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiOJ8dV5qNsdILtm_5yBp24_pfOyuK5R1zFGjrLLtvENbQMWAiDLTeH3T5KRBrSizyHuKva5kqi_g5l0KAlMMv0sz7A5KpgXxtyfdyGj7qP561666tLQqXSiEIpTmk6SvEZO5YHLGvTFNM2_cpw3_oXL4schImg2vGejSiC7NcOUr_L4xQt5A=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://whereiveben.benmoore.info/2008/12/jewish-quarter-krakow-poland.html" style="text-align: left;" target="_blank">Jewish Quarter, Krakow, Poland</a></div></div>Ben Moorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12779518055843568946noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32233713.post-51105330474446558982023-04-30T19:34:00.003-05:002023-04-30T19:34:00.190-05:00New Zealand Geotracks<div>Here's a map of where we went in New Zealand.</div><div><br /></div><div>I used my iPhone XS and <a href="https://apps.apple.com/us/app/mytracks-the-gps-logger/id358697908" target="_blank">myTracks</a> app.</div><div><br /></div>
<iframe height="480" src="https://www.google.com/maps/d/embed?mid=14e8QBwJZGi15tNxl5AFRCZ8hMO80Roc&ehbc=2E312F" width="640"></iframe>
<div><br /></div><div>Zoom in and you can really see some details.</div><div><br /></div><div>Overview:</div><div><a href="https://whereiveben.benmoore.info/2023/03/new-zealand-2023.html" target="_blank">New Zealand 2023</a></div>Ben Moorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12779518055843568946noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32233713.post-73864466524013844632023-04-23T19:19:00.016-05:002023-04-23T19:47:51.495-05:00Los Angeles - Before and After<div>As we were planning our trip to <a href="https://whereiveben.benmoore.info/2023/03/new-zealand-2023.html" target="_blank">New Zealand</a>, we worked the dates around Spring Break. Our son-in-law wasn't going to New Zealand due to work commitments but he would be in Los Angeles as we flew outbound.</div><div><br /></div><div>We took advantage of that and spent the night in Los Angeles. We took Delta and connected in Salt Lake City.</div><div><br /></div><div>When we picked up our bags in LAX and headed to ground transportation, we encountered <a href="https://www.flylax.com/lax-it" target="_blank">LAX-it</a>. Here's the spin their web site puts on it:</div><div><br /></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><div style="text-align: left;">LAX-it (pronounced LA Exit) is the new way to get to your Taxi, or ride app services (Uber, Lyft, or Opoli). Walk or catch the free shuttle outside baggage claim on level one to LAX-it. LAX is undergoing a major transformation as we build a people mover train, a multi-modal transit station, new parking structure and upgrade all terminals (click here to learn more) creating better guest experiences and easier access into, out of and around LAX. During construction, lanes in the central terminal area will be reduced, making it necessary to temporarily move taxi and ride app pickups to LAX-it until the people mover is completed in 2023.</div></blockquote><div><br /></div><div>Translated: You wait forever on a shuttle to a parking lot where you stand in the sun or rain waiting on a taxi.</div><div><br /></div><div>Pretty much the most unpleasant experience I'd had at an airport. Until we got to Auckland.</div><div><br /></div><div>We stayed in the <a href="https://www.fourseasons.com/losangeles/" target="_blank">Four Seasons</a> in Beverly Hills. Turns out that was the weekend before the Oscars. The hotel was crawling with celebrities and film crews. Needless to say, the Four Seasons was top class. We could even see the Hollywood sign from our balcony.</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRNfTrH5F79ect9PtpcQ-Em4XDWBoIsP1hXxfQTi7I06NvkEd2zDTwEeH5wpicx2jX4rvHK189zZYTDhXATFwztSdllEw05J2ltFnMh9MY0KchmunKs6dqtm9vJBzx0lPOYOlfHrHhMn-FwvgiPqNepdBBdj5ZN_xrPzF1Fn4RvMgxLqkTNQ/s3405/IMG_7547.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2554" data-original-width="3405" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRNfTrH5F79ect9PtpcQ-Em4XDWBoIsP1hXxfQTi7I06NvkEd2zDTwEeH5wpicx2jX4rvHK189zZYTDhXATFwztSdllEw05J2ltFnMh9MY0KchmunKs6dqtm9vJBzx0lPOYOlfHrHhMn-FwvgiPqNepdBBdj5ZN_xrPzF1Fn4RvMgxLqkTNQ/w400-h300/IMG_7547.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />Our departure to Auckland was at 8:55 PM so we had the day free. Or at least we thought so.</div><div><br /></div><div>I pulled up the Air New Zealand site that morning to check in. I entered all the passport info and submitted. But I got an error that the information was not complete and the boarding passes couldn't be issued.</div><div><br /></div><div>It turned out that New Zealand requires a <a href="https://www.immigration.govt.nz/new-zealand-visas/visas/visa/nzeta" target="_blank">Electronic Travel Authority</a> (NZeTA). It's not exactly a visa but very similar. New Zealand has required this since 2019 but as one of my New Zealand friends pointed out "no one traveled for a couple of those years."</div><div><br /></div><div>I called my travel agent in a panic. She wasn't familiar with the NZeTA but jumped right on it reaching out to all her resources. She called back and said to download the <a href="https://apps.apple.com/nz/app/nzeta/id1470900142" target="_blank">NZeTA app</a> and submit the request from there. Each person cost US$32.</div><div><br /></div><div>That was relatively easy and 3 of the 5 of us got their NZeTAs immediately. The 2 seniors in the group didn't.</div><div><br /></div><div>This was on a Friday in the US so it was Saturday in New Zealand. There was no way to escalate to the New Zealand Immigration. So I called Air New Zealand to see if they could help. After 2 hours and 20 minutes on hold, the polite representative said there was nothing they could do.</div><div><br /></div><div>One of my New Zealand friends had formerly worked for Air New Zealand and called in a couple of favors. He was able to contact the Air New Zealand operations manager at LAX. She said "Don't worry about it. Happens all the time. Just come on to the airport."</div><div><br /></div><div>We took a shuttle to LAX. The Air New Zealand check-in via the kiosk went without incident and we were issued boarding passes. Upon arrival in Auckland, New Zealand Immigration was more interested in our breakfast bars than our NZeTAs.</div><div><br /></div><div>Obviously, much ado about nothing but made for a very unpleasant day.</div><div><br /></div><div>Monday morning in Auckland, the other 2 of us got their NZeTAs. The friend who helped us explained that the delay was because of our age. New Zealand has socialized medicine so they are responsible for everyone's medical expenses. The risk of the 2 seniors needing healthcare is greater than the others so they wanted to review those applications.</div><div><br /></div><div>When we arrived at the Auckland airport, we saw some of the damage from the recent flooding.</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH0xr71JeKCoSL-LqiGtPQC_kNbMFcj8KZqxho6cCGtoFe-kX4IvcGbyvYFqiFYnTILG2Xp49vV6IpQDZYfBfZOsAqy4Fq0h9WBZWAYI6HxCjWx9gyqqRt_qVhadz10xFYlbSzQh5hHDwmlH8LvNRpFWX1TQIp_I6sBbiJoIN2dAIWBxdXBw/s4032/IMG_4815.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH0xr71JeKCoSL-LqiGtPQC_kNbMFcj8KZqxho6cCGtoFe-kX4IvcGbyvYFqiFYnTILG2Xp49vV6IpQDZYfBfZOsAqy4Fq0h9WBZWAYI6HxCjWx9gyqqRt_qVhadz10xFYlbSzQh5hHDwmlH8LvNRpFWX1TQIp_I6sBbiJoIN2dAIWBxdXBw/w400-h300/IMG_4815.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />Then when we went to the car rental desks we encountered a sign telling us that the desks had been temporarily relocated and it was only a 5 minute walk. So off we went.</div><div><br /></div><div>After a couple of minutes walking, we saw another sign that said that the desks were only a 5-7 minute walk. And the sidewalk surface was temporary, irregular and slippery.</div><div><br /></div><div>The car rental desks weren't any better. They were in a temporary building with no waiting area. The staffing was minimal, e.g., 1 inexperienced agent for both Hertz and Thrifty. The pickup was similar with only 1 representative for all the rental agencies.</div><div><br /></div><div>Departing Auckland for our return wasn't any better. Without TSA Pre✔, we had to do all the security things of separating liquids, separating laptops, taking off belts, etc.</div><div><br /></div><div>Then one of us had "<a href="https://english.elpais.com/travel/2023-04-12/ssss-four-letters-you-never-want-to-see-on-your-boarding-pass.html" target="_blank">SSSS</a>" on their boarding pass and got pulled aside at the gate for extra security.</div><div><br /></div><div>We left Auckland on Sunday at 8:15 PM and arrived in Los Angeles Sunday at 12:20 PM. That was quick.</div><div><br /></div><div>Back in the US, our Global Entry status made Immigration a non-event and there was no sign of Customs.</div><div><br /></div><div>We took a shuttle to the <a href="https://www.beach-house.com/hermosa-beach/" target="_blank">Beach House Hotel</a> in Hermosa Beach. What a great place! The staff was extraordinary and you could walk directly out onto the beach. There were even "Bay Watch" trucks on the beach.</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj85m6r_YgSvoEVOwyktswua3Gz8jFliEecHi3KAi9e7PlcVWkw6bYicysO5fPx7vEQxwiPJTpdkEO8K_YMEudvmnEhuCosxx31W9c4cSPTeuyVfIpFZDJ391YOmgDXHhca4X9VYY-ZcMJZacZ0nuouwGmLCbhjXNMOT01xSix6vB1CgSnlcQ/s2858/IMG_5522.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2143" data-original-width="2858" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj85m6r_YgSvoEVOwyktswua3Gz8jFliEecHi3KAi9e7PlcVWkw6bYicysO5fPx7vEQxwiPJTpdkEO8K_YMEudvmnEhuCosxx31W9c4cSPTeuyVfIpFZDJ391YOmgDXHhca4X9VYY-ZcMJZacZ0nuouwGmLCbhjXNMOT01xSix6vB1CgSnlcQ/w400-h300/IMG_5522.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />The 1,140 feet <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hermosa_Beach_Pier" target="_blank">Hermosa Beach pier</a> was right there and a block away was Pier Plaza. which had any kind of restaurant you would want.</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8M8yTgpZV_1vG9ygE5RFzqDg9HI9FhUf_EGu2BIc9Fp3BdOO8wLKJaWePh8kxXeHuNwWtwMpOb-Xgb8sKMbpssxuwPCPfrUNb1w3b5nGiHY5cSlHHF49ma4Ky4AuGlrM4VNYqXOBm1V37LmcZyrTKV99u5gk0JCCNv0g-kn3U759JmIE4CQ/s6760/IMG_5513.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2367" data-original-width="6760" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8M8yTgpZV_1vG9ygE5RFzqDg9HI9FhUf_EGu2BIc9Fp3BdOO8wLKJaWePh8kxXeHuNwWtwMpOb-Xgb8sKMbpssxuwPCPfrUNb1w3b5nGiHY5cSlHHF49ma4Ky4AuGlrM4VNYqXOBm1V37LmcZyrTKV99u5gk0JCCNv0g-kn3U759JmIE4CQ/w640-h224/IMG_5513.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />The Delta return flight through Salt Lake City was interesting. It turns out that Fred Smith's daughter had gotten married in Park City. The flight back to Memphis was full of attendees with most wearing 10 gallon hats, apparently a party favor.</div><div><br /></div><div>Overall, our flights were great. They were all on time. And our bags made all the connections. I can't say the same for LAX and AKL airports.</div><div><br /></div><div><div>Overview:</div><div><a href="https://whereiveben.benmoore.info/2023/03/new-zealand-2023.html" target="_blank">New Zealand 2023</a></div></div>Ben Moorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12779518055843568946noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32233713.post-37959694955692201392023-04-16T19:20:00.030-05:002023-05-03T21:27:33.667-05:00Rotorua<div>After playing on the black sand beach at <a href="https://whereiveben.benmoore.info/2023/04/karioitahi-beach.html" target="_blank">Karioitahi Beach</a>, we headed off to Rotorua.</div><div><br /></div><div>On my previous trip to New Zealand, our group had stopped in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/T%C4%ABrau" target="_blank">Tirau</a> on our way from Auckland to Rotorua. The town has a population of 804.</div><div><br /></div><div>On the Main Road of Tirau, there are 2 <a href="https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/big-dog-and-sheep" target="_blank">corrugated iron buildings</a> constructed in the shapes of a sheepdog and sheep.</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieafCECHMOMNqqVWTEsDJfl8ll2lnslJSZ9OYaKD-AWV16HlqgpD8pnGmJcS9n93uaio-vO4_6D5NodU9lYb_dSraXQL08FaS674CsyVtMg0g5HOeJ3cY72PF5jnCeS6r6IwR4ezOPKbFv3TQPYeIGN5pI_yq02ISbF5kWf_uOAQGT7mHWDA/s4032/IMG_5242.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieafCECHMOMNqqVWTEsDJfl8ll2lnslJSZ9OYaKD-AWV16HlqgpD8pnGmJcS9n93uaio-vO4_6D5NodU9lYb_dSraXQL08FaS674CsyVtMg0g5HOeJ3cY72PF5jnCeS6r6IwR4ezOPKbFv3TQPYeIGN5pI_yq02ISbF5kWf_uOAQGT7mHWDA/w400-h300/IMG_5242.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisoKjjG-rbAZE1BoqQ5_FDawlP7J1DqCnQrnlhLRKObdgNbvoQLxLheq44sE5sK0Eq5R6VToVXYdpq2ZP0is3VWMaLljXNjvaMI-72Z5iLZbn8O5yxqpxCFy5jzPLWM-Evl7bce3iVM_Dowqy7xTVNqTmEfqETixCJ4wK9jdMWcPrQ87CjWQ/s800/IMG_7302.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisoKjjG-rbAZE1BoqQ5_FDawlP7J1DqCnQrnlhLRKObdgNbvoQLxLheq44sE5sK0Eq5R6VToVXYdpq2ZP0is3VWMaLljXNjvaMI-72Z5iLZbn8O5yxqpxCFy5jzPLWM-Evl7bce3iVM_Dowqy7xTVNqTmEfqETixCJ4wK9jdMWcPrQ87CjWQ/w400-h300/IMG_7302.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br />They are a huge tourist attraction. We stopped and availed ourselves of the public restrooms. While there, traffic on the road was constantly stopping for passersby to lean out the windows and take pictures.</div><div><br /></div><div>On to Rotorua, known locally as RotoVegas!</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjak6M9mrC_e1QNHM6SaXpzKf0OOlYec_tNPKNKbcL3BHXDvk3m8KMsJYilKNSYOdr3swnHgG0Pm97Ka_EpIofntNLFwRK25_mCSe-HIyJ0sAzfaBFhQ1t-52NtB37q8j772f22sXDh652iqfulqpGERW5KL5_KyUEDhsaTG7qynZ8fdkIwBQ/s3449/IMG_5322.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2587" data-original-width="3449" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjak6M9mrC_e1QNHM6SaXpzKf0OOlYec_tNPKNKbcL3BHXDvk3m8KMsJYilKNSYOdr3swnHgG0Pm97Ka_EpIofntNLFwRK25_mCSe-HIyJ0sAzfaBFhQ1t-52NtB37q8j772f22sXDh652iqfulqpGERW5KL5_KyUEDhsaTG7qynZ8fdkIwBQ/w400-h300/IMG_5322.