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.

Educational lectures dot the daily schedule, sip champagne while having your jewelry cleaned, pound the outdoor track to reach the daily step count or, as Mike likes to do, enjoy a cigar in the Connoisseur’s lounge.

Thankfully there is a decent gym and yoga room onboard to help control the intake of calories!

Wellington, the capital of New Zealand, sits near the north island’s southernmost point on the Cook Strait. It is a compact city that encompasses a waterfront promenade, sandy beaches, a working harbour and colourful timber houses on the surrounding hills.

The hilly capital has an inordinately high number of incline lifts or personal cable cars. Some look like glass lifts and others resemble giant fiberglass buckets, but in Wellington cable cars snaking up suburban slopes are a common sight!

In the aftermath of a devastating 7.8 magnitude earthquake which ripped through the region in 1931, it was decided to rebuild the town of Napier, north island, New Zealand in the style of the time, Art Deco!

Visitors to the self proclaimed “art deco capital of the world” can take a leisurely stroll through the town or hire one of the many vintage cars with a deco-dressed driver. For us, it was a rainy, cold day, and so we opted for a coach tour and a soggy walk to take some photographs.