So we arrive at the hotel 11.15pm local time (6.15 am English time) after a 2 hour transfer in a taxi and all I can say is I am absolutely knackered even after sleeping practically the whole flight. I think this cough is getting the better of me. So I wake at 3.30 am and Mike is not a happy chappy with me at all - how can I help it I have slept nearly 24hours! The hotel is fantastic and we have a room which overlooks the slopes it is an amazing sight. I can now see why the hotels boasts ski in ski out facilities. I think we are going to check out the hotel today and the surrounding area and get our ski pass ready for skiing tomorrow. Well we checked out the ... read more

So you are probably wondering why I have not written my blog for a few days - well I have been with a best mate and to be honest it was like being at home and would you write a blog from home NO. However, I will now round up the events over the last few days. So Sylvia picks us up from Toronto airport which seemed bizarre as we had only dropped her off a couple of days ago at Las Vegas airport and in the car we pop. I am quite a frequent flyer to Toronto and always arrive in daylight and to be honest feel quite at home - this time we arrive in the dark and I have no idea where I am going and have no landmarks so it is quite ... read more

So it appears, please note I am saying appears that last night I sat up in bed and cried I want to go home, I want to go home and when Mike asked me why what is wrong I said “I want to go home because I want to know where the toilet is - I don’t want to have to find it every time”. Looks like I am getting homesick! So we get up this morning and decide that as Universal Studios closes at 5pm (yes, 5 pm that is early) we would go there first and then head off to Hollywood Boulevard. So in the car we jump with the sat nav we have rented and guess what the sat nav is out of battery and the cable is broken - so not good ... read more

Well we stayed in another AirBnB in Napier which is one of the Art Deco capitals of the world. The accommodation was you guessed it in someone's garden. If anyone out there has a garden shed they need looking after I am your man, ha ha. Well a bit about Napier for you. In Feb 1931 the whole town of Napier was destroyed by an earthquack and subsequent fire. However, from the ashes arose a magnificant Art Deco city, designed and built in 2 years in the Art Deco style as this was the style in 1931. There are a number of new building styles and a number of the old Art Deco buildings were pulled down until someone (cannot remember his name) said why are you pulling down these fantastic buildings they make Napier unique. ... read more

Well we went on the Shotover Jet Boat in Queenstown. The jet boat goes at a high speed through the canyons and all I can say is you think you are going to hit the side of the canyon - they then do 360 degree spins it was brilliant. All I can say is how are we going to get to feed our habit of being adrenaline junkies when we get home! Well we have left our little B&B in Queenstown and will miss the company of Michele and Fred and I will especially miss Fred’s legendary breakfasts. We also met a fabulous mum and daughter Kaiko and Erico at the B&B - they have moved off to Auckland where Erico is working and living at the moment. So on the road we went and thought ... read more