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rotorua" target="_blank">Rotorua</a> lies on the southern shores of Lake Rotorua. Rotorua is a major tourist destination. It is known for its geothermal activity and features geysers and hot mud pools. As you drive through town, there are little parks with steam venting up from the ground.</div><div><br /></div><div>We stayed at the <a href="https://all.accor.com/hotel/1874/index.en.shtml" target="_blank">Novotel Rotorua Lakeside</a>. The Novotel Rotorua Lakeside is in a different class than the Hilton Auckland but then Rotorua is in a different class than Auckland.</div><div><br /></div><div>The Novotel is in a perfect location. Rotorua is a relatively small city and the Novotel is right in the center with a wonderful park between it and Lake Rotorua.</div><div><br /></div><div>Across the street in the other direction in <a href="https://www.rotoruanz.com/eat-drink/eat-streat" target="_blank">Eat Streat</a> [not a typo] with a wide choice of restaurants.</div><div><br /></div><div>Anything you want to do is just a few minutes away.</div><div><br /></div><div>We started the next day with the girls rolling down Mt. Ngongotaha in <a href="https://zorb.com/" target="_blank">ZORB</a>'s gigantic balls.</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQA6H2IUs2SA1fR5xFbijQ7Z9Exb7_UpqWPf-TsixTgFSK7qDsg2aNuI3WzIQQlRBAXdLo8CRBZPDtDiUpdmlyKxd2jRQICIxLvkiCBJxe1AmCjzNI_8i-QlanteZjpKJ1Apto-t-hy7V91Uk8oW3NJ4LCOivGsC4SNE9Q_D-QccKn24vVRg/s4896/IMG_7561.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2752" data-original-width="4896" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQA6H2IUs2SA1fR5xFbijQ7Z9Exb7_UpqWPf-TsixTgFSK7qDsg2aNuI3WzIQQlRBAXdLo8CRBZPDtDiUpdmlyKxd2jRQICIxLvkiCBJxe1AmCjzNI_8i-QlanteZjpKJ1Apto-t-hy7V91Uk8oW3NJ4LCOivGsC4SNE9Q_D-QccKn24vVRg/w400-h225/IMG_7561.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWr4haoI8KIkuxkfRODHT1zBizYElYTHq23kZXrE2BqdDmzNtWBUzQOE_UVBwAvLc1UFPF6COrWKzbeCGIGsq0ghwmmUa0yYGUPSPuhh2UJyP_1lzUtBDN-PiXXni1MaLQkE6RQr1ZyqEss17s1zPv8ZJLO3GzDvi9CybHv8XbTPsbvdeT0g/s4896/IMG_7564.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2752" data-original-width="4896" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWr4haoI8KIkuxkfRODHT1zBizYElYTHq23kZXrE2BqdDmzNtWBUzQOE_UVBwAvLc1UFPF6COrWKzbeCGIGsq0ghwmmUa0yYGUPSPuhh2UJyP_1lzUtBDN-PiXXni1MaLQkE6RQr1ZyqEss17s1zPv8ZJLO3GzDvi9CybHv8XbTPsbvdeT0g/w400-h225/IMG_7564.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="345" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/5TkKZsUiZUk" width="402" youtube-src-id="5TkKZsUiZUk"></iframe></div><br />We intended to go to <a href="https://www.tepuia.com/" target="_blank">Te Puia</a>, a geothermal park, and the adjoining <a href="https://whakarewarewa.com/" target="_blank">Whakarewarewa</a>, a Maori village. When we showed up the parking lot was full of tour buses. The earliest we could get in was the afternoon of the next day. A quick call to my friend in Auckland pointed us to <a href="https://www.waiotapu.co.nz/book-now/" target="_blank">Waiotapu Thermal Wonderland</a>. Another serendipitous event.</div><div><br /></div><div>Unlike the structured and busy environment at Te Puia, Waiotapu was laid back, almost feeling like it was family run. Admission was US$44 per senior.</div><div><br /></div><div>We started with lunch at the snack bar and then started our walk with the provided map.</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKMp1Um55i3gPw-ot_1sZfKVgOa4_-dHgYVnsCD2mxS0gMRXv4PjfKm8IAaCc8Ca6_IHlsGNf8o7w8CYdkRg8RFbDDvIk7IzzJ1bzum0qXyAr47LJMALtS_sXUQRk-1XRIgC_bCx6lAsScttTP_yFz1MDbkDbPHsJnCuMt2ap6tKyAMz_pQQ/s1000/Wai-o-tapu-map.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="716" data-original-width="1000" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKMp1Um55i3gPw-ot_1sZfKVgOa4_-dHgYVnsCD2mxS0gMRXv4PjfKm8IAaCc8Ca6_IHlsGNf8o7w8CYdkRg8RFbDDvIk7IzzJ1bzum0qXyAr47LJMALtS_sXUQRk-1XRIgC_bCx6lAsScttTP_yFz1MDbkDbPHsJnCuMt2ap6tKyAMz_pQQ/w400-h286/Wai-o-tapu-map.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><div>The Champagne Pool at Waiotapu Thermal Wonderland.</div></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg34ohmkcanZHxTRuwIqA8v6JDP1gO7Qfg9fys0Isc6KpQyk6a4RhKIuBeX4NL3SGxHakjHQcr6_3YR2Mr2F6QWDF3nHe12glVfPSScmBr-nPC_YgdM2OtaP5Pgg2WY1PIS2fugw1B8czcXAsEghuHzg-7Rml7TwsHKwimOzfYYMjGjV0SVvQ/s4032/IMG_5288.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg34ohmkcanZHxTRuwIqA8v6JDP1gO7Qfg9fys0Isc6KpQyk6a4RhKIuBeX4NL3SGxHakjHQcr6_3YR2Mr2F6QWDF3nHe12glVfPSScmBr-nPC_YgdM2OtaP5Pgg2WY1PIS2fugw1B8czcXAsEghuHzg-7Rml7TwsHKwimOzfYYMjGjV0SVvQ/w400-h300/IMG_5288.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div>The Devil's Bath at Waiotapu Thermal Wonderland. This pool has a strong sulfur smell and contains enough acid to slough your skin.</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4xZ0AbyR58K3jOg96yYHn5NhkayV_qbcIXdFKEZLrxaJdP1UU96lARAQp2B5ru_JeNTRET8pu-2eojjL1-wsi-EgyX0-KYu2SIlDxnJL6ge6Wv1SeHFpnfxmytWyqKAK_0WNstmxkYGzUkAt5bxeN6hvKm1eOXLNz5_ptHdJflgWgxt5VFg/s4032/IMG_5304.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4xZ0AbyR58K3jOg96yYHn5NhkayV_qbcIXdFKEZLrxaJdP1UU96lARAQp2B5ru_JeNTRET8pu-2eojjL1-wsi-EgyX0-KYu2SIlDxnJL6ge6Wv1SeHFpnfxmytWyqKAK_0WNstmxkYGzUkAt5bxeN6hvKm1eOXLNz5_ptHdJflgWgxt5VFg/w400-h300/IMG_5304.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_bXZGloXnzgpvkKcIhREawSSPJ6EVDKegHtCdoysKeo7RlK-uVyZAztSbVkyXeICqFX4NsPe7xgjlsN4iYB0zwNbYPtQvAzFi4v6tjw1QpRrnkkXApUqemF9rUO38SW0fOrmPQxqKUmBxcyCXuBLYB0lF1Ph1w0P_TlLQuXqd4BntivbD_w/s480/IMG_7328.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="360" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_bXZGloXnzgpvkKcIhREawSSPJ6EVDKegHtCdoysKeo7RlK-uVyZAztSbVkyXeICqFX4NsPe7xgjlsN4iYB0zwNbYPtQvAzFi4v6tjw1QpRrnkkXApUqemF9rUO38SW0fOrmPQxqKUmBxcyCXuBLYB0lF1Ph1w0P_TlLQuXqd4BntivbD_w/w300-h400/IMG_7328.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><br />There is a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lady_Knox_Geyser" target="_blank">geyser</a> that goes off daily at 10.15 AM. We missed that.</div><div><br /></div><div>Our last stop of the day was <a href="https://www.skyline.co.nz/en/rotorua/" target="_blank">Skyline</a>.</div></div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbYISIHQtZgv-pi_9m0rfIulBho_jy1nU-DDE3BX9gRkFgkK09kqn6ityjpZfn7TCpE4FnWzfKvC7eOUxCJ_lzhxFKHSQvkVQNO9EABLZpKNI_mSRqxGyqN07dhCPUSN4XgOSUTmayi8IxkMJZQT8frNPLEoK5pQOvwsiibDMOM7SPGx0mAQ/s2618/IMG_5342.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2618" data-original-width="2379" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbYISIHQtZgv-pi_9m0rfIulBho_jy1nU-DDE3BX9gRkFgkK09kqn6ityjpZfn7TCpE4FnWzfKvC7eOUxCJ_lzhxFKHSQvkVQNO9EABLZpKNI_mSRqxGyqN07dhCPUSN4XgOSUTmayi8IxkMJZQT8frNPLEoK5pQOvwsiibDMOM7SPGx0mAQ/w364-h400/IMG_5342.JPG" width="364" /></a></div><br />To get to Skyline, you take a gondola up the hill.</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM4tmCTXqpLAGrXxUH2owRGC0k3Ywt7jNiO6nSx9ylyj3t6KlGVo6Z0vIWyrw5iQ8pfx-WSeCAi_Q8P68wND5KPINIgSYcJMP7eBlcNia0VFvuTZq97_ejrcfeHTsoQFcx6wu4FGzMjEWbuyM6O3QZRv7BkGQM5vho4Xe28W9CI0r5S1hnoA/s4032/IMG_5317.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM4tmCTXqpLAGrXxUH2owRGC0k3Ywt7jNiO6nSx9ylyj3t6KlGVo6Z0vIWyrw5iQ8pfx-WSeCAi_Q8P68wND5KPINIgSYcJMP7eBlcNia0VFvuTZq97_ejrcfeHTsoQFcx6wu4FGzMjEWbuyM6O3QZRv7BkGQM5vho4Xe28W9CI0r5S1hnoA/w300-h400/IMG_5317.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><br />Everybody enjoyed the luge runs down the mountain. Again and again.</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMozXCwgZJgAAHEhY8WDDl_W5azZYSEgA7IXEtmBkB5nE8rf8wnaSDkad4F9dW8y4ndnkZwvhzwY5wAken8y2Hys6bSTA2C0vuQKl3YtlkMWpbZohGdd-dpV2ecWz_mj1KUPST0Su4cira-CiXX04Ji-LRD3SqZRPg5ZLXxEeloC4JbuF9cw/s2475/IMG_5330.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1856" data-original-width="2475" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMozXCwgZJgAAHEhY8WDDl_W5azZYSEgA7IXEtmBkB5nE8rf8wnaSDkad4F9dW8y4ndnkZwvhzwY5wAken8y2Hys6bSTA2C0vuQKl3YtlkMWpbZohGdd-dpV2ecWz_mj1KUPST0Su4cira-CiXX04Ji-LRD3SqZRPg5ZLXxEeloC4JbuF9cw/w400-h300/IMG_5330.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZVSsj9bPJJPUqvowJ6LazHuFSPH80_v1cVpgIFjSJzBb2MerrWjWcDbm8bg6673b29g2X4T25UxpscD4tMgn8jSplpNZPum8Vy1WvEarO5swrY6hvO0QefPxOaUXviSkBKJM9nvLxKSxy2l5Rv508uqUQAZ74IQoV4JFFjSB37ypFueWS2g/s3520/IMG_7452.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3520" data-original-width="1980" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZVSsj9bPJJPUqvowJ6LazHuFSPH80_v1cVpgIFjSJzBb2MerrWjWcDbm8bg6673b29g2X4T25UxpscD4tMgn8jSplpNZPum8Vy1WvEarO5swrY6hvO0QefPxOaUXviSkBKJM9nvLxKSxy2l5Rv508uqUQAZ74IQoV4JFFjSB37ypFueWS2g/w225-h400/IMG_7452.JPG" width="225" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Even the return trip after the luge run was fun!</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA05cyBa_YcBELiH8BHv7Li_ygQ3MlcOBWpB7AexBVk13f2Z2ABpNLMu-4p5SEpCVL5bCqg1H180Z8VDZdXSnByr5vJFqKkrAP5niH2Eyvp4fI2isMyN9qqy_3M5NboJ4aIZaPwcpiZIYDUIBqlFjI1wxgeCbewNSK7PON0Nl3r7udKVlnvw/s2475/IMG_7499.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1856" data-original-width="2475" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA05cyBa_YcBELiH8BHv7Li_ygQ3MlcOBWpB7AexBVk13f2Z2ABpNLMu-4p5SEpCVL5bCqg1H180Z8VDZdXSnByr5vJFqKkrAP5niH2Eyvp4fI2isMyN9qqy_3M5NboJ4aIZaPwcpiZIYDUIBqlFjI1wxgeCbewNSK7PON0Nl3r7udKVlnvw/w400-h300/IMG_7499.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />In the background is <a href="https://www.mokoiaisland.co.nz/" target="_blank">Mokoia Island</a> in the center of Lake Rotorua. By the way, Lake Rotorua is from a volcano that erupted about 240,000 years ago. Think about how BIG that volcano was!</div><div><br /></div><div>The next day we took a lazy morning and played in the park by Loke Rotorua.</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinON4wNXZMh7jVxte0MQwXxp6cNRfGy4VY4S8Sl5mtKQM96srYPbkLRo_1lFg0r4f1cSA9f1p89rA7JRBi8tMEVDc3uLHuFGa8QEnxdLoNcQNi_-F03sbuerDR42vbeFxeRFurCmdmlkhVPoyk5DZAyktcyMRtS_WhRMdEgdj5D52_Qm9W5w/s2016/IMG_7562.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinON4wNXZMh7jVxte0MQwXxp6cNRfGy4VY4S8Sl5mtKQM96srYPbkLRo_1lFg0r4f1cSA9f1p89rA7JRBi8tMEVDc3uLHuFGa8QEnxdLoNcQNi_-F03sbuerDR42vbeFxeRFurCmdmlkhVPoyk5DZAyktcyMRtS_WhRMdEgdj5D52_Qm9W5w/w300-h400/IMG_7562.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw40VQjykimlIlYTd0rq9jp-2iv94LYr7eaJ7To3PYng9HmFS_NcU-9mKA0tXV4C07dX_LqkF5DkGzcJVAd0AGrMxmF_aKx0085s3d0eHhw7nDF-40NsAobOvaBABxqOwkTeREYGeTna8fVo7PGu_PIU8gQL0gSkjLyPHwiL6F2WeN119WTQ/s4032/IMG_7580.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw40VQjykimlIlYTd0rq9jp-2iv94LYr7eaJ7To3PYng9HmFS_NcU-9mKA0tXV4C07dX_LqkF5DkGzcJVAd0AGrMxmF_aKx0085s3d0eHhw7nDF-40NsAobOvaBABxqOwkTeREYGeTna8fVo7PGu_PIU8gQL0gSkjLyPHwiL6F2WeN119WTQ/w400-h300/IMG_7580.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div>Cressey - "I’m going to miss this when I get home."</div></div><div><br /></div><div>Auckland's airport is about 2 1/2 hours away to the northwest.</div><div><br /></div><div><div>Overview:</div><div><a href="https://whereiveben.benmoore.info/2023/03/new-zealand-2023.html" target="_blank">New Zealand 2023</a></div></div>Ben Moorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12779518055843568946noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32233713.post-74746176953607187772023-04-09T19:27:00.004-05:002023-04-23T14:54:44.043-05:00Karioitahi Beach<div>When we thought were weren't going to be able to get to Muriwai Beach, we began searching for an alternative. The devastation of Cyclone Gabrielle wasn't as serious south of Auckland.</div><div><br /></div><div>We found <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karioitahi_Beach" target="_blank">Karioitahi Beach</a> and began a conversation with <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/gary-hyde-7b643b237/" target="_blank">Gary Hyde</a> of <a href="https://www.castaways.co.nz/" target="_blank">Castaways Resort</a>. I can't begin to explain how much help Gary was. More on that later.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAZYaRvyL4TgeG6_we4ffVWCJXZjWwrqNCEX49o0Mmxcz9Vi_2NL6e5N6IfalVHIc_X4oMMEZN6H05f6MyuHbidDe39u1O8JlUXcwnxzdZIeZ29P2zQq-IsQ6gXN95A8N0SlDu-m65KebkLp8MoP8AoVoCTUyDQ4I6zMN4qfr5OQsB-ZMxWg/s4032/IMG_5205.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAZYaRvyL4TgeG6_we4ffVWCJXZjWwrqNCEX49o0Mmxcz9Vi_2NL6e5N6IfalVHIc_X4oMMEZN6H05f6MyuHbidDe39u1O8JlUXcwnxzdZIeZ29P2zQq-IsQ6gXN95A8N0SlDu-m65KebkLp8MoP8AoVoCTUyDQ4I6zMN4qfr5OQsB-ZMxWg/w300-h400/IMG_5205.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div>Karioitahi Beach is about 30 minutes off the route from <a href="https://whereiveben.benmoore.info/2023/04/auckland.html" target="_blank">Auckland</a> to Rotarua. The road literally runs onto the black sand beach. There's even a parking lot there.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE1fAF4VY5r1BYv2b2Z-RqyKtgbtMwEFlak-mkWdkQ88I9rZnEF6zwXmgtTvJQiftx4IspVEVMu7vp_bWcz0pdTUGzNy0Fi10Ka6o7XEihzR32NGJBf6rgpiQyuQRPaKvRTpz0oDaEXnsdxGVY1r1T0lDQNkjg9xgXxk-12LS09RGYB1l9hg/s4032/IMG_7073.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE1fAF4VY5r1BYv2b2Z-RqyKtgbtMwEFlak-mkWdkQ88I9rZnEF6zwXmgtTvJQiftx4IspVEVMu7vp_bWcz0pdTUGzNy0Fi10Ka6o7XEihzR32NGJBf6rgpiQyuQRPaKvRTpz0oDaEXnsdxGVY1r1T0lDQNkjg9xgXxk-12LS09RGYB1l9hg/w400-h300/IMG_7073.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div>While the beach was not as deserted as Muriwai Beach, everybody we saw could fit into one car. And the beach went on for miles.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj84YXSXSpzBgekPHGLqcBLh3hRCi1Li0F5aFzqFu9sB6AACMTaMFaSJomgEUJ5puI6W06Vc7YWZj3i-MJT9B8ctMQu5LGDB9Rb342Ro8UnFh4RRNLMd8r9Bmj0Ajs6EJBo6-XkElx58b7WYoS-deiK3IMpfn2SuM7gyTy-SZYxjP6U6taIAg/s7699/IMG_5170.