Final Reflections on NZ and Oz

Now that we have been back almost two weeks, it is time for some final reflections, like in our other trips that are included in this blog; NYC and the South.

It was interesting that in both the trip through the South and in this one, we had the opportunity to experience first-hand a hurricane (typhoon) but avoided it. Very glad that we are two for two in that category.

The folks in New Zealand and Australia are very friendly and helpful. Although when travelling you seem to see mostly tourists, the locals were great to deal with and I can see why many folks we came in contact with are already talking about their next trip to Australia, mostly. While we loved the area, there are so many other places on our list, that I doubt a return trip will be scheduled for a number of years, if at all.

We bought too much New Zealand and Australian currency from Chase Bank and their exchange rates amount to plain and simple larceny. It is funny that it has taken me so many years to figure this out, but in the future, I will follow advice from my son and get cash once we have landed in a foreign country at an ATM, where the exchange rate is really fair. Not that it cost us that much extra, it is just the principal of it. While mentioning my son, Eric, I will also thank him for the technical advice in the selection of the tablets, as well as their set up and loading of movies. His advice on the purchase of the Mophie as well as the noise canceling head phones was invaluable.

Thanks are also in order to Jim, Vivian and Alysa as well as Mel and Sue for sharing their first hand knowledge of NZ and OZ. We have passed on their information as well as our first hand knowledge to LaVerne and Kim as they make a similar trip very soon. We will see how they see these two beautiful lands.

Seabourn is an excellent cruise line and they did their best to make our cruise memorable. I would heartily recommend it to anyone who wants an upscale cruise.

The more time spent preparing for a trip and researching places and the people, the better the trip is. We had one and a half months to plan this trip and cruise, versus 10 days for our Baltic Cruise and trip and this one was so much more fun because of it.

Carrying a tablet instead of a laptop is a pleasure.

It must be love if you can spend 30 days in close proximity to someone and not have a major fight. We didn't have a major fight or frankly any fight during our trip.

And lastly, as Dorothy said, "There's no place like home." I agree.