Tony & Elizabeths Blog on RealTravel

San Francisco journal: Sunny San Francisco (even in winter)

Thu, 12 Apr 2007 10:11:44 GMT

Sunday 14 January 2007(still) – Having gone back almost a full day between New Zealand and San Francisco we calculate the day to be 45 hours long!

Our hotel is on Fisherman’s Wharf – a real tourist trap and yet so many people like it and I have to say that we agree despite having to dodge all those touts trying to separate you from your money. We particularly liked Hyde Pier which is chiefly a maritime museum that is free except for entry to the many vessels and this only costs $5 (about £2.70). We did not go on board on this occasion but may return on another day. Two of the ships were ...

Auckland journal: City of Sails

Mon, 15 Jan 2007 21:46:23 GMT

Friday 12 January 2007 - The flight up from Christchurch was uneventful if you overlook the fact that I managed to leave my mobile in the hire car. They will send it home if they find it!

Auckland was very wet almost all day with a forecast suggesting that it would not get much better. We had a walk down to the harbour to make some bookings for tomorrow and then back to the hotel for more cricket and dinner. Yet again England is thrashed buy Australia- this time in the first of the one dayers.

Saturday 13 January 2007 – This was a much better day with some unexpected sunshine. We ...

Auckland journal: Down Under 2006/7

Mon, 15 Jan 2007 21:10:05 GMT

This trip commences on 1 November 2006 when we will be flying from London to Tokyo for 3 nights. From there to Australia with an overnight stay in Auckland, New Zealand. In Oz we will be starting at Adelaide and will make our way in stages to Brisbane where we have tickets for the first Ashes test between Australia and England on the Sunday (Day 4) - if the match lasts that long! En route we will be visiting many places including Melbourne, Canberra, Sydney, the Hunter Valley and Byron Bay.

We leave Oz on 30 November to fly back to Auckland for a stay in New Zealand of about 6 weeks ...

Christchurch journal: The Garden City

Thu, 11 Jan 2007 01:13:12 GMT

Monday 8 January 2007 – Christchurch was bathed in sunshine on our arrival and we went straight to Rydges Hotel where we stayed one night last month on our way down to Dunedin. This time we had booked a suite for the 4 day stay which had been done on the internet at a very reasonable rate, in fact we had paid more for no so good accommodation in some other places. It is very comfortable with good furniture and fittings including a large walk in wardrobe off the bedroom. It also has a microwave, large fridge and a sink and drainer. January is a good time to come to Christchurch as it is the ...

Te Anau journal: Te Anau to Christchurch

Wed, 10 Jan 2007 20:03:43 GMT

Tuesday 2 January 2007 – After a quiet New Year we said our sad goodbyes to Iris and made our way to Te Anau via Balclutha and Gore which were very quiet given that it was another public holiday. Between Gore and Clinton we travelled along the Presidential Highway named when Clinton was the President of the USA and Gore was his Vice-President. As we moved west the weather gradually improved with the rain being left behind in the east. On arrival in Te Anau we were told that it had been dry for the past week but overcast. It certainly was much warmer with the promise of sunshine for the next ...

Te Anau journal: Excellent facilities and location with lake and mountain views

Mon, 08 Jan 2007 01:30:21 GMT

Dunedin journal: Christmas in Dunedin

Mon, 01 Jan 2007 21:11:26 GMT

Friday 22 December 2006 – Travelling south to Dunedin we passed through Ashburton (coffee) and Timaru (lunch). The latter turned out to be more interesting than we remembered from our previous brief visit in 1998. Much work has been done around Caroline Bay with gardens and water features having been developed and well maintained. The waves were dramatic as the wind was strong.

Further down the coast we stopped to view the Moeraki Boulders which are almost perfectly spherical and are scattered on the beach in a haphazard manner. They were formed on the sea bed about 60 million years ago ...

Blenheim journal: Blenheim to Christchurch

Wed, 20 Dec 2006 21:48:51 GMT

Sunday 17 December 2006 – We were up early to drive to the airport which was not far. Our plane was quite small - only carries about 20 passengers. It was full and the flight was quite short and 25 minutes from take off we were on the ground at Blenheim in the South Island. We had flown over the lovely Marlborough Sound which we had sailed through in the other direction on our previous two trips. It was raining when we left Wellington but sunshine in Blemheim. The good weather continues to follow us!

We had a leisurely day in Blenheim doing a little shopping for essential supplies like ...

Wellington journal: Windy Wellington

Sun, 17 Dec 2006 21:21:42 GMT

Thursday 14 December 2006 – We arrived at our hotel to find that it was being renovated and we were initially disappointed. That is until we saw our suite which overlooks the harbour. As it is on the corner of the building we have windows to the side as well as patio doors to a balcony at the front. It is a superb view. The suite is very spacious with two large rooms plus a kitchen and a separate bathroom and all at a very reasonable rate!

We explored the city centre in the evening and found a steak house which, would you believe it, was showing the Ashes cricket. Honestly, I wasn’t ...

Hamilton journal: Thames to Wanganui

Fri, 15 Dec 2006 21:11:06 GMT

Saturday 9th December – Last night we ate in Sealeys Restaurant and it was very good. During the meal a siren went up at the local fire station up the road and one of our fellow diners got up and ran out the door. About 30-40 minutes later we heard another siren from the fire engine and he returned to much applause from other diners. It is the third time we have witnessed such happenings. In Paihia one of the barmen in 35 Degrees South, where we were watching the cricket, also went sprinting up the road when the siren sounded. Most places in New Zealand seem to be covered by retained ...