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2078" data-original-width="7699" height="172" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj84YXSXSpzBgekPHGLqcBLh3hRCi1Li0F5aFzqFu9sB6AACMTaMFaSJomgEUJ5puI6W06Vc7YWZj3i-MJT9B8ctMQu5LGDB9Rb342Ro8UnFh4RRNLMd8r9Bmj0Ajs6EJBo6-XkElx58b7WYoS-deiK3IMpfn2SuM7gyTy-SZYxjP6U6taIAg/w640-h172/IMG_5170.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKGnHH5-aiztS2jgdavI-Xa7BpQ0F87BV4FSjH06n3c4odHKHucje3-IeNlD2x-qFnePnbiGZuO4cqf4qJlNYjgZv_7WaHt5MHGYQjt_1RdQQrARGCwBOkTh3crpgl3kYp3DPs2U28TPp9rHeXMZ_MTYtMItMh-CHCq7FLvEULgG5rXC0U1w/s4032/IMG_5165.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKGnHH5-aiztS2jgdavI-Xa7BpQ0F87BV4FSjH06n3c4odHKHucje3-IeNlD2x-qFnePnbiGZuO4cqf4qJlNYjgZv_7WaHt5MHGYQjt_1RdQQrARGCwBOkTh3crpgl3kYp3DPs2U28TPp9rHeXMZ_MTYtMItMh-CHCq7FLvEULgG5rXC0U1w/w400-h300/IMG_5165.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVzGAjmBJPcOGqusoVKIKenVDc_8lVcG6K3GrxRXlAnM6hqUulZr0gUMTVLI4BV5wH94xQ-Tg_s2NJUueJ3Xiwl4-y4eZCv0HzekqjDexUCACVepTGEfqQSgzD8NOwXRWh-CRUc9oQuNlF92kRisDqvHwbdVe7JcWfShckgnTHfFSNSk9e_w/s4032/IMG_5181.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVzGAjmBJPcOGqusoVKIKenVDc_8lVcG6K3GrxRXlAnM6hqUulZr0gUMTVLI4BV5wH94xQ-Tg_s2NJUueJ3Xiwl4-y4eZCv0HzekqjDexUCACVepTGEfqQSgzD8NOwXRWh-CRUc9oQuNlF92kRisDqvHwbdVe7JcWfShckgnTHfFSNSk9e_w/w400-h300/IMG_5181.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmkNCy6a5eZhM1MefEJhhVd6DjcwFmPrBmTknPefOsFYNt-sZl_usJbKNhNwTz3yrZydvwUyHPuNxtX1mAhzlIIVYngz3lEdeznWBVR5ocOr-p7O-P9jMwY-SZEjZBy0w5O1tvbeLTtLGPCp5JQPRWvsvQWv77D0JstvvJeTsmeNp3wABtYQ/s4032/IMG_7215.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmkNCy6a5eZhM1MefEJhhVd6DjcwFmPrBmTknPefOsFYNt-sZl_usJbKNhNwTz3yrZydvwUyHPuNxtX1mAhzlIIVYngz3lEdeznWBVR5ocOr-p7O-P9jMwY-SZEjZBy0w5O1tvbeLTtLGPCp5JQPRWvsvQWv77D0JstvvJeTsmeNp3wABtYQ/w400-h300/IMG_7215.heic" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1dApvmJzRScbAz6lMxZYGombOshFmpaQw5PttioqAt7GJU6vTRWnfsMr_BOe5dziKHtFI1HV49_bbiGBydDAE_uLephAAhdf27Z1jfKNtzbWDVz7Q3TZXlWJ5Z2-xzMOgexq7o6gT_UtwVCSsmw7XpR-Q0SgtCk0KHbZ1c0RKXSyLFefwlA/s1390/Karioitahi%20Beach%20Leaping.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="927" data-original-width="1390" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1dApvmJzRScbAz6lMxZYGombOshFmpaQw5PttioqAt7GJU6vTRWnfsMr_BOe5dziKHtFI1HV49_bbiGBydDAE_uLephAAhdf27Z1jfKNtzbWDVz7Q3TZXlWJ5Z2-xzMOgexq7o6gT_UtwVCSsmw7XpR-Q0SgtCk0KHbZ1c0RKXSyLFefwlA/w400-h266/Karioitahi%20Beach%20Leaping.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />The beach runs up to beautiful cliffs.</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8FVXqQHXObjxOK48CeXDte2JNNNCXtgm3mupzd0zJA3P0fIJd_VVOBFux1QhIGC66GbVf2VUqijrFeTEhK9qjR-mqEdvc_Xwmd8qezEGoWYvDGV_ucpw_XvFSDd_iW34o--_JPWeZo2JileHv8im7eov9_EDnsnZlXHq0CxrdUv7BIx5H3w/s4032/IMG_5185.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8FVXqQHXObjxOK48CeXDte2JNNNCXtgm3mupzd0zJA3P0fIJd_VVOBFux1QhIGC66GbVf2VUqijrFeTEhK9qjR-mqEdvc_Xwmd8qezEGoWYvDGV_ucpw_XvFSDd_iW34o--_JPWeZo2JileHv8im7eov9_EDnsnZlXHq0CxrdUv7BIx5H3w/w400-h300/IMG_5185.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />As we explored just north of the parking lot, we discovered a waterfall. And a cow was peeping over the edge of the waterfall.</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmWb3pbmxprH1VVKlK6wryiBEHebjBoT_gGpq8bIVXDQkGwEEml82AcXp2bLh2_0W9nM7uKQOF4Ia4bZm9WdjBGTEvVCrASn-k0h8LtlqhCK_2Baj2PxbvT-CODPHMoaRTiQ-3ocEfGpAp6r9rLlLEy2i8qrnklc0UwxN55n6iB6mHMi8yRA/s4032/IMG_5191.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmWb3pbmxprH1VVKlK6wryiBEHebjBoT_gGpq8bIVXDQkGwEEml82AcXp2bLh2_0W9nM7uKQOF4Ia4bZm9WdjBGTEvVCrASn-k0h8LtlqhCK_2Baj2PxbvT-CODPHMoaRTiQ-3ocEfGpAp6r9rLlLEy2i8qrnklc0UwxN55n6iB6mHMi8yRA/w300-h400/IMG_5191.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><br />After more than an hour, we were famished so we drove back up the hill to Gary's Castaways Resort.</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYHF1gqFi5zdUXKFC7mce8YYB3vh9ZniTC_wBIp23ZA63tgDLHRT2n0m7qaeyCFFzwGbIaOFkhzB0XT2lwD60tzuoAnVnf4ZjI5Hzbbm5oKRFDeEXTcvSYuu_D1PzFFlNDO-j6DpKGMydjptHSGY-5_MNkqcg4Hj7aX_RzJOr60M4WSiT2wQ/s4032/IMG_5180.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYHF1gqFi5zdUXKFC7mce8YYB3vh9ZniTC_wBIp23ZA63tgDLHRT2n0m7qaeyCFFzwGbIaOFkhzB0XT2lwD60tzuoAnVnf4ZjI5Hzbbm5oKRFDeEXTcvSYuu_D1PzFFlNDO-j6DpKGMydjptHSGY-5_MNkqcg4Hj7aX_RzJOr60M4WSiT2wQ/w400-h300/IMG_5180.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />The Castaways Restaurant was just what we needed. The chef fixed a special pizza for the girls and a to order burger for our daughter.</div><div><br /></div><div>And the view was pretty good.</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv41TgaX_Nj9dw-61wm_zLpTEoG4k1PSELXs25jHfB_G1eMjlukL9uei1pKUywDOSrv_BKg1LDX1hrzQHftwX54kKKuleLrNbF8FkgcnTFTwtwkKSKV6apbOR-9n2oPtKuTf-yR4WLtz9_QShF3UgL7-CBB_VenhPoXWHwdq2wIngiaQf_iw/s4032/IMG_5235.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv41TgaX_Nj9dw-61wm_zLpTEoG4k1PSELXs25jHfB_G1eMjlukL9uei1pKUywDOSrv_BKg1LDX1hrzQHftwX54kKKuleLrNbF8FkgcnTFTwtwkKSKV6apbOR-9n2oPtKuTf-yR4WLtz9_QShF3UgL7-CBB_VenhPoXWHwdq2wIngiaQf_iw/w400-h300/IMG_5235.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />My wife even commented that the decor in the restroom coordinated with the outdoors.</div><div><br /></div><div>My list of "magical" places in the world is pretty short. I just added one to it.</div><div><br /></div><div><div>Overview:</div><div><a href="https://whereiveben.benmoore.info/2023/03/new-zealand-2023.html" target="_blank">New Zealand 2023</a></div></div>Ben Moorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12779518055843568946noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32233713.post-78806051788341359592023-04-02T19:03:00.029-05:002023-04-23T19:20:23.651-05:00Auckland<div>We stayed at the <a href="https://www.hilton.com/en/hotels/aklhihi-hilton-auckland/" target="_blank">Hilton Auckland</a> on <a href="https://princes-wharf.co.nz/" target="_blank">Princes Wharf</a>. It is at the end of the wharf and has harbor views from every room. Our room had a large balcony with a pair of chaise lounges which we made good use of. They had valet parking which was right at the door. The bellmen were very attentive and got to know us during our visit.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnW-8mT_u9tJ1hGbuKi7i8BB0SwpsHknPGIY_47PzhK6Y4KbtnZ6LNMfau7ioqEKym4ZDXxewzuGa_1Uz-7iUmKu0mBVlvaeQ_xEvGhurMqtZkBGt2uVD_VM0RAR-btgT3EjsEmOTtmHYvZyNMjhVigPxWnHQolnS1CxyYToihUTgiUhK1tQ/s3456/IMG_5041.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="2592" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnW-8mT_u9tJ1hGbuKi7i8BB0SwpsHknPGIY_47PzhK6Y4KbtnZ6LNMfau7ioqEKym4ZDXxewzuGa_1Uz-7iUmKu0mBVlvaeQ_xEvGhurMqtZkBGt2uVD_VM0RAR-btgT3EjsEmOTtmHYvZyNMjhVigPxWnHQolnS1CxyYToihUTgiUhK1tQ/w300-h400/IMG_5041.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div>Princes Wharf is wide enough to have a street down the center and "sheds" on each side. There are a number of restaurants in the sheds and several sets of apartments. One of the American families we bumped into were staying in one of these apartments.</div><div><br /></div><div>The Hilton's swimming pool was on our floor. It was over the street that went down the wharf with a glass wall at one end overlooking the street. In the other direction was the <a href="https://skycityauckland.co.nz/sky-tower/" target="_blank">Sky Tower</a>.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3do_4Jm8KwDnuvE0aioP-hbHOxUX9nsLAQKq4tYJoA4VqFXupkjTDJBJIclpn89r4lazZ56PsIYWkguk5bU6lJKwmG8VbO6AW3HplKoXQortnr64xMfeXoFaXc1B6bzSMm9omsCV5oOqcWTK5TrrVaqGApwDh-sqq6TPvMOzNFRYy6WQFOw/s3780/IMG_6234.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3780" data-original-width="2835" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3do_4Jm8KwDnuvE0aioP-hbHOxUX9nsLAQKq4tYJoA4VqFXupkjTDJBJIclpn89r4lazZ56PsIYWkguk5bU6lJKwmG8VbO6AW3HplKoXQortnr64xMfeXoFaXc1B6bzSMm9omsCV5oOqcWTK5TrrVaqGApwDh-sqq6TPvMOzNFRYy6WQFOw/w300-h400/IMG_6234.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEvL9xA3nHcMBKKngU3gcwUCsyrwPlm82oQ1eN-weODYJLuke04cWv3lhw4zRS5gr9318cakwYHw3k6NX84wRHhBkGGmRzed8FRUkY9qWQv7aUifUMU_tw1zQbpzjpnB7wQI5E2MXlr_ezntHyM5uBqkweopCOj6sJboaAk_fU4rx0oDz_mg/s4032/IMG_4826.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEvL9xA3nHcMBKKngU3gcwUCsyrwPlm82oQ1eN-weODYJLuke04cWv3lhw4zRS5gr9318cakwYHw3k6NX84wRHhBkGGmRzed8FRUkY9qWQv7aUifUMU_tw1zQbpzjpnB7wQI5E2MXlr_ezntHyM5uBqkweopCOj6sJboaAk_fU4rx0oDz_mg/w300-h400/IMG_4826.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div>To the west from Princes Wharf is <a href="https://www.wynyard-quarter.co.nz/" target="_blank">Wynward Quarter</a>. There's a neat pedestrian draw bridge on the way. Beyond the bridge is the <a href="https://www.afm.co.nz/" target="_blank">Fish Market</a>, a collection of restaurants. A little further is <a href="https://www.silopark.co.nz/" target="_blank">Silo Park</a> which the girls really enjoyed.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidMcCQ-CptFmjUklT7Ga3in4u5zwE6zCuXK69dDe5u11R7TG2mFBaw1LKCVAAq-Mr-Hnk_hOZcUpoTU2XvTxU-TX0oKkQ0lqXSXDpCaI5hLczw5f9yVlH6NnKH56s_u5JR0HY7gxs3TCA-cesC56-rCeM910_Q1raoE5Q2x3WdWW-P6CIgeA/s4032/IMG_6266.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidMcCQ-CptFmjUklT7Ga3in4u5zwE6zCuXK69dDe5u11R7TG2mFBaw1LKCVAAq-Mr-Hnk_hOZcUpoTU2XvTxU-TX0oKkQ0lqXSXDpCaI5hLczw5f9yVlH6NnKH56s_u5JR0HY7gxs3TCA-cesC56-rCeM910_Q1raoE5Q2x3WdWW-P6CIgeA/w300-h400/IMG_6266.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivoeX5zVRgl7RT67F47JD_cKocDZ1tG_6MITdv-LZm_xThGCOoMvUIj4zTZnuFP57qZOJ0Gf1NXBHGlo1xRC1NqGz4Ip-MlDFukF9JVMFPf4ZySa3eFqt4O96lSzbC_JBIca5Zt8unjcp4ZfvDuno0WZYt0kN6Not-iIhs0rVWfOPvAhTXbA/s4032/IMG_6278.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivoeX5zVRgl7RT67F47JD_cKocDZ1tG_6MITdv-LZm_xThGCOoMvUIj4zTZnuFP57qZOJ0Gf1NXBHGlo1xRC1NqGz4Ip-MlDFukF9JVMFPf4ZySa3eFqt4O96lSzbC_JBIca5Zt8unjcp4ZfvDuno0WZYt0kN6Not-iIhs0rVWfOPvAhTXbA/w300-h400/IMG_6278.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>To the east from Princes Wharf is the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Auckland_Ferry_Terminal" target="_blank">Auckland Ferry Terminal</a> which is where we boarded a ferry to cross the harbor to <a href="https://devonport.co.nz/" target="_blank">Devenport</a>. The ferry runs every 30 minutes and cost US$2.50 each way per adult. You have a magnificent view of the Auckland skyline from the ferry.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlNFrJrIibvuE4WCSjrEZZyc6Df7A5c60-EfUvxqrENCOeLerz9Z4q5oVUuX7LTABZnLNsvs6bK5EQ9kUFoRIr6AmJPEVLIrLIHjZnQWcv0VHUIHXoGRYW1h2Mr_KfcjYjwnhLPVImcVMNM16YCAkAGll68YSLBuyJEstm6tkFeFAz0ljKMw/s4032/IMG_4905.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlNFrJrIibvuE4WCSjrEZZyc6Df7A5c60-EfUvxqrENCOeLerz9Z4q5oVUuX7LTABZnLNsvs6bK5EQ9kUFoRIr6AmJPEVLIrLIHjZnQWcv0VHUIHXoGRYW1h2Mr_KfcjYjwnhLPVImcVMNM16YCAkAGll68YSLBuyJEstm6tkFeFAz0ljKMw/w300-h400/IMG_4905.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNcOxFrmz8LtTROTygc8k66PLHhXx0bqKgxOjjx8INLH-v27XMims3tuoFvfi8Vql2qJ6Ymj6Yh6m2PaYwD8d3JiUYpLoLIulFwPXfDkCAVCvUziWZY0TSQrr7hfPulseMkekVaryDeTOV7drI5nGt32rai2QwOEerrVF8V-oQ7IDjMH762g/s4032/IMG_4861.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNcOxFrmz8LtTROTygc8k66PLHhXx0bqKgxOjjx8INLH-v27XMims3tuoFvfi8Vql2qJ6Ymj6Yh6m2PaYwD8d3JiUYpLoLIulFwPXfDkCAVCvUziWZY0TSQrr7hfPulseMkekVaryDeTOV7drI5nGt32rai2QwOEerrVF8V-oQ7IDjMH762g/w400-h300/IMG_4861.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div>Devenport is a beautiful little seaside town with a main street full of shops and restaurants. As typical for New Zealand, there's a wonderful park right on the waterfront.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhSLXKUmMxaEt4MkW0YMDKd5kRkB8KBw7PrWtn1jaW24NaBykaLEARQRhkshpaPy7Dz1z7QLMGNhJ7jYOc_2rsUFY3PSUTTL3T9sv1aVdwK6E1Ven9Vw6L0NueoL_m186D2C61cjzAFHxTMbLNJnkvutOyU2uaCzIBJ-6nfM_4FL_5UYlNHA/s4032/IMG_6413.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhSLXKUmMxaEt4MkW0YMDKd5kRkB8KBw7PrWtn1jaW24NaBykaLEARQRhkshpaPy7Dz1z7QLMGNhJ7jYOc_2rsUFY3PSUTTL3T9sv1aVdwK6E1Ven9Vw6L0NueoL_m186D2C61cjzAFHxTMbLNJnkvutOyU2uaCzIBJ-6nfM_4FL_5UYlNHA/w400-h300/IMG_6413.heic" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9b5MonikDsCBxFud0Rcj1rgIxTQNOXK9AMX7tY8LyVggLZumsDOEesc9yk2Zr2YvU2pkqumAv_XJPtzWkUxTxJRrJaEGxXLJO64kl77uMQTUNHfXBBdgJ-FUoKBL7H8u-f1ZE-TgbK7qAuB57xLrVlHGCGlDEIdSQmqJDd99cS_CtqiEkUA/s2016/IMG_6419.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9b5MonikDsCBxFud0Rcj1rgIxTQNOXK9AMX7tY8LyVggLZumsDOEesc9yk2Zr2YvU2pkqumAv_XJPtzWkUxTxJRrJaEGxXLJO64kl77uMQTUNHfXBBdgJ-FUoKBL7H8u-f1ZE-TgbK7qAuB57xLrVlHGCGlDEIdSQmqJDd99cS_CtqiEkUA/w300-h400/IMG_6419.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>It sprinkled on us as we walked the main street of Devenport so we ducked into Manuka Restaurant. They had a table on the sidewalk but under cover so we stayed dry and had a view of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Victoria_(Auckland)" target="_blank">Mt. Victoria</a>.</div><div><br /></div><div>At 216 ft., Mt. Victoria is the highest volcano on Auckland's North Shore. The views of Auckland's skyline are even better than from the ferry and you have panoramic views in all directions.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZoyGo97tenFpA4xd0jzUkXSy8FxCTOslmfFk-gPHX3eVzGMk0h5BzBXJeG5tSuQazaGRB-wbHsBPH3LK6dSjmth8GTDzWtYagMtP6j1PlXlSzV1CLrEGEJ0vPwKzE1d6n4xJU2z_MEhdirLlSrKGfh-jLe0xFNDnIcpISK9iIv_TlNbuoiw/s4032/IMG_4875.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZoyGo97tenFpA4xd0jzUkXSy8FxCTOslmfFk-gPHX3eVzGMk0h5BzBXJeG5tSuQazaGRB-wbHsBPH3LK6dSjmth8GTDzWtYagMtP6j1PlXlSzV1CLrEGEJ0vPwKzE1d6n4xJU2z_MEhdirLlSrKGfh-jLe0xFNDnIcpISK9iIv_TlNbuoiw/w400-h300/IMG_4875.