Auckland, New Zealand

Hi all,

We are now at sea for the next three days headed for Suva, Fiji.  The seas are moderate – meaning a few large swells and some rocking back and forth.  This is typical for the open Pacific Ocean. 

Auckland was a really ideal large city.  I’m never overly impressed with large cities, but this one was very clean, well laid out and a good mix of old and new.  We did a little shopping in the morning and then took a ship’s tour and visited three wineries out in the country side.  (Kim took her own credit card – she is finding out it is much easier to carry her own than asking me to pull out my wallet!)  The Hilton Hotel is right on the pier – we were looking onto the balconies from our cabin.  NZ is known for the white wines (Sauvignon Blanc) and we tasted several superior wines with very good prices.  I lowered the size of the attached photo to help reduce the transmission time.  This is a picture of us leaving Auckland last night.

Kim did not win last night’s Poker Tournament, but has another chance at 1:00PM today.   I broke even.  (That makes me a big winner!).  Princess has some very good lectures onboard.  I’ve been attending finance lectures by David Leibowitz that is onboard for the entire cruise.  He is entertaining as for as investors go, but I don’t have any great stock tips yet.  The average passenger age of the cruise is probably around 65.  I noticed a number of people sleeping through the lecture.  Kim is off at a service meeting for her Rotary participation. 

I’ll probably not send updates for the next few days until we reach Fiji unless something interesting happens.  Our reports from the house continue to be very good.

Take Care,

Keith Q.

We bought wine at two of the wineries Nobilo Icon we purchased a 2010 Pinot Noir produced in Marlborough, NZ and at Soljans Estate we picked up a Gisborne Pinotage 2010.  We were also given 2 Selaks Sauvignon Blanc 2011, small bottles.  It was a fun day.  We only have 5 showing up to the Rotary meetings but they have been interesting. 

I just played another poker turnie and went out early.  Just no cards came to my spot.  Next I will be off to a horse race and then a hole in one competition and Keith is heading for his bridge tour with the captain.  Formal night tonight and seas are getting rougher should make for a rocking/rolling good time. Kim