Bay of Islands journal: Beautiful Bay of Island

Fri, 08 Dec 2006 18:48:33 GMT

Friday 1 December 2006 – After an overnight stop in Auckland where I had to sort out my computer wireless account and upload the latest episodes of the blog we set off for the north and, in particular the Bay of Islands.

This is truly lovely area of some 400 islands that enjoys an equitable climate the whole year round. However, as seems to be the case throughout NZ this year, the temperatures are 3 to 4 degrees down on the norm. This still means that it ranges around the 20C mark which is very comfortable after those in excess of 30C we left behind in Australia. On the way we stopped ...

Brisbane journal: Brisbane and the 1st ashes Test

Wed, 29 Nov 2006 04:35:21 GMT

Sunday 26th November 2006 – We were up for an early breakfast before making our way to the Gabba. Ticketmaster had laid on free shuttle buses from the city to the ground which worked very efficiently – oh for something like this in the UK! We got to the ground by 8-45am for a 10-00am start and entry to the ground was easy – later I think it was more difficult as bags were being checked. We were pleased to find that we were under cover and at the end of a row.

It did not take long for us to find that we were with a large contingent of the Barmy Army although at first it seemed that they ...

Sydney journal: Sydney - a city of many cultures

Sat, 25 Nov 2006 03:38:05 GMT

Saturday 18 November 2006 – Sydney on a late Saturday afternoon and it was absolutely heaving. We had to drive through two toll stations to get in and then couldn’t get to our accommodation for some time. We did not get lost – we just could not get there as there were so many one way streets, no left turns, no right turns and we were almost convinced that we were doomed to forever go around in circles. However, one u-turn and we were in the right street and facing the right way only to have to go around the block a couple more timers to get into the hotel’s car park. We have decided that we ...

Canberra journal: Canberra - City of Government Buildings!

Tue, 21 Nov 2006 13:14:09 GMT

Thursday 16 November 2006- Temperatures have risen to a more normal mid 20 degrees C and forecast to rise further. On the way to Canberra we came across the small town of Gundagai after which a famous song was written – “The Road to Gundagai” and I could not resist buying a CD with in on when in Canberra! It is a delightful town with many old buildings– well old for a “new” country like Australia – and well worth a visit. We had lunch in an old cinema which has been converted to a non-denominational church housing an arts and craft centre.

We arrived in Canberra late afternoon and as is ...

Melbourne journal: Melbourne - a sporting city!

Sat, 18 Nov 2006 03:23:00 GMT

Sunday 12th to 14th November 2006 – Melbourne! We stayed with friends, Carol and Norm, who I met on the internet as we had a common interest in family history. During the visit it emerged that Norm and I may be related by a marriage back in the mid 1800s! They live in a suburb of the city called Noble Park which is on a rail link into the Melbourne which we made use of over two days. It made a change to get away from the car – in fact I did not drive again until we came to leave on the 14th.

Carol and Norm have lived in the same house for their married life – 37 years – and made us very ...

Great Ocean Road journal: The Great Ocean Road

Sat, 18 Nov 2006 03:12:18 GMT

Saturday 11th November 2006 – The morning was spent visiting the Blue Lake and looking around Mount Gambier – a nicer place than we had expected. As we approached the lake someone told us that there was what he thought was a rock Wallaby so we stopped to take photos and film. It was in the trees but we could just make it out – apparently it was the first seen there for years so we were very lucky. The lake is grey between the months of April and October but changes to a bright blue in November and it was like this on the day we visited.

Our travels then took us towards the wonderful ...

Mount Gambier journal: City of the Blue Lake

Fri, 10 Nov 2006 04:08:17 GMT

Friday 10th November 2006 – Yesterday we spent some time looking around Adelaide and, in particular, one of the parks and the war memorial. Elder Park is divided by the River Torrens them and on the North Adelaide side is the Adelaide Oval where the second cricket Ashes test takes place in early December. The gates were open so I slipped in to have a look and took some film and a few photos. You have to take your opportunities don’t you?

The England cricket team are in the country now and it is less than two weeks to the first test. It is clear from the media here that it is much ...

Adelaide journal: Adelaide - City of parks

Wed, 08 Nov 2006 00:50:07 GMT

Tuesday 7th November 2006- The flight to Adelaide was very easy. We picked up our car at the airport. It is a good size automatic, something I have only driven twice before and that was many years ago. Elizabeth has never driven one and says she wants to try it in an empty car park before going on the road! It was only a short drive to our hotel, Mercure Grosvenor, in the centre of the city. Our room is massive, at least three times the size of the one we had in Tokyo.

Adelaide is a compact and attractive city, surrounded by parkland with excellent shopping which Elizabeth was eager to ...

Tokyo journal: Tokyo - City of Contrasts

Sun, 05 Nov 2006 20:23:11 GMT

Wednesday 1 November 2006 – We left home at about 6 am to drive to the home of our daughter Ruth, in Kent, and she and her husband Andy with our grandson Jacob came to the Heathrow Airport with us after we had taken our granddaughter, Hannah, to school. We had checked in with Virgin Atlantic the day before on the internet so we did not have to be there 3 hours but nearer to 2 hours and we managed this. We are travelling premium economy, a good step up from cattle class, and so had a dedicated baggage drop. It was then through security, much less onerous than I had suspected it to be, and on to ...