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLH71sG85jFZeWQ_1OyyxCZOJtUcAI5-FUweUKB6DQFyZxfrGSSuK1hG-VhGSQC8f4uQ0XS40RkHod93XDnhZGNkzNhywlSFjXXpHVHQejtChCOaPylJz6IXsc9qjaNliw22Mi02uAZgL2SJ0xJ6xKSfzY1_7AjO4z8HcYLp1mJwXJBJ--xw/s4032/IMG_4878.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLH71sG85jFZeWQ_1OyyxCZOJtUcAI5-FUweUKB6DQFyZxfrGSSuK1hG-VhGSQC8f4uQ0XS40RkHod93XDnhZGNkzNhywlSFjXXpHVHQejtChCOaPylJz6IXsc9qjaNliw22Mi02uAZgL2SJ0xJ6xKSfzY1_7AjO4z8HcYLp1mJwXJBJ--xw/w400-h300/IMG_4878.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div>After the climb and descent of Mt. Victoria, we stopped at <a href="https://www.thevic.co.nz/" target="_blank">The Vic Devonport</a> for gelato.</div><div><br /></div><div>That afternoon we visited the <a href="https://skycityauckland.co.nz/sky-tower/" target="_blank">Sky Tower</a>, the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sky_Tower_(Auckland)" target="_blank">second tallest freestanding structure</a> in the Southern Hemisphere. Our daughter and oldest granddaughter took the Sky Walk on the outside of the 53rd floor.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaSAlKckp3_LXJmP5Xzwt4ixeKVY2lnwRp7lVUafNZsV1do2jeaSpBUwdXQYn0ViQFgSZQlKTMr831yCQk_t7jzX_CrZSfPc-uvFQLc1AEDZFtzkaDHWUOAkJsxZ1igVTod2_OEPXGW4I7Kwa5GG29uJC4_Kq9nofVnHGvdmi2sCxVouxysA/s3798/IMG_4912.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3798" data-original-width="2848" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaSAlKckp3_LXJmP5Xzwt4ixeKVY2lnwRp7lVUafNZsV1do2jeaSpBUwdXQYn0ViQFgSZQlKTMr831yCQk_t7jzX_CrZSfPc-uvFQLc1AEDZFtzkaDHWUOAkJsxZ1igVTod2_OEPXGW4I7Kwa5GG29uJC4_Kq9nofVnHGvdmi2sCxVouxysA/w300-h400/IMG_4912.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsBFs_8eprUmsfUO8w5KCXnXZrxWSIEec3-I_Z3tQrGSPHtymBdNQTEKUaFLQLNH5vQr-iqXoViEelLpyOI6Ds7jyO3Mxa7zXEI8fNpRAK2cWYgGI8EhtuJPNNhrkZy6WUqvbUFdmmnKlCVBBtbGJJG5Fn3wG2Xv_LgaNdLxmqkBBwYGTjrw/s3520/IMG_3032.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1980" data-original-width="3520" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsBFs_8eprUmsfUO8w5KCXnXZrxWSIEec3-I_Z3tQrGSPHtymBdNQTEKUaFLQLNH5vQr-iqXoViEelLpyOI6Ds7jyO3Mxa7zXEI8fNpRAK2cWYgGI8EhtuJPNNhrkZy6WUqvbUFdmmnKlCVBBtbGJJG5Fn3wG2Xv_LgaNdLxmqkBBwYGTjrw/w400-h225/IMG_3032.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>We had dinner in <a href="https://skycityauckland.co.nz/restaurants/orbit/" target="_blank">Orbit</a> on 52nd floor. Orbit dinner includes Sky Tower entry to the observation deck. You can check in at the Orbit desk in the downstairs lobby for a pass.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTP2k9Es7cd0iVNZbXn0bPU82BDltHRm00ekF4CVBM7hzmHsq5qX-buL-guJ7MJTwMzFv0ASc83UmCgmHsMoupJCWvP7uT1pyfMjnxp4Ha0yaFIqouUCeRiThTF0SxyLNj5neuq1eQ2v1NxPQsxCyN1-NJdXxLgUJZcILcFTV_1U3bFMGUrA/s4032/IMG_6495.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTP2k9Es7cd0iVNZbXn0bPU82BDltHRm00ekF4CVBM7hzmHsq5qX-buL-guJ7MJTwMzFv0ASc83UmCgmHsMoupJCWvP7uT1pyfMjnxp4Ha0yaFIqouUCeRiThTF0SxyLNj5neuq1eQ2v1NxPQsxCyN1-NJdXxLgUJZcILcFTV_1U3bFMGUrA/w400-h300/IMG_6495.heic" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The Hilton is at the end of the wharf at the far right.</div><div><br /></div><div>We spent a morning at the <a href="https://www.aucklandzoo.co.nz/" target="_blank">Auckland Zoo</a>. Admission was US$15 per senior. The zoo has heavy vegetation and it was 30 minutes before we saw an animal. The docents were all very helpful. One of our goals was to see <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kiwi" target="_blank">kiwis</a> which are unique to New Zealand. But kiwis are nocturnal and the kiwi exhibit had lots of glare.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaRtf7vTsK0ipp8sWPaFvg43PUDYWrhBCqqTDgPF2GE1mxUTqLjw1i44CN0zed6bLd1b9CoofTEfUDd_cdkW5MpjL6LXCOJVrYLh12MgwvI4Uva4HpRVDXS515sLkzMNnBiPyzxCA5BM-7tI_a6j4ao1uRrcC9fI0YxXURHGB14Clyi032FQ/s4032/IMG_6620.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaRtf7vTsK0ipp8sWPaFvg43PUDYWrhBCqqTDgPF2GE1mxUTqLjw1i44CN0zed6bLd1b9CoofTEfUDd_cdkW5MpjL6LXCOJVrYLh12MgwvI4Uva4HpRVDXS515sLkzMNnBiPyzxCA5BM-7tI_a6j4ao1uRrcC9fI0YxXURHGB14Clyi032FQ/w300-h400/IMG_6620.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc08e47T4hK9quLq7j2sTvTWmxHLYMwqoNsdjW4PjU5A0ErUizLH8i1YOfo2MQCQTwjEkqkU4AdSq-NpVQSMiylQPkp0B5zRVDib0YJm8efRqwtJjtpvYuvhHPsqbOGtd2gF77Xp_avkUvrvJBl3fn6vkFSzOW8cyXHWgrIX9JZKianBWzJg/s4032/IMG_4942.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc08e47T4hK9quLq7j2sTvTWmxHLYMwqoNsdjW4PjU5A0ErUizLH8i1YOfo2MQCQTwjEkqkU4AdSq-NpVQSMiylQPkp0B5zRVDib0YJm8efRqwtJjtpvYuvhHPsqbOGtd2gF77Xp_avkUvrvJBl3fn6vkFSzOW8cyXHWgrIX9JZKianBWzJg/w300-h400/IMG_4942.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div>We grabbed lunch at the zoo. A bit of advice, "Milk shakes" in New Zealand are not what you expect. They are just flavored milk.</div><div><br /></div><div>We headed out across town to <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maungakiekie_/_One_Tree_Hill" target="_blank">One Tree Hill</a>, another volcano. One Tree Hill is 597 ft. high. We weren't up to the climb. There was an access road with a number to call for accessibility access. I called them and they gave us a code allowing us to drive to the peak.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH2y5c9N2EREVj3BzznB4fcNgXtrI4xkNMk2bkNByPP3RnsT9DPRbfMwEVpTAhauT7OTKO-uoLSn4iOnyxnukRDKitLxY10eYPOllrzV7Gqab3uug-PrbJgCQiaG5qZJGrma6qidG7ysfZtBJBX4UlYsa1iDJ79mUIL4wRILpofd9tvz6oGw/s4032/IMG_4951.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH2y5c9N2EREVj3BzznB4fcNgXtrI4xkNMk2bkNByPP3RnsT9DPRbfMwEVpTAhauT7OTKO-uoLSn4iOnyxnukRDKitLxY10eYPOllrzV7Gqab3uug-PrbJgCQiaG5qZJGrma6qidG7ysfZtBJBX4UlYsa1iDJ79mUIL4wRILpofd9tvz6oGw/w400-h300/IMG_4951.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZCdBb07omTIhlSxhM9YCVSzLindKt8aXnZFS92Y9BcKfkoKelj1_zYfJdCPY9oZmqX3XXiIO6OOtir50-Xh09PBNYPBoayjHc66IGz-Q2sRJreCAH6acubp-b7l9d6IotmE8AvIOnkBhLZjAY1qdPlKjI9FU2-s72yfqsZwZrng4wQaKKYQ/s4032/IMG_4953.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZCdBb07omTIhlSxhM9YCVSzLindKt8aXnZFS92Y9BcKfkoKelj1_zYfJdCPY9oZmqX3XXiIO6OOtir50-Xh09PBNYPBoayjHc66IGz-Q2sRJreCAH6acubp-b7l9d6IotmE8AvIOnkBhLZjAY1qdPlKjI9FU2-s72yfqsZwZrng4wQaKKYQ/w400-h300/IMG_4953.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>That evening we met some of our New Zealand friends and intended to go to <a href="https://www.commercialbay.co.nz/" target="_blank">Commercial Bay</a>. Commercial Bay is a multi-story facility just a short walk from the Hilton. It is 3 stories with the first 2 stories being retail shops and the 3rd housing fast food and sit down restaurants. As we approached, the fire alarms in Commercial Bay went off and the building was evacuated. We rushed to <a href="https://www.tacomedic.co.nz/tacquerias/quay-street" target="_blank">Taco Medic</a> nearby before the rest of the crowd discovered it and had great Mexican food in New Zealand.</div><div><br /></div><div>We went back to Commercial Bay another day for shopping and lunch.</div><div><br /></div><div>The next morning we were off to <a href="https://www.visitsealife.com/auckland/" target="_blank">SEA LIFE Kelly Tarlton's Aquarium</a>. Admission was US$22.50 per senior. They had a number of great exhibits but two stood out. First, they had a tunnel walkway that was enclosed in a what looked like moving ice. It was very disorienting even for the girls but still fun. The biggest hit was the penguin exhibit. It was HUGE. Additionally, they have a Penguin Passport that allows you to go into penguin enclosure and have the opportunity to get up close. Unfortunately, that wasn't available the day we visited.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL-PRf-cgefPhUDW8sHPqMePhBfTZ4LW6x7_-XPVCMEKj1breu9j9xyPENRCEhfLHrZHG28Q_E-k1KKEnNbNKqP8UVybaQvy55L4agSmHppqzqg6prBLTEK2z7qm7AC-LxoXjt7so-NgptSKmk7YcCnTzNzz7guKGMa7naf5bH_5LJB34I5A/s4032/IMG_6742.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL-PRf-cgefPhUDW8sHPqMePhBfTZ4LW6x7_-XPVCMEKj1breu9j9xyPENRCEhfLHrZHG28Q_E-k1KKEnNbNKqP8UVybaQvy55L4agSmHppqzqg6prBLTEK2z7qm7AC-LxoXjt7so-NgptSKmk7YcCnTzNzz7guKGMa7naf5bH_5LJB34I5A/w300-h400/IMG_6742.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTJNltfcJlB7nwRefdR_XmWPBKNN8Iny1f7aVuuAvRgXolNLUxKDBu3IeD7IWxBLGAbiv6zpBI1_0xBwqI-L7PFZxMZqZHcPY2-OPdzacVhC2yHh3_n34x8m4iJ-OgP8n6xjq4ishCxrE-sJ_WsQazoruAderrTW8SYPw1m6rOsQs5GV0uvA/s4032/IMG_4976.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTJNltfcJlB7nwRefdR_XmWPBKNN8Iny1f7aVuuAvRgXolNLUxKDBu3IeD7IWxBLGAbiv6zpBI1_0xBwqI-L7PFZxMZqZHcPY2-OPdzacVhC2yHh3_n34x8m4iJ-OgP8n6xjq4ishCxrE-sJ_WsQazoruAderrTW8SYPw1m6rOsQs5GV0uvA/w300-h400/IMG_4976.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div>And as we visited the gift shop on the way out, the fire alarm went off and we were evacuated.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCowCrROt1oVSIqJZQar5qdwbUgAPBdlp5XiHvhGiJ41A5hQtut12WwmdAkbq9WxPvjjpNrXewvdUJ-9REiGv8Eok6_PXQUQFn_SSe_KK39o9VSsMCJIeNb7cdouD-MPgB6XIGkuJna8I0Ly8Pm2Ke3vJiKMWMKNx81P1p_AfYZMyMZ-xSwA/s3520/IMG_4994.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1980" data-original-width="3520" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCowCrROt1oVSIqJZQar5qdwbUgAPBdlp5XiHvhGiJ41A5hQtut12WwmdAkbq9WxPvjjpNrXewvdUJ-9REiGv8Eok6_PXQUQFn_SSe_KK39o9VSsMCJIeNb7cdouD-MPgB6XIGkuJna8I0Ly8Pm2Ke3vJiKMWMKNx81P1p_AfYZMyMZ-xSwA/w400-h225/IMG_4994.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div>But our day of excitement wasn't over. As if walking around the Sky Tower on the 53rd floor wasn't enough, the girls took the <a href="https://www.bungy.co.nz/auckland/auckland-bridge" target="_blank">Auckland Bridge Bungy & Climb</a>. This is run by the same organization that runs Sky Walk. The first leg was walking under the bridge to the far end. Then they climbed up to the arch over the traffic and returned.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7zrsrEsBWjJGrcl_AdZlYUZgLnb3bK1dRtPX2B3C4sVIrAAT6rjca5V5OxRIRLMNdBKCmXI-Z3WMFhqaCR3aKfiVmBlZffI9gUigAySOUOIPdjQNfg2od1sczNF4WDCpkWkrnlaURW-xs3DRyRR4eSyR7Wzz3z17f3SXCQgZtv5xBtxFcrg/s4608/IMG_6877.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4608" data-original-width="3456" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7zrsrEsBWjJGrcl_AdZlYUZgLnb3bK1dRtPX2B3C4sVIrAAT6rjca5V5OxRIRLMNdBKCmXI-Z3WMFhqaCR3aKfiVmBlZffI9gUigAySOUOIPdjQNfg2od1sczNF4WDCpkWkrnlaURW-xs3DRyRR4eSyR7Wzz3z17f3SXCQgZtv5xBtxFcrg/w300-h400/IMG_6877.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5aLzFMZKQJnhORklLu2pvbUOMAt9CdE89mQ95sZYepfrqTwFycbiVsKBhTK8AlF7W0PuoiNam2QGVjfc69YEIYFhVhY76VgVSBvqN37bP9LAUNNylNWk6-WbpzmzMiBwhfgYQCJ96PFzt2a9OzOcACJcS95tTdATAS6PeccWZApiatNusFQ/s1652/Untitled.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="929" data-original-width="1652" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5aLzFMZKQJnhORklLu2pvbUOMAt9CdE89mQ95sZYepfrqTwFycbiVsKBhTK8AlF7W0PuoiNam2QGVjfc69YEIYFhVhY76VgVSBvqN37bP9LAUNNylNWk6-WbpzmzMiBwhfgYQCJ96PFzt2a9OzOcACJcS95tTdATAS6PeccWZApiatNusFQ/w400-h225/Untitled.png" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div>At least the fire alarm didn't go off.</div><div><br /></div><div>One of our bucket list items had been to visit a black sand beach. Both of our granddaughters are horseback riders. We thought it would be memorable for them to get to rid on a black sand beach. Oh, how we underestimated that.</div><div><br /></div><div>We found <a href="https://muriwaibeachhorsetreks.co.nz/" target="_blank">Muriwai Beach Horse Treks</a> and booked rides with them.</div><div><br /></div><div>Then came <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyclone_Gabrielle" target="_blank">Cyclone Gabrielle</a>. Everyone told us that the Muriwai Beach area had been devastated. The roads were blocked by police. We even saw news stories of houses sliding down cliffs.</div><div><br /></div><div>Let's just say that my daughter comes by her tenacity naturally. She persisted in trying to contact Muriwai Beach Horse Treks. They finally responded that they would resume riding and gave us a Google Maps route to get us as close to their facility as possible given the road blocks.</div><div><br /></div><div>We turned up and parked on the side of the road with the roadblock in view. The guide arrived in a "ute" with a high water intake system. All 3 girls loaded into the ute and disappeared through the roadblock.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1yHn67tqK1JOxLr0lBLEjcCWiufMh3R3bhOVDhbYdIEEcN-xu5JdhZyk2h8pHRkMFJVn0J_J9thZFbmeRMi5IMMjOj-biON2QHmTZtPe4ZcUDw0ihT6DkW08rIdSD7qDQjuf8qa16Z13p8idd14MBYL-YumZ0weTZ8g4zIqZYLNqp3GVSEg/s4032/IMG_5063.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1yHn67tqK1JOxLr0lBLEjcCWiufMh3R3bhOVDhbYdIEEcN-xu5JdhZyk2h8pHRkMFJVn0J_J9thZFbmeRMi5IMMjOj-biON2QHmTZtPe4ZcUDw0ihT6DkW08rIdSD7qDQjuf8qa16Z13p8idd14MBYL-YumZ0weTZ8g4zIqZYLNqp3GVSEg/w400-h300/IMG_5063.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoNPc9hUp9WO2R_OXh9LCS1UmDNzStFu4Z7GsviGpOkqcUXTkawvS3YUR9sHQ6Dhy8neLOVkrY6T3DahBR9cCHkq1agw7PnJvfiufj6F4mNMGmuRWEQbpcfvq_70mItqMCf7hh8GrroGjQjdw09DyH_IpnY_T-AGfv8ALNkwtJZJOYYRyvVQ/s2675/IMG_5064.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2006" data-original-width="2675" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoNPc9hUp9WO2R_OXh9LCS1UmDNzStFu4Z7GsviGpOkqcUXTkawvS3YUR9sHQ6Dhy8neLOVkrY6T3DahBR9cCHkq1agw7PnJvfiufj6F4mNMGmuRWEQbpcfvq_70mItqMCf7hh8GrroGjQjdw09DyH_IpnY_T-AGfv8ALNkwtJZJOYYRyvVQ/w400-h300/IMG_5064.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div>The tracks that the guides normally use were impassable due to fallen trees so the guides had to be creative. Still, the girls got to travel through the forest to the black sand beach. Needless to say, they were the only people on the beach. In normal times, that beach would be crowded.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOC_DxQaYI1wP7N5Bv4SQ2dTNpt42h0yrk3NrEIIYFcw1ctNOAMFXQ19yl5KrOgCEoc7McPpljvzWZ127Y58gtGPJ3XXE0iYqpEmsqgYWV2HMwu4nKHuw8H9WKeHlx1DGVj1T7-UTwLM9ETcSpHYeJYbYfU4l-H9uJ59ILMzmeGZg3ijs4MA/s4032/IMG_6897.