To all our friends in the US, a very Happy ThanksGiving Day to you. Enjoy. Give thanks and know that we wish you and your families all the very best.

This is my final blog on this trip and what better way to say farewell to Sydney than to climb its iconic bridge!

Sadly, half-way through the climb, a storm came through and we hastily descended to get out of the thunder and lightning! End of story!

We head to the airport this morning for the long flight home. The light at the end of the tunnel is to see the fur babies and start administering much needed TLC!

Thanks for being with us on this amazing trip and I look forward to having you aboard again, somewhere in the future!

Today, Mike and I enjoyed a wonderful tour of the Sydney Opera House and it was spectacular!

Notice how the wood around the stage and floor seating is a different colour from the walls and ceiling? The dark wood is an acoustic aid ensuring that the music is reflected off the walls. Also see how directly behind the stage the wood has a swirl effect to it? This too is deliberate to enhance the acoustics.

Opera and dance performances, including ballet, take place in the Joan Sutherland Theatre, so named in 2012 as a tribute to the celebrated Australian operatic soprano. The theatre seats around 1500 people.

There are also three theaters of different sizes and configurations for stage plays, film screenings and smaller musical performances.

You cannot imagine how long I have wanted to visit Sydney, Australia, and here we are, finally, on our last leg of this wonderful trip!

Several days ago, our cruise ship sailed into Sydney’s harbour and the captain suggested getting up early to enjoy seeing the city from the water. And that’s exactly what I did and it was a glorious experience seeing this very pretty city, marked by it’s two, iconic architectural structures of The Opera House and The Sydney Bridge.

Today, we enjoyed an amazing day in Coromandel, a suburb of Adelaide, with life-long friends of Charles and Harue Krywanio.

Stephan and Gita are living the good life. As we sit at their table, it creaks with everything home-made; the Sourdough bread is warm and fresh from their oven; the aubergine (eggplant) dip is to die for; the delicately fragrant salami is seasoned with chili, and is sublime; the Hungarian chicken is a tad spicy, and seasoned with glorious sweet and smokey paprika; followed by lamb and roast potatoes which are wonderful; and, the wine and beer are home made too and on and on it went!

David K. unable to hide his poker face!

And, last but not least, Michael!

We spent a lovely day in David and Shannon Krywanio’s company taking a drive to see the location of the second home that they are in the process of buying.

Located about an hour’s drive south of Adelaide, the Fleurieu Peninsula offers some of south Australia’s finest coastal and scenic panoramas including some towns with the most glorious names such as Willunga, Goolwa and Yankalilla!

The beach is patrolled by surf lifesavers during the summer months and residents and visitors alike enjoy all sea-based activities such as sailing races, snorkeling, kayaking, etc.

And seeing Kangaroos in the wild; a Mum feeding her baby!

Celebrating an early Thanksgiving Dinner at David and Shannon’s. Those Krywanios, down under, certainly know how to party!

We will dock in Sydney, Australia tomorrow and I wanted to share with you some random sights and experiences we have enjoyed on this wonderful cruise.

Join us tomorrow in Adelaide where I will introduce you to the Krywanios from down under!

Privately owned by a local businessman, the Nelson Classic Car collection in the small town of Nelson on the south island of New Zealand, was an unexpected delight to visit.

I have been intrigued to see if there are similarities of flora species across New Zealand to what I grow at home in Texas.

Pretty Picton is a beautiful harbour town on the south island of New Zealand, lying on the cusp of the mighty scenery of the Marlborough Sounds Maritime Park, and providing an attractive link between the country’s two main islands.

Each town we have visited on our cruise has got prettier and prettier. And, here we are in the most scenic yet. Join me onboard for a catamaran cruise of the area.