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOC_DxQaYI1wP7N5Bv4SQ2dTNpt42h0yrk3NrEIIYFcw1ctNOAMFXQ19yl5KrOgCEoc7McPpljvzWZ127Y58gtGPJ3XXE0iYqpEmsqgYWV2HMwu4nKHuw8H9WKeHlx1DGVj1T7-UTwLM9ETcSpHYeJYbYfU4l-H9uJ59ILMzmeGZg3ijs4MA/w400-h300/IMG_6897.heic" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDW2cNQT1GhEKi1K6x1MtPPbAEB9FtrSANk7MVJV4FA8upEcPHTnE3PYcpr65ffdoTD1CneWVxf7fSE9xGFxjoDN5iOxFlTHgJIWTBGfWQfjWkR1Ao2QjFh4R2V9WuLgO9Pmp-RH7BfUsKi42tfre1tJuW98cIY_fdR5WD9tUfpMU1dROQtg/s3520/IMG_6945.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3520" data-original-width="1980" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDW2cNQT1GhEKi1K6x1MtPPbAEB9FtrSANk7MVJV4FA8upEcPHTnE3PYcpr65ffdoTD1CneWVxf7fSE9xGFxjoDN5iOxFlTHgJIWTBGfWQfjWkR1Ao2QjFh4R2V9WuLgO9Pmp-RH7BfUsKi42tfre1tJuW98cIY_fdR5WD9tUfpMU1dROQtg/w225-h400/IMG_6945.JPG" width="225" /></a></div><br /><div>While they were riding, we hung out in the village of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waimauku" target="_blank">Waimauku</a>. That wasn't as exciting as riding horses on the black sand beach.</div><div><br /></div><div>We only had one item left on our punch list for Auckland. On the next wharf, Queens Wharf, was a interesting structure, <a href="https://www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/arts-culture-heritage/arts/public-art-waterfront/Pages/lighthouse.aspx" target="_blank">The Lighthouse</a>. The Lighthouse is a real nighttime eyecatcher that was visible from our balcony. It is a full-scale model of a 1950s family home. Inside The Lighthouse is a statue of Captain Cook amid a dramatic neon light exhibit by New Zealander Michael Parekowhai.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT2eDHJIH_-w2PFvoqsdQYBNdzypcray1gIhpdXN_LBhdxybUtJYxePXjj0f22QF_GmESf5g5heSSbuKO2eHYBn581CUSRda4GH4ehmeF4gQ-y8vtK1ufrUEOfQWf0suylIjYI1votBzWwVq-_yHnofAIoXgSuC3m547YhWSFhOfbhFeqZAw/s3970/IMG_5150.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3970" data-original-width="2977" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT2eDHJIH_-w2PFvoqsdQYBNdzypcray1gIhpdXN_LBhdxybUtJYxePXjj0f22QF_GmESf5g5heSSbuKO2eHYBn581CUSRda4GH4ehmeF4gQ-y8vtK1ufrUEOfQWf0suylIjYI1votBzWwVq-_yHnofAIoXgSuC3m547YhWSFhOfbhFeqZAw/w300-h400/IMG_5150.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdvF3AwAQqjBcyVAHnYEZ-RPt7l2CPkEGRHHXONGoiWw4xyHNGFwSkqVNSj0otSnCPcSVweuOnGUTf4haXo-TJbUbylEhKtkU5BuraQCbi_-_Y-NEwwgP6JmBXV9wzdJJBWTLdLuQ3_Ds0LK5pYgbyr9dBTYUusJZPD7OilUZcoNZDmG0qZA/s4032/IMG_5152.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdvF3AwAQqjBcyVAHnYEZ-RPt7l2CPkEGRHHXONGoiWw4xyHNGFwSkqVNSj0otSnCPcSVweuOnGUTf4haXo-TJbUbylEhKtkU5BuraQCbi_-_Y-NEwwgP6JmBXV9wzdJJBWTLdLuQ3_Ds0LK5pYgbyr9dBTYUusJZPD7OilUZcoNZDmG0qZA/w300-h400/IMG_5152.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><div>Overview:</div><div><a href="https://whereiveben.benmoore.info/2023/03/new-zealand-2023.html" target="_blank">New Zealand 2023</a></div></div>Ben Moorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12779518055843568946noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32233713.post-57309326845749379692023-03-26T19:18:00.008-05:002023-04-23T14:51:57.633-05:00New Zealand 2023<div>Way back in 2000, I visited New Zealand for work. I returned home and told my wife what I had seen. It became her #1 bucket list destination. We worked with some of my former co-workers on an itinerary. When I shared our plans with our daughter, she said we weren't going without her so she and our granddaughters went with us.</div><div><br /></div><div>There is no Memphis to Auckland flight scheduled so we had to get creative. With a 13-hour flight in front of us, we took a night in Los Angeles. Just by coincidence, the Four Seasons hotel was full of celebrities getting ready for the Oscars.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEVWi75GW7ymKzq5AIaUADWj_lzgqir7j2fi1o5hGG7xGUkFXOPHTkyhD2awKc4_Xz2y5NYpCD5Ddek_pveYFouzmGQu00C5xnpR_4wlQqJV5HWwb8q9BCQ3TGoHgBVC5PDspNBSWOOGqyA3F5ZcqMfpx2RqP3CRpYOSY2uALntYkRmzCbaw/s3405/IMG_7547.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2554" data-original-width="3405" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEVWi75GW7ymKzq5AIaUADWj_lzgqir7j2fi1o5hGG7xGUkFXOPHTkyhD2awKc4_Xz2y5NYpCD5Ddek_pveYFouzmGQu00C5xnpR_4wlQqJV5HWwb8q9BCQ3TGoHgBVC5PDspNBSWOOGqyA3F5ZcqMfpx2RqP3CRpYOSY2uALntYkRmzCbaw/w400-h300/IMG_7547.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div>New Zealand's North Island has been ravaged lately. First, in January the Auckland area received an <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2023_Auckland_Anniversary_Weekend_floods" target="_blank">entire summer's worth of rain</a> within one day. The airport was <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-01-27/auckland-airport-halts-domestic-international-flights-on-floods#xj4y7vzkg" target="_blank">flooded</a>. Below is the Immigration area.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWIqT8jUrKiJbnJps3UTzYM0a5LQe4X4Mz9Ms978jJv6u98aNBPYptBr7Zy8rNOZ3FXJyWeI70nMzmCcdCay44NMdoGpgP55TT1aOg0jJgzcFKQC07dop1pT7np7q7Bbyz8J58XLQlshmCtJtkuHVX74DNYOwqi_E7vj42fpv54tgB-3DVBg/s4032/IMG_4815.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWIqT8jUrKiJbnJps3UTzYM0a5LQe4X4Mz9Ms978jJv6u98aNBPYptBr7Zy8rNOZ3FXJyWeI70nMzmCcdCay44NMdoGpgP55TT1aOg0jJgzcFKQC07dop1pT7np7q7Bbyz8J58XLQlshmCtJtkuHVX74DNYOwqi_E7vj42fpv54tgB-3DVBg/w400-h300/IMG_4815.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div>That was just the start.</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyclone_Gabrielle" target="_blank">Cyclone Gabrielle</a> hit the North Island mid-February. The damage was widespread and particularly hit one of our planned destinations.</div><div><br /></div><div>We re-swizzled our plans and actually got a couple of bonuses from that.</div><div><br /></div><div>We picked up a Kia Carnival van and headed into Auckland's Harbour area. We checked into the Hilton Auckland on Princes Wharf.</div><div><br /></div><div>In Auckland, we took the ferry to Devenport and climbed Mt. Victoria.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoUwSRbRKTCoizRBdJh0dz8bVHfgEeYmf-5VJBE7LUl0EgqU5F5ISz3sh5d3kwU5h0nE9f3zbr7VX6ZXiV9DqILKc3i7c46gAXmuDBeuvQiMlInlus5_Ettutx4LY60uB6Pj8TCyT4TicX8-EcYvAKM2hEIIMOiy1u1EGAOO914v3qD1WbmQ/s4032/IMG_6400.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoUwSRbRKTCoizRBdJh0dz8bVHfgEeYmf-5VJBE7LUl0EgqU5F5ISz3sh5d3kwU5h0nE9f3zbr7VX6ZXiV9DqILKc3i7c46gAXmuDBeuvQiMlInlus5_Ettutx4LY60uB6Pj8TCyT4TicX8-EcYvAKM2hEIIMOiy1u1EGAOO914v3qD1WbmQ/w400-h300/IMG_6400.heic" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div>We visited the <a href="https://skycityauckland.co.nz/sky-tower/" target="_blank">Sky Tower</a>, the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sky_Tower_(Auckland)" target="_blank">second tallest freestanding structure</a> in the Southern Hemisphere.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEFhMjU4PR7P-n-do2CZM1VJhC6mShX-951rJ9V8k9ZdOF-2S80jcaR-lR4-WFlPRQXlA2ARzZdpKOs337j59AxpzS02a-mt3fvMIvLmrCDQmtOLV324zeDht8Qdj1J8lcVI--ZhkLDqvWE5qmDqFSlDQWNALkRHVuqbG6cl_Euk_hBJdjoA/s3798/IMG_4912.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3798" data-original-width="2848" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEFhMjU4PR7P-n-do2CZM1VJhC6mShX-951rJ9V8k9ZdOF-2S80jcaR-lR4-WFlPRQXlA2ARzZdpKOs337j59AxpzS02a-mt3fvMIvLmrCDQmtOLV324zeDht8Qdj1J8lcVI--ZhkLDqvWE5qmDqFSlDQWNALkRHVuqbG6cl_Euk_hBJdjoA/w300-h400/IMG_4912.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div>Our daughter and oldest granddaughter took the Sky Walk on the outside of the 53rd floor.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUozjgtJKLtt4wcWPPs84nrfL5ivCwNQkwokTvrP3wp7Qk8k2-76BDeIYarnRAabBbo_I4hJeV4G91QOtik_M4Rr1GEks7dBRzvOgJI_dZD7zZ9BITiajmBwtBLBFGyVQ6qZ-lxlrPtNHa5XwifhrmDYlb_Hx1rqYqWV0DiE15SY8b7GZjUQ/s3520/IMG_3032.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1980" data-original-width="3520" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUozjgtJKLtt4wcWPPs84nrfL5ivCwNQkwokTvrP3wp7Qk8k2-76BDeIYarnRAabBbo_I4hJeV4G91QOtik_M4Rr1GEks7dBRzvOgJI_dZD7zZ9BITiajmBwtBLBFGyVQ6qZ-lxlrPtNHa5XwifhrmDYlb_Hx1rqYqWV0DiE15SY8b7GZjUQ/w400-h225/IMG_3032.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>We spent a morning at the <a href="https://www.aucklandzoo.co.nz/" target="_blank">Auckland Zoo</a> where we saw kiwis.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7y8P33HmULl5efGHbgZBEVSv1uiGt2NRKcTmJgD_OD5OqlILmy3isSZc_4NqulXuGODK14VQX6t7giQgI2GH_8ImxF-XriGcM_Rv9x-SZQpMsJ3eBq6M013pakFrx-AVHSpdN6pCgiiW4CeeOXpPcw4Hi5xEXuCUpOfPmcD-IxjUURNRSZw/s3154/FullSizeRender.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3154" data-original-width="2366" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7y8P33HmULl5efGHbgZBEVSv1uiGt2NRKcTmJgD_OD5OqlILmy3isSZc_4NqulXuGODK14VQX6t7giQgI2GH_8ImxF-XriGcM_Rv9x-SZQpMsJ3eBq6M013pakFrx-AVHSpdN6pCgiiW4CeeOXpPcw4Hi5xEXuCUpOfPmcD-IxjUURNRSZw/w300-h400/FullSizeRender.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div>We climbed <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maungakiekie_/_One_Tree_Hill" target="_blank">One Tree Hill</a>, a 600 ft. volcanic peak.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzCv-Maz-SgfTtwCsP61Ri1YLuS9e8HBXEWoyAYrjBDBs4-ty9AfbWuVKaL5Q0VONOkfVbKKhwesQBO3kN-GXg_wjFd4KRA1ZbyzMQCmDTuq_mYWu1VPygKlRRuD7NcpjNdt7nlsvnONs41aYDnIaWY4SpkjIslblySMbA6_rFUUdDZEiUBA/s4032/IMG_4951.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzCv-Maz-SgfTtwCsP61Ri1YLuS9e8HBXEWoyAYrjBDBs4-ty9AfbWuVKaL5Q0VONOkfVbKKhwesQBO3kN-GXg_wjFd4KRA1ZbyzMQCmDTuq_mYWu1VPygKlRRuD7NcpjNdt7nlsvnONs41aYDnIaWY4SpkjIslblySMbA6_rFUUdDZEiUBA/w400-h300/IMG_4951.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div>SEA LIFE Kelly Tarlton's Aquarium had the best penguin exhibit we've seen.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhelJJb9sYmT0yvPiEa89im1GitzxM1UMf8qYM7hdMT8V449iS-NT3nCsdQ4Gv25gQ9eYkdcvkp2uNFcHJUAquIQxchfN6pt6TqyrUWmwPqpSlqzgt_EX8rK3hKLlZ-qEBO35pecGrke1LcYBf0Xnu78o07Gq1ho03qQKiD_vIzYuFnapTvGw/s4032/IMG_4976.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhelJJb9sYmT0yvPiEa89im1GitzxM1UMf8qYM7hdMT8V449iS-NT3nCsdQ4Gv25gQ9eYkdcvkp2uNFcHJUAquIQxchfN6pt6TqyrUWmwPqpSlqzgt_EX8rK3hKLlZ-qEBO35pecGrke1LcYBf0Xnu78o07Gq1ho03qQKiD_vIzYuFnapTvGw/w300-h400/IMG_4976.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div>Afterwards, all three girls took the Harbour Bridge Climb.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_SKH7drVwwAt6Qh81TnxL5_ARJY8-nlRhI5pfmpdKwl7frOhc0K6IWTRue2HgwBJsMUogu3JGaAywg4KQv09mAVV9lYc7hGo8fPNWqwgGi-U7wUEGTIM3UIScpsr8ePxl_erxy-0TLbYwcwAURidfsjnql81q-aRmV91GDkOllXbnreOW0A/s1652/Untitled.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="929" data-original-width="1652" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_SKH7drVwwAt6Qh81TnxL5_ARJY8-nlRhI5pfmpdKwl7frOhc0K6IWTRue2HgwBJsMUogu3JGaAywg4KQv09mAVV9lYc7hGo8fPNWqwgGi-U7wUEGTIM3UIScpsr8ePxl_erxy-0TLbYwcwAURidfsjnql81q-aRmV91GDkOllXbnreOW0A/w400-h225/Untitled.png" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div>We hit the jackpot with our plans to ride horses on the black sand beach. There's a lot to that story. Notice that there's no one else on the beach.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcnwAvT02DWgwlavwpFAF10w0WD7njoiUarZ4JoG6nUgJp9K2oe4i2DgF23Yi1TysC7LKXwDh_U4H-P6O1uPwnrlYL451GqvFoVTlTtjsfu3iAbaTlfbBc7pI2tCCmHEu8GQfjdS9huWRY9Y87Dr0g30MufCCmKPgUGgTQP4u0jQwT2PMEcQ/s4032/IMG_6990.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcnwAvT02DWgwlavwpFAF10w0WD7njoiUarZ4JoG6nUgJp9K2oe4i2DgF23Yi1TysC7LKXwDh_U4H-P6O1uPwnrlYL451GqvFoVTlTtjsfu3iAbaTlfbBc7pI2tCCmHEu8GQfjdS9huWRY9Y87Dr0g30MufCCmKPgUGgTQP4u0jQwT2PMEcQ/w300-h400/IMG_6990.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Our time in Auckland was up and we headed south. Our first stop was <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karioitahi_Beach" target="_blank">Karioitahi Beach</a>, another black sand beach.<div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7jOF8zO--if1-yCWUO_SZkLPd2P0iaGwf0e3byeFY5xDKop-KY3ekTF8OGuNg-wKi5Vs0y_bXVtGUQJKu5KrSKBfgR5ssz2qa4QB9L7NWEQGFSirTPRNNWSmkdPi_jeXK59fRXzM3ZWmgFv66pHfUP52qtFH80h3ZthbNAVdH2k88wX6oWg/s4032/IMG_5206.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7jOF8zO--if1-yCWUO_SZkLPd2P0iaGwf0e3byeFY5xDKop-KY3ekTF8OGuNg-wKi5Vs0y_bXVtGUQJKu5KrSKBfgR5ssz2qa4QB9L7NWEQGFSirTPRNNWSmkdPi_jeXK59fRXzM3ZWmgFv66pHfUP52qtFH80h3ZthbNAVdH2k88wX6oWg/w300-h400/IMG_5206.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div>On toward Rotorua, we passed through Tirua.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXk376EUTOEusbJvy6T9dEv_ZTKw3uYE-h9a5kevpPb9yyiWxds65U6UH6v-ds2FoycDZTYM1FBKEED3Qai4D-L0RRV_IUy4_oeGrOuosHlfEefiDMruo14a7IKBhbzSkQft3gh2rIXXRrBmiY9Sw9-2LrCoPa_UT_ULyjv52J0hOSLTschA/s800/IMG_7302.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXk376EUTOEusbJvy6T9dEv_ZTKw3uYE-h9a5kevpPb9yyiWxds65U6UH6v-ds2FoycDZTYM1FBKEED3Qai4D-L0RRV_IUy4_oeGrOuosHlfEefiDMruo14a7IKBhbzSkQft3gh2rIXXRrBmiY9Sw9-2LrCoPa_UT_ULyjv52J0hOSLTschA/w400-h300/IMG_7302.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div>In Rotorua, the girls resumed their dare-devil activities at ZORB.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMPFPoe-pQ7AQX2WhiA9N4oa0ralrlvyBPrqsb7pgW9xonDEz_CIyrDAh7qGXeY4ZRE4uraJZiQ5gILJw4EXgWIot2ArksvfLw9BHvo3X1X_CZIJuUnYmxIN-fnY4PRGzJCTgrOzSupyVP971anC0YVlyGu6sQqdFoDcYgcZ1RbTVTvllHVQ/s4896/IMG_7564.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2752" data-original-width="4896" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMPFPoe-pQ7AQX2WhiA9N4oa0ralrlvyBPrqsb7pgW9xonDEz_CIyrDAh7qGXeY4ZRE4uraJZiQ5gILJw4EXgWIot2ArksvfLw9BHvo3X1X_CZIJuUnYmxIN-fnY4PRGzJCTgrOzSupyVP971anC0YVlyGu6sQqdFoDcYgcZ1RbTVTvllHVQ/w400-h225/IMG_7564.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div>And Skyline's luges.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSYtcI-G_8Z6Xjo8sVqC30PZsvuDk0dwgAN6oB3CG2x828YkIFhUosOQLhRwR0OKub4jQYbKAW9adIzhDPjFxEN85X6BMWPZHrh02Sd-G_CVujVBbwilcCYDtqwTQ28_PuYUibpYs5iy6H-AMtT-706XZ--on_MBX0rylbseVHDuNcXGmT1g/s3520/IMG_7452.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3520" data-original-width="1980" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSYtcI-G_8Z6Xjo8sVqC30PZsvuDk0dwgAN6oB3CG2x828YkIFhUosOQLhRwR0OKub4jQYbKAW9adIzhDPjFxEN85X6BMWPZHrh02Sd-G_CVujVBbwilcCYDtqwTQ28_PuYUibpYs5iy6H-AMtT-706XZ--on_MBX0rylbseVHDuNcXGmT1g/w225-h400/IMG_7452.JPG" width="225" /></a></div><br /><div>We also visited Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii6-RtUbZkp5qnf2LF_R5RBWDKXAovNcNkT0R6-d7OPXKQN-CHffN2gRxcp6HCJpB_10QNfZstWJu0ZKA6xIBEoBT7spPK7YzHW5WD6lQSnTki0r_rSKnka1NqLpekDL9b5vfwxw8VhBiMsI2sf9w13XtFsfm1nlgEpXoIrg9ZRuo7cwfVnQ/s4032/IMG_5289.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii6-RtUbZkp5qnf2LF_R5RBWDKXAovNcNkT0R6-d7OPXKQN-CHffN2gRxcp6HCJpB_10QNfZstWJu0ZKA6xIBEoBT7spPK7YzHW5WD6lQSnTki0r_rSKnka1NqLpekDL9b5vfwxw8VhBiMsI2sf9w13XtFsfm1nlgEpXoIrg9ZRuo7cwfVnQ/w400-h300/IMG_5289.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div>After a 12-hour flight and 2 Sundays, we made it back to Los Angeles and spent the night at Hermosa Beach.</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMCi6GbGMVqpHSVi0LgLbz1rkPsqS7YYvZFtr4opPvNZ4L17BwTIXoY0-TvvehOr8taEwddF2rqPKu0GUy7CmOhrlBAThS2rDSkCKYaSA2Wlj3l7O9sMn5Sh1mtIKiAuRl7FSi1yQsXxoQouwolK-kcP7BqdSQhzlletf_Lz80WPhBjuJelw/s2858/IMG_5522.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2143" data-original-width="2858" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMCi6GbGMVqpHSVi0LgLbz1rkPsqS7YYvZFtr4opPvNZ4L17BwTIXoY0-TvvehOr8taEwddF2rqPKu0GUy7CmOhrlBAThS2rDSkCKYaSA2Wlj3l7O9sMn5Sh1mtIKiAuRl7FSi1yQsXxoQouwolK-kcP7BqdSQhzlletf_Lz80WPhBjuJelw/w400-h300/IMG_5522.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div>This is just an overview of our trip. I will be updating this post and adding more posts with much more detail.<div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbEccsP7aTQR2e6szKm6G26AiRImLg8v_PVjDRBv8mHUDFIDf2cEWMLH_wzz8LmAqOvqOxbUYJYW28ngNt7sQE4kLvwhgVTxBkkSZ1P1Y9zML2vJD5Y1o9q7PCCXoawiTmKKffp4DTCiDuNgn4JCGy91tAxdBUCZpmsCxWyAGxvaiirQIfKQ/s4032/Fish%20Market%20and%20Sky%20Tower.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbEccsP7aTQR2e6szKm6G26AiRImLg8v_PVjDRBv8mHUDFIDf2cEWMLH_wzz8LmAqOvqOxbUYJYW28ngNt7sQE4kLvwhgVTxBkkSZ1P1Y9zML2vJD5Y1o9q7PCCXoawiTmKKffp4DTCiDuNgn4JCGy91tAxdBUCZpmsCxWyAGxvaiirQIfKQ/w300-h400/Fish%20Market%20and%20Sky%20Tower.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /></div></div></div></div><div>Other posts:</div><div><a href="https://whereiveben.benmoore.info/2023/04/auckland.html" target="_blank">Auckland</a></div><div><a href="https://whereiveben.benmoore.info/2023/04/karioitahi-beach.html" target="_blank">Karioitahi Beach</a></div><div><a href="https://whereiveben.benmoore.info/2023/04/rotorua.html" target="_blank">Rotorua</a></div><div><a href="https://whereiveben.benmoore.info/2023/04/los-angeles-before-and-after.html" target="_blank">Los Angeles - Before and After</a></div><div><a href="https://whereiveben.benmoore.info/2023/04/new-zealand-geotracks.html" target="_blank">New Zealand Geotracks</a></div>Ben Moorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12779518055843568946noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32233713.post-55273643904603102362022-11-20T19:41:00.014-06:002024-01-24T12:27:13.429-06:00Mackinac Island<a href="https://www.mackinacisland.org" target="_blank">Mackinac Island</a> has been on our list for a long time. Cars have been banned on Mackinac Island since 1898. There are more horses on the island than people. More veterinarians than doctors. The taxis are radio dispatched carriages. Bicycles are used by the porters for the hotels. The island does have a distinct aroma.<div><br /></div><div>Mackinac Island is hard to get to. After our exciting <a href="https://whereiveben.benmoore.info/2022/07/remember-suburban.html" target="_blank">return trip from Edinburgh</a>, we wanted something simpler. We flew from Memphis to Detroit with no checked bags and drove to Mackinaw City. We took the <a href="https://www.mackinacferry.com" target="_blank">Star Line Ferry</a> over to Mackinac Island. We bought tickets for the ferry online but we should have pre-paid for Self Park Secure parking as well.</div><div><br /></div><div>The ferry ride is less than 30 minutes and you arrive in the center of the business district on Mackinac Island. The porters for the hotels will pick up your baggage and beat you back to your hotel. Take your time strolling down Main St. sampling the fudge.</div><div><br /></div><div>We stayed at the Harbour View Inn. While it was a perfect location, I'll let you read my <a href="https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g42423-d268860-r855796207-Harbour_View_inn-Mackinac_Island_Mackinac_County_Upper_Peninsula_Michigan.html" target="_blank">Tripadvisor review</a> for the details.</div><div><br /></div><div>We dined at several of the finer restaurants including <a href="https://www.pinkponymackinac.com" target="_blank">The Pink Pony</a>, the <a href="https://www.carriagehousemackinac.com" target="_blank">Carriage House</a>, and the <a href="https://1852grillroom.com" target="_blank">1852 Grill Room</a>. All three of them were exceptional. Reservations are pretty much mandatory.</div><div><div><br /></div><div>We also dined at some of the more casual restaurants including <a href="https://www.mackinacisland.org/restaurant/bills-grill" target="_blank">Bill's Grill</a> and <a href="https://mightymachamburgers.com" target="_blank">Mighty Mac's</a>. Like the finer restaurants, the food was great but no reservations were necessary. If you need incidentals, try <a href="https://www.doudsmarket.com" target="_blank">Doud's Market</a>.</div><div><br /></div><div>We took the <a href="https://www.mict.com" target="_blank">Mackinac Island Carriage Tour</a>. That tour gives you insights into the island that you won't see from Main St. The waiting line looked long but it moved really fast. The tour is, of course, on a horse-drawn wagon. Once you get away from Main St., Mackinac Island is somewhat hilly so the horses kept getting swapped for fresh horses. There are a number of stops and 3 choices of how to exit the tour. Be sure and ask your driver where they're from. One of ours was from Romania and another was from Arkansas.</div><div><br /></div><div>We elected to depart the tour at the <a href="https://www.grandhotel.com" target="_blank">Grand Hotel</a> for ice cream and took a taxi back to our hotel.</div><div><br /></div><div>The Grand Hotel is a destination in its own right and we returned the next day. There's a $10 charge for visiting it but it's well worth it. There are interesting shops and incredible views along the 660 ft. front porch. We had drinks in the Cupola Bar with a beautiful view.</div></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.app.goo.gl/aH6t3Ew216nTDyG59" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitdBUtIwqGqXu0IeyTEMVhJmadB5p-XbsIFmE_jNgFP3IlorcDK4l8X0gwj_gLZqOz04nranfAezklIgbBEz6q04DS_0TEHjNotKrZo_I3T8RJ2ubbaCh6sfz1LPpYvjxaa8vx4dfDke2qB3XURcej-yoigODh7ct392R_JKcxJvAiQamVVw/w400-h300/IMG_2117.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.app.goo.gl/aH6t3Ew216nTDyG59" target="_blank">Slide Show</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><iframe allowfullscreen="" height="450" loading="lazy" referrerpolicy="no-referrer-when-downgrade" src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed?pb=!1m18!1m12!1m3!1d38699.702613089445!2d-84.65298913573255!3d45.863450909663676!2m3!1f0!2f0!3f0!3m2!1i1024!2i768!4f13.1!3m3!1m2!1s0x4d35f189aad9ae85%3A0xdfba14915cd6c1f7!2sMackinac%20Island%2C%20MI%2049757!5e0!3m2!1sen!2sus!4v1668913839508!5m2!1sen!2sus" style="border: 0;" width="600"></iframe></div>Ben Moorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12779518055843568946noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32233713.post-66058535452584675232022-11-06T19:21:00.001-06:002022-11-06T19:21:00.188-06:00Ireland Dashcam HighlightsI ran a dashcam for the entire trip in 2022. Here are some of the highlights.<div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/x49SmsQY-SE" width="400" youtube-src-id="x49SmsQY-SE"></iframe></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/jO11jGF10wI" width="400" youtube-src-id="jO11jGF10wI"></iframe></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/NTX6QbZbSV4" width="400" youtube-src-id="NTX6QbZbSV4"></iframe></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/sAIYrTHrQb4" width="400" youtube-src-id="sAIYrTHrQb4"></iframe></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/fKFcVzDvhr4" width="400" youtube-src-id="fKFcVzDvhr4"></iframe></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/r8_EoAEhAQM" width="400" youtube-src-id="r8_EoAEhAQM"></iframe></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/MAL9_5qetKo" width="400" youtube-src-id="MAL9_5qetKo"></iframe></div><br />Ben Moorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12779518055843568946noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32233713.post-86345419764026972672022-10-30T19:38:00.002-05:002022-10-30T20:07:00.304-05:00Ireland Geotracks<div>Here's a map of where we went in Ireland. I didn't capture the last day's drive back to Dublin.</div><div><br /></div><div>I used my old Motorola Moto X and <a href="https://gpslogger.app" target="_blank">GPS Logger</a> app.</div><div><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe height="480" src="https://www.google.com/maps/d/embed?mid=1JScyEbOeWibRtJBYlvBxL6_Ynq6jqSY&ehbc=2E312F" width="640"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Zoom in and you can really see some details.</div>Ben Moorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12779518055843568946noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32233713.post-21177556600133712912022-10-23T19:53:00.011-05:002022-10-23T19:53:00.195-05:00EdinburghOur hotel, <a href="https://whereiveben.benmoore.info/2022/10/cheval-old-town-chambers.html" target="_blank">Cheval Old Town Chambers</a>, was in the middle of the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Mile" target="_blank">Royal Mile</a> connecting <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edinburgh_Castle" target="_blank">Edinburgh Castle</a> and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holyrood_Palace" target="_blank">Holyrood Palace</a>. When you walked out the front door, you were in the middle of the Scottish Bourbon Street!<div><br /></div><div>From one end to the other of the Royal Mile were shops, restaurants, street performers, medieval landmarks, everything!</div><div><br /></div><div>We started our time there with a great walking tour by <a href="https://whereiveben.benmoore.info/2022/10/john-mowbray-executive-travel-tours.html" target="_blank">John Mowbray</a>. It was tailored just for us particularly considering the 2 girls and the several senior citizens. We covered some of the Royal Mile near our hotel and then proceeded down the hill to the Old Town.</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://edinburgh.org/neighbourhoods/grassmarket/" target="_blank">Grassmarket</a> has a open air market and more shops and restaurants. John shared all the backstories on the sites along the way, e.g. <a href="https://www.cntraveler.com/bars/edinburgh/the-last-drop" target="_blank">The Last Drop</a> and <a href="https://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/usbiography/d/maggiedickson.html" target="_blank">Maggie Dickson</a>. Then to <a href="https://ewh.org.uk/street-stories/victoria-street/" target="_blank">Victoria Street</a>.</div><div><br /></div><div>One of the most interesting sites was <a href="https://greyfriarskirk.com/visit/kirkyard/" target="_blank">Greyfriars Kirkyard</a> (cemetery). There were several graves there related to the Harry Potter story and "<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greyfriars_Bobby" target="_blank">Greyfriars Bobby</a>." Bobby was a dog who sat guard at his owner's grave for 14 years.</div><div><br /></div><div>We weren't able to visit Holyrood Palace as there was a royal in residence and visitors weren't allowed. Maybe next time.</div><div><br /></div><div>From our hotel, Edinburgh Castle is UPHILL to get there and then more UPHILL inside.</div><div><br /></div><div>The one thing I wanted to see in the castle was the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stone_of_Scone" target="_blank">Coronation Stone</a>. My first viewing of it was under the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coronation_Chair" target="_blank">Coronation Chair</a> in Westminster Abbey in 1990. In 1996, the British Government returned the stone to Scotland. It was taken to Edinburgh Castle where it is now kept with the Scottish Crown Jewels. Then when I visited Westminster Abbey in <a href="https://whereiveben.benmoore.info/2006/11/westminster-abbey.html" target="_blank">2003</a>, it was no longer under the Coronation Chair. So I wanted to close the circle and see the Coronation Stone in its new home.</div><div><br /></div><div>I checked that box. Unfortunately you couldn't take photos there so you'll have to take my word for it.</div><div><br /></div><div>Around the corner and down the hill from Old Town Chambers is Cockburn Street. There are <a href="https://goo.gl/maps/H8GxRNKF917HrGXm8" target="_blank">pharmacies</a> (drug stores), <a href="https://www.belhavenpubs.co.uk/pubs/midlothian/malt-shovel-inn" target="_blank">pubs</a>, and best of all <a href="https://www.artisangelatoedinburgh.com" target="_blank">gelato shops</a>. We spent a lot of time on Cockburn Street.</div><div><br /></div><div>There's WAY more information on my daughter's <a href="https://twohigsarebetterthanone.blogspot.com/2022/08/edinburgh-2022.html" target="_blank">post</a>.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.app.goo.gl/pEJqRfV58T1KiFc1A" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4896" data-original-width="3672" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1fVYuFug0jsaFZsTXQHXomuwYi7kA_rOikmPYT1XVJF_6390NqQPOtiP4GAsLbJ09j6nHEGXNuoZtmI3gceMpXe3K60JivbSvgqQCBb0K0aI12o57eil-uILyxKF9julxYjH4ykeP5u3WcgXZTPqL-MbWvpqLz-B20CV5I_eHtQET5FQnjw/w300-h400/P1110377.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.app.goo.gl/pEJqRfV58T1KiFc1A" target="_blank">Slide Show</a></div><br /><div><br /></div>Ben Moorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12779518055843568946noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32233713.post-44123722557016560042022-10-16T19:44:00.013-05:002022-10-16T19:44:00.221-05:00Cheval Old Town ChambersSo much of our trip was a semi-repeat of previous trips to Ireland that we wanted to add another country. Why not Scotland? After all, it's nearby.<div><br /></div><div>Pretty much knowing nothing of Scotland we decided to just focus on Edinburgh.</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://whereiveben.benmoore.info/2022/10/john-mowbray-executive-travel-tours.html" target="_blank">John Mowbray</a> met us at the Edinburgh airport and transported us to <a href="https://www.chevalcollection.com/cheval-old-town-chambers" target="_blank">Cheval Old Town Chambers</a>. Talk about being in the MIDDLE of everything. We were at the mid-point of the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Mile" target="_blank">Royal Mile</a>. If we could have just put a pin in a map as to where we wanted to stay, that would have been it.</div><div><br /></div><div>As noted earlier, we had started planning this trip in 2018 for 2019. From 2018 to 2022, the Old Town Chambers has changed hands but the staff and facility were unchanged. Oh, it had been renovated so it was very fresh and up to date.</div><div><br /></div><div>Old Town Chambers is a collection of buildings with walkways between them. These walkways traverse welcoming open areas, one with a nice restaurant/bar. The interior hallways wander up and down and around inside the buildings. My son-in-law said that being the architect for those buildings would either be fun or a nightmare.</div><div><br /></div><div>We had two 2-bedroom suites each with 2 baths, a den, and a laundry area. They were just across the hall from one another. They were incredible accommodations with a staff to match.</div><div><br /></div><div>You can tell from this photo of the elevator panel that that part of Edinburgh is quite hilly.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.app.goo.gl/iuZRHRaw834nHoqB9" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBc1UDRPP_kCvQqbW9_3A7zjhuFuMnfnhn1_J3wqgUAFQoH4-hVpg61piTIa1O8ApeI2v13OO3OlIIViH8KIBWge9BYoKH3k3a_O6Ca4Se9Gqo4RLm72E8_4U0hGnOeB4yZ5sAP8U2kEyNd4qAAUtgGBHNEnD-yu7Lo1HOyzJ3MyMbHyh1Ww/w300-h400/IMG_1632.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.app.goo.gl/iuZRHRaw834nHoqB9" target="_blank">Slide Show</a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" height="450" loading="lazy" referrerpolicy="no-referrer-when-downgrade" src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed?pb=!1m18!1m12!1m3!1d558.4916559994899!2d-3.1912934199821454!3d55.949950393309386!2m3!1f0!2f0!3f0!3m2!1i1024!2i768!4f13.1!3m3!1m2!1s0x4887c7855174241b%3A0xefddb6a82bd4b8f3!2sCheval%20Old%20Town%20Chambers!5e0!3m2!1sen!2sus!4v1663700899643!5m2!1sen!2sus" style="border: 0;" width="600"></iframe></div>
Ben Moorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12779518055843568946noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32233713.post-10267780827497824562022-10-09T19:58:00.000-05:002022-10-09T19:58:00.209-05:00John Mowbray Executive Travel & Tours<div>With all the golf tournaments in Scotland during the time we visited Edinburgh, we had trouble arranging airport transfers and tours. <a href="http://www.johnmowbrayprivatehire.com/" target="_blank">John Mowbray Executive Travel & Tours</a> bent over backwards to serve us. He met our group of 7 at the airport and had a van large enough for our American-sized luggage! He had even tracked our flight and realized that we were going to be late arriving.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8kiY73i58ydJLxrrNWJCcLU4UNDxVo7b1A9su80K7HogR9awapcSDZD0vq9NpsNvrctv_G8uZlEMwDOErH7jF7Ca-lQ_9WObUrzZlwmcpm9ePkhCDFcvcwjPxnBnqEx2dj4Mh9_euVPYtalKt3LZ300HgoPg3mLbPPYexsnOYb_4TYutB5g/s400/_m7NsAzb_400x400%5B1%5D.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="400" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8kiY73i58ydJLxrrNWJCcLU4UNDxVo7b1A9su80K7HogR9awapcSDZD0vq9NpsNvrctv_G8uZlEMwDOErH7jF7Ca-lQ_9WObUrzZlwmcpm9ePkhCDFcvcwjPxnBnqEx2dj4Mh9_euVPYtalKt3LZ300HgoPg3mLbPPYexsnOYb_4TYutB5g/w400-h400/_m7NsAzb_400x400%5B1%5D.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><div>The next morning he met us at nearby <a href="https://www.nicholsonspubs.co.uk/restaurants/scotlandandnorthernireland/deaconbrodiestavernroyalmileedinburgh#/" target="_blank">Deacon Brodies Tavern</a> for a walking tour. When he saw our group included 2 children he immediately changed his agenda to include more Harry Potter sites. Miraculously, he organized the walk to be mostly downhill! Seriously, he arranged the steep steps to be taken downhill and the uphill stretches to be on gentle slopes.</div><div><br /></div><div>The anecdotes he shared during the visit to <a href="https://greyfriarskirk.com/visit/kirkyard/" target="_blank">Greyfriars Kirkyard</a> cemetery kept both the young and old entertained.</div></div>Ben Moorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12779518055843568946noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32233713.post-89750420783607328242022-10-02T19:12:00.001-05:002022-10-02T20:27:58.859-05:00Off to ScotlandAfter a couple of nights at <a href="https://whereiveben.benmoore.info/2022/09/the-lodge-at-ashford-castle-cong-mayo.html" target="_blank">Ashford Castle</a>, we took all the tires that would hold air and headed back to Dublin.<div><br /></div><div>We had pre-paid for fuel and coasted into the Dublin airport with about 1 liter remaining. The Transport used diesel and the typical cost in Ireland was $8.26 per gallon.</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://www.enterprise.com/en/car-rental/locations/ireland/dublin-airport-i118.html" target="_blank">Enterprise</a> didn't blink at what was left of the Transport and even reimbursed us for the replacement tire.</div><div><br /></div><div>We took <a href="https://www.ryanair.com/ie/en" target="_blank">Ryanair</a> from Dublin to Edinburgh. For all the hoops that Ryanair imposes on you to buy a ticket, the airport experience was typical airline. Their check-in area was well staffed and moved quickly. Of course, the flight was late but every flight we took was late.</div><div><br /></div><div>Seven of us flew from Dublin to Edinburgh for a fraction of what we paid per person for Memphis to Dublin.</div><div><br /></div><div>The Irish airport security (think US TSA) was disorganized and the only difficult clearance we had on the trip.</div><div><br /></div><div>In spite of the UK's leaving the EU, there was no security, immigration, nor customs for our Ireland to Scotland flight upon our arrival in Edinburgh.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE0lfJm2V1eEVvXMsyOWKKJipbCHOx64depFQ5R5uhFSdj8D35lMQa77hVgQWL4ooVdFEFeXG6ypEYCShHX9ys_2tNVLrY1G_HUSBeYIvXMYXhzC6LlenCCUXgIzvjZtz_KT80huToVfmsjh6JyKfrDR2REX5IsAyxet79Hmkni-ptAwkGsQ/s3011/2022-07-08%2013.39.11.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1626" data-original-width="3011" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE0lfJm2V1eEVvXMsyOWKKJipbCHOx64depFQ5R5uhFSdj8D35lMQa77hVgQWL4ooVdFEFeXG6ypEYCShHX9ys_2tNVLrY1G_HUSBeYIvXMYXhzC6LlenCCUXgIzvjZtz_KT80huToVfmsjh6JyKfrDR2REX5IsAyxet79Hmkni-ptAwkGsQ/w400-h216/2022-07-08%2013.39.11.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div>Ben Moorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12779518055843568946noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32233713.post-17891614782162965322022-09-25T19:12:00.046-05:002022-09-25T19:12:00.206-05:00The Lodge at Ashford Castle, Cong, Mayo, IrelandWhen we visit <a href="https://ashfordcastle.com" target="_blank">Ashford Castle</a>, we stay across the way at <a href="https://thelodgeac.com" target="_blank">The Lodge at Ashford Castle.</a> Not only is the price better but the atmosphere is more relaxed. And you get all the benefits of staying in the Castle. The service staff is exceptional. They always know your name and bend over backwards to help you.<div><br /></div>The actual Castle is 1/2 mile away and there's a Land Rover available to run you back and forth.<br /><div><br /></div><div>We repeated several of our activities from our last <a href="https://whereiveben.benmoore.info/2015/07/the-lodge-at-ashford-castle-cong-mayo.html" target="_blank">visit</a>, but added some.</div><div><br /></div><div><div>As we visited the Castle we noticed that there were statues of Irish wolfhounds beside the door. We asked the doorman (in his top hat of course) why they were there. He offered that we could help walk the wolfhounds the next morning at 8:00AM.</div><div><br /></div><div>So the next morning we turned up at the Castle (in the Land Rover) and joined a small crowd to go walk the dogs. We were led to a 6 ft. gate nearby. The dogs were inside in a van. James Knight, the handler, cautioned us not to feed them and released them. They were HUGE!</div><div><br /></div><div>Their names are Cronan And Garvan. When he went around the crowd asking where we were from we answered "Memphis." He then explained that the wolfhounds were there because Stanley Tollman, the owner of Ashford Castle, had visited the Peabody in Memphis and was enthralled by the ducks in the lobby fountain. Upon his return to Ashford Castle, he began a tradition of having the wolfhounds presented in the lobby daily.</div><div><br /></div><div>The walk lasted about 45 minutes and the dogs performed all the necessary functions.</div><div><br /></div><div>We had the <a href="https://www.falconry.ie" target="_blank">falconry</a> experience again this time with our daughter and granddaughter. It is a walk through the nearby forests with the Harris Hawks foraging for food. When they would return to the girls, they would swoop down with their huge wings extended.</div><div><br /></div><div>Afterwards we got to visit with the family of ferrets. One pair was named Charles and Camilla. I'll let you speculate why. That was a big hit with the girls.</div><div><br /></div><div>The manager of the falconry is Debbie Knight, James' wife. Here's a good <a href="https://www.rsvplive.ie/life/ashford-castles-most-famous-feature-24481876" target="_blank">article</a> (<a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20210801230633/https://www.rsvplive.ie/life/ashford-castles-most-famous-feature-24481876" target="_blank">archive.org</a>) on James and Debbie.</div><div><br /></div><div>Our younger granddaughter had just turned 6 so we had lunch in the drawing room of the Castle followed by cake and ice cream as we had done for our older granddaughter on the previous trip. They sang "Happy Birthday" and took photos. The younger granddaughter enjoyed exploring the Castle.</div><div><br /></div><div>After lunch, the girls had a <a href="https://ashfordcastle.com/experiences-and-activities/equestrian" target="_blank">trail ride</a> through the grounds.</div><div><br /></div><div>The reception staff at the Lodge had made all the arrangements for us and everything came off perfectly.</div><div><br /></div><div>For dinner, we drove up to Cong and explored the ruins of the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cong_Abbey" target="_blank">Abbey</a> and played on the banks of the river.</div><div><br /></div><div>Incidentally, the Lodge is in County Mayo and the Castle is in County Galway.</div><div><br /></div><div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">The Lodge's web site is </span><a href="http://www.thelodgeac.com/" style="background-color: white; color: #2187bb; font-family: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">here</a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"> and the TripAdvisor reviews are </span><a href="http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g663560-d2203542-Reviews-The_Lodge_at_Ashford_Castle-Cong_County_Mayo_Western_Ireland.html" style="background-color: white; color: #2187bb; font-family: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">here</a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">.</span></div></div><div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">Interestingly, our guide for the falconry shared with us that </span>many of the words and phrases associated with falconry have made their way into the everyday English language.</div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><b>Under your thumb</b> Refers to tightly gripping the bird’s tethers to keep it under control.</li><li><b>Wrapped around my little finger</b> Falconers wrap the tethers around their pinky to prevent the bird from flying away.</li><li><b>Fed up</b> When a bird has eaten its fill, it will no longer hunt.</li></ul></div><div><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.app.goo.gl/fqMCHvprStrHGrtZA
" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2337" data-original-width="1753" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR-TH4CWCcXEcx47Vo7eazHovJfo8pgPFWw1dEZ9PBUo6yqpm--K8R_9EaZvfh4L7aFUcGaMaUFjx6prRORy8vcNNkmeivVtOns-5IXrfDmTMzBIn56wrWvIPUMRTrFkeXOvM2HLhe5Avc9g8qMLYSDNngjFW4eSBJLdmFVE2rnSGk5KbjpA/w300-h400/IMG_1547.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.app.goo.gl/fqMCHvprStrHGrtZA" target="_blank">Slide Show</a></div></div><div><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" height="450" loading="lazy" referrerpolicy="no-referrer-when-downgrade" src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed?pb=!1m18!1m12!1m3!1d10708.695056365752!2d-9.281675483610776!3d53.533595214490525!2m3!1f0!2f0!3f0!3m2!1i1024!2i768!4f13.1!3m3!1m2!1s0x485bc32f1978e0b3%3A0x63c7a3d72c6cc899!2sWilde's%20at%20the%20Lodge!5e0!3m2!1sen!2sus!4v1661889043468!5m2!1sen!2sus" style="border: 0;" width="600"></iframe></div>Ben Moorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12779518055843568946noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32233713.post-9761879666203585142022-09-18T19:55:00.006-05:002022-09-18T19:55:00.184-05:00Cliffs of Moher, Clare, IrelandWe had visited the Cliffs of Moher in <a href="https://whereiveben.benmoore.info/2008/03/cliffs-of-moher-clare-ireland_07.html" target="_blank">2007</a>. We stopped there again in 2022 on our way to Ashford Castle.<div><br /></div><div>In 2007, the weather was clear. Not so much in 2022. It wasn't really raining but the air was saturated with moisture. And the wind was beyond blustery.</div><div><br /></div><div>We ate a quick lunch in the Visitor Centre and then tried to walk up toward <a href="https://www.cliffsofmoher.ie/about-the-cliffs-of-moher/cliffs-of-moher/obriens-tower" target="_blank">O'Brien's Tower.</a> The wind had a different idea.</div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;">Their web site is </span><a href="http://www.cliffsofmoher.ie/" style="background-color: white; color: #2187bb; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">here</a><span style="background-color: white;"> and the wikipedia article is </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cliffs_of_Moher" style="background-color: white; color: #2187bb; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">here</a><span style="background-color: white;">.</span></span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;" /></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.app.goo.gl/LT6pK4y8cmbD4fUh9" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb7W99-tQ721b39S5hdXzqmzNpKmSvrqmvnP6syg2s6iCSGQZX2MiLhHDZH3_c09nmfW1tAFStuWA-s5Aja25fdu-w9xmbZ27sswK24AkF_pE4vpf8yi3mzMgfiX99wiyCrRYdPaAxbCLlrYIfGAiHgvTDULpjndwCjLtPcfVqpoj_mkpWAg/w400-h300/2022-07-06%2015.13.44.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.app.goo.gl/LT6pK4y8cmbD4fUh9" target="_blank">Slide Show</a></div><div><br /></div></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" height="450" loading="lazy" referrerpolicy="no-referrer-when-downgrade" src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed?pb=!1m18!1m12!1m3!1d9610.861164042532!2d-9.439637166342258!3d52.97153592843299!2m3!1f0!2f0!3f0!3m2!1i1024!2i768!4f13.1!3m3!1m2!1s0x485b01af0bb881f3%3A0x283a469048b8c0e6!2sCliffs%20of%20Moher!5e0!3m2!1sen!2sus!4v1661368289267!5m2!1sen!2sus" style="border: 0;" width="600"></iframe></div>Ben Moorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12779518055843568946noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32233713.post-18331284473836616862022-09-11T19:35:00.005-05:002022-09-11T20:09:54.023-05:00Tarbert Car Ferry, Kerry, Ireland<div>To get from the <a href="https://whereiveben.benmoore.info/2022/09/the-shores-country-house-cappatigue.html" target="_blank">Shores Country House</a> to the Cliffs of Moher we took the ferry across the Shannon estuary. It goes from Tarbert in County Kerry to Killimer in County Clare in about 20 minutes.</div><div><br /></div><div>The ferry is run by <a href="https://www.shannonferries.com" target="_blank">Shannon Ferries Ltd.</a></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPwf8ZD54KApgDZcYwKjYZiF_Y9fDs1BuhOQ150M68r2Iidv_97iEQIRMOWJjSbEKFyHsQIUEJeEDDVjr5MnFamLLRxioZX2aU94q5vV_2GIZsizBQLUmql33Mv-Rr6CJAGT0fijQfJRtW-Tpt6EvtWQghU4Mzakd2hcYnMpnuexe3WiX05A/s2567/IMG_2758.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1925" data-original-width="2567" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPwf8ZD54KApgDZcYwKjYZiF_Y9fDs1BuhOQ150M68r2Iidv_97iEQIRMOWJjSbEKFyHsQIUEJeEDDVjr5MnFamLLRxioZX2aU94q5vV_2GIZsizBQLUmql33Mv-Rr6CJAGT0fijQfJRtW-Tpt6EvtWQghU4Mzakd2hcYnMpnuexe3WiX05A/w400-h300/IMG_2758.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge-i6FmgwUsL6DfBDFwH4xfDOL_R32ysAS58jOl-a4RYxhUPGcO4_g20QtGdajYjYOXQuUhHP5Opx4FMQg3IIAibQr7HJdGC36wz82xjV_Y9gIhi9i4GLMsxhxETRJKbbYoU6jh-r6qJgDfi5BHDlVQZY8GT3hCaA6-yPLWQ_ePnuCFKmfiQ/s4032/2022-07-06%2012.24.50.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge-i6FmgwUsL6DfBDFwH4xfDOL_R32ysAS58jOl-a4RYxhUPGcO4_g20QtGdajYjYOXQuUhHP5Opx4FMQg3IIAibQr7HJdGC36wz82xjV_Y9gIhi9i4GLMsxhxETRJKbbYoU6jh-r6qJgDfi5BHDlVQZY8GT3hCaA6-yPLWQ_ePnuCFKmfiQ/w300-h400/2022-07-06%2012.24.50.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="332" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/r8_EoAEhAQM" width="399" youtube-src-id="r8_EoAEhAQM"></iframe></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" height="450" loading="lazy" referrerpolicy="no-referrer-when-downgrade" src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed?pb=!1m18!1m12!1m3!1d2424.0249700775335!2d-9.361987684835015!3d52.58724177982696!2m3!1f0!2f0!3f0!3m2!1i1024!2i768!4f13.1!3m3!1m2!1s0x485b2755a691d881%3A0xe617a21a2a06e05!2sTarbert%20Ferry!5e0!3m2!1sen!2sus!4v1661366897248!5m2!1sen!2sus" style="border: 0;" width="600"></iframe></div>Ben Moorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12779518055843568946noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32233713.post-76080394605334894902022-09-04T19:57:00.012-05:002022-09-04T19:57:00.193-05:00The Shores Country House, Cappatigue, Kerry, IrelandWhat more can I say about the Shores Country House? I've posted about it <a href="https://whereiveben.benmoore.info/2008/03/shores-country-house-cappatigue-kerry.html" target="_blank">here</a> and <a href="https://whereiveben.benmoore.info/2015/10/the-shores-country-house-cappatigue.html" target="_blank">here</a>. It's still the one place my son-in-law insists on staying when we visit Ireland. An my daughter's post says "we gorged ourselves on our favorite breakfast in the world." And I stand by my earlier comment "The Shores Country House is one of the nicest places we've stayed anywhere, anytime, PERIOD."<div><br /></div><div>The rooms had been renovated since our last visit and the Internet worked great. But don't stay on the Internet too long. Get out and walk around. The grounds are beautiful and overlook Brandon Bay and the longest beach in Ireland.</div><div><br /></div><div>Annette O'Mahony is the consummate host and cook. She has moved her website <a href="https://shorescountry.tripcombined.com/" target="_blank">here</a> (<a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20211018121648/https://shorescountry.tripcombined.com/" target="_blank">archive.org</a>). The Tripadvisor reviews are <a href="https://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g211857-d284765-Reviews-The_Shores_Country_House-Castlegregory_Dingle_Peninsula_County_Kerry.html#REVIEWS" target="_blank">here</a> but they're pretty much all 5.0s.</div><div><br /></div><div>On the way in, we dined at <a href="https://www.spillanesbar.com" target="_blank">Spillane's Bar</a> on Stradbally.</div><div><br /></div><div>On the way out, we backtracked a little and visited the waterfall on Conor Pass. It was raining so we didn't explore Peddlers Lake like we had done before but we were treated to a beautiful rainbow.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.app.goo.gl/J8JE7SognrpwMStQA" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX_DE0o2zIphXG6cy00Nq2F_-jDRjA3jCa_TlTkgLgdubWDcyb64ATg_58amfco3YiKJ8cxxM1rDyi2XcArsqAWUAkkOKKUEYLvmQAU5uOY5r8VltPuBQw4GEy0mWYMO8MO-rygajn_uDTh2piVlhyHL6qYQaCIX2raRB9L8mk2z5tGJVnMA/w300-h400/IMG_1461.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.app.goo.gl/J8JE7SognrpwMStQA" target="_blank">Slide Show</a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" height="450" loading="lazy" referrerpolicy="no-referrer-when-downgrade" src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed?pb=!1m18!1m12!1m3!1d2443.172097943151!2d-10.095197784788873!3d52.24025766467615!2m3!1f0!2f0!3f0!3m2!1i1024!2i768!4f13.1!3m3!1m2!1s0x484554ef86154689%3A0x204654206e9ced3c!2sThe%20Shores%20Country%20House!5e0!3m2!1sen!2sus!4v1661347690343!5m2!1sen!2sus" style="border: 0;" width="600"></iframe> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" height="450" loading="lazy" referrerpolicy="no-referrer-when-downgrade" src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed?pb=!1m18!1m12!1m3!1d19517.658615672437!2d-10.057582362131196!3d52.303166360029124!2m3!1f0!2f0!3f0!3m2!1i1024!2i768!4f13.1!3m3!1m2!1s0x4845357aff02f3a9%3A0x129f0b3a8b90f278!2sSpillane's%20Bar%20%26%20Restaurant!5e0!3m2!1sen!2sus!4v1661347971686!5m2!1sen!2sus" style="border: 0;" width="600"></iframe><span style="text-align: left;">
x</span></div>Ben Moorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12779518055843568946noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32233713.post-15965996755036621132022-08-28T19:10:00.005-05:002022-08-28T19:10:00.179-05:00Ring of Kerry, Kerry, IrelandOne of the places we visited for the first time on our 2022 trip was the Ring of Kerry.<div><br /></div><div>We traveled the Ring of Kerry on our drive from <a href="https://whereiveben.benmoore.info/2022/07/galley-head-lighthouse-clonakilty-cork.html" target="_blank">Galley Head Lighthouse</a> to Shores Country House. With a car load including 2 children, we had to pick our stops carefully. I think we succeeded!</div><div><br /></div><div>Our first stop was Staigue Stone Fort. It's a couple of miles off N70 but worth the drive.</div><div><br /></div><div>Staigue Fort is one of the largest ring forts in Ireland. It stands on an low hill, with a view of Kenmare bay to the south and is very impressive in size. The walls are up to 18ft high and 13ft thick and 90ft in diameter.</div><div><br /></div><div>The fort is thought to have been built somewhere between 300 and 400 AD as a defensive stronghold for a local lord or king.</div><div><br /></div><div>At the site there are toilets and a donation box. There was a coffee bar there but it wasn't open.</div><div><br /></div><div>The website is <a href="https://www.theringofkerry.com/staigue-fort" target="_blank">here</a>. The wikipedia article is <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Staigue_stone_fort" target="_blank">here</a>. The Tripadvisor review is <a href="https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g8355584-d675658-Reviews-Staigue_Fort-Castlecove_County_Kerry.html" target="_blank">here</a>.</div><div><br /></div><div>Less than 9 miles away is one of the most special places we visited. This was Derrynane Abbey.</div><div><br /></div><div>The abbey is on an island appropriately named Abbey Island. It is accessible from the mainland on foot at low tide. It is believed to have been built in the 6th century.</div><div><br /></div><div>Here's the <a href="https://www.tideschart.com/Ireland/Munster/Derrynane-Beach/Weekly/" target="_blank">tide chart</a>. You'll need it. You can only walk there at low tide. We planned our drive to hit there at low tide. Watch your time so you don't get trapped out there.</div><div><br /></div><div>While we didn't play in the water here, the beach and water were beautiful. It's worth spending an afternoon here.</div><div><br /></div><div><div>The website is <a href="https://www.theringofkerry.com/derrynane-abbey" target="_blank">here</a>. The wikipedia article is <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Derrynane_Abbey" target="_blank">here</a>. The Tripadvisor review is <a href="https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g503712-d8050828-Reviews-Abbey_Island-Caherdaniel_County_Kerry.html" target="_blank">here</a>.</div><div><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.app.goo.gl/KdEppCABDMnkoBvY7
" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLXc2XRrqvICJphwMmErwdOzourU4LoYQUfiTCfXOFlolHvYNd58Et7gdT_Um7LbOcplGURT-PoWGgtgdTASHGp10DYIV7X6mByMGdPe0ZDcZxQYPpssHQpIt1wxCzGiA3ufux1S3GjRpuusPPhJcsyNp58s1dhx6Tv4WlHqaiGYZHyOte1A/w400-h300/IMG_1387.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.app.goo.gl/KdEppCABDMnkoBvY7" target="_blank">Slide Show</a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Staigue Stone Fort</div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" height="450" loading="lazy" referrerpolicy="no-referrer-when-downgrade" src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed?pb=!1m18!1m12!1m3!1d2467.0604701707953!2d-10.017667784808157!3d51.80505569671766!2m3!1f0!2f0!3f0!3m2!1i1024!2i768!4f13.1!3m3!1m2!1s0x484f882c985f4f2f%3A0x6e5ec2b506ccd834!2sStaigue%20Stone%20Fort!5e0!3m2!1sen!2sus!4v1659300858275!5m2!1sen!2sus" style="border: 0;" width="600"></iframe></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Derrynane Abbey<iframe allowfullscreen="" height="450" loading="lazy" referrerpolicy="no-referrer-when-downgrade" src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed?pb=!1m18!1m12!1m3!1d2469.663167100864!2d-10.144974784810294!3d51.757482600209016!2m3!1f0!2f0!3f0!3m2!1i1024!2i768!4f13.1!3m3!1m2!1s0x484f8f6399045bef%3A0x451420ac3a2ecf28!2sDerrynane%20Abbey!5e0!3m2!1sen!2sus!4v1659302312732!5m2!1sen!2sus" style="border: 0;" width="600"></iframe></div>Ben Moorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12779518055843568946noreply@blogger.com0