San Francisco

No idea where this is going to end up so you're going to have to be on your toes folks.

Baggage eventually arrived at 2.00 on the 22nd San Fran time. Freezing here so had to buy long jeans anna jersey which is annoying as they were both in the suitcase.... rats rats rats.

We're having a great time but had a few let-downs which is probably due to expectations rather than realities. eg

We took a tour which incorporated Monteray, Pebble Beach (golf course), and other interesting places. The tour was quite good and was enlivened by a Filipino bus driver who had obviously taken lots and lots and lots and lots and lots of speed pills. He talked non-stop with the volume control set on high (to go with the pills) for the two bloody hours it took to get to Monteray. I kid you not but it was literally impossible to even talk between ourselves to comment on what he'd said because he was on to the next bit of information. When we eventually arrived at Monteray he got so excited that there was the possibility that we might see whales that it took 5 minutes to stop the ringing in our ears.

We got off the bus with me having to be restrained from bopping the guy.

Monteray was made famous by the writer john Steinbech who wrote a book called Cannery Row. There is no other real reason for Monteray being known apart from it having been a fishing village. There are posters of Steinbech and Eckhart and other folk made famous from the book but... that was it folks. No Information centre, no booklets, no interest at all apart from restaurants, big fat Americans, giftie places and tour buses. The sad thing is that few people seemed interested.... it was just a place to stop and tick off on the map of "places we have been to". The rest of the tour was spent going through Pebble Beach Golf Course which Stephanie should remember. We played it many times Steph... try to keep up..... "You're in the rough stuff"..... remember? We saw Arnie's House, Danny de Vito's House (small), de Caprio's house, the proper Psycho House, Tiger Wood's parent's house, another house, some other famous person's house, another famous person's house, George Clooney's house (we're collecting his houses: saw his house on Lake Como in Italy.)

On the way back we were supposed to go to a garlic wine tasting but because it was Good Friday it was closed. Instead the driver took us to a fabulous eating area where you had the pick of the sort of places which made America famous for fat people. Luckily we found a remaindered clothes place where we bought some necessary warm weather clothes for the next day.... luggage still in Oz.

Alcatraz

Lie in. Brilliant weather with a start at 11.00am. The past 5 days have been ruddy cold at about 15 degrees C. Talked to a San Franciscan night..... hah hah hah hah hah;.... In 60s joke there... who told us that the temperature all the year round is about 65 degrees farenheit. That's 16 degrees celcius follks.....all the year round? Tell you what..... it wasn't propounded that the 1968 San Francisco "Summer of Love" didn't mention the number of hippies who forgot to take Coldrex and didn't wrap up well. I'm going to have another look at the film of that time. I'm almost positive that it's going to show a lot of hippies with thick woolly jumpers and longjohns.

Oh aye.... Alcatraz. One of the best 26 dollars we've spent. Nothing more to say; What you would expect. We got back at about 4.00. I decided to go to the fitness centre so I did. Had a long look at the Fitness Centre. Looked at all the terrific things which can make you feel good.... had another look..... and another... so decided to got for it.

The Exit door was pretty close so i went for it. Did you know that McDonald's has a happy hour from 5.00pm until 7.00?

Today we did nothing but go to a Travel Agent.

Tomorrow we're off to Noo Orleans.
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Potential Scotland, Italy, France 2023 50th anniversary

 Unable to book flights as far ahead of course but I'm having fun trying to make an itinerary.

So far it's this:

19th May to 28th June 2023

Fly to Rome on the 19th May. Arrive on the 20th May.
Stay for 3 nights.

23rd May to 1st June: maybe a bit too long.
Leave our major bags at Termini Station.
Possibly stay overnight in Rome to lessen stress.
Rome to Bari, Puglia by Train cost around $40
Train Timetable | Rail.Ninja
Find a 4 star hotel (no 5 star hotels in Bari) at a cost of around $190.
Stay for at least 6 nights and take trips from Bari.

1st June or 31st May
Bari back to Rome
Pick up the bags.

Fly to Paris for 3 nights.

Fly to Edinburgh on 3rd June.

New Zealand 2026 South Island

 7th to 21st October = 14 nights

BOOKED Flights 97,600 + $495.16

PRICE FOR TWO IN AUS DOLLARS

7th-9th October
BOOKED Novotel Christchurch: $707.46 but check for cheaper closer to the time.

Christchurch Hop-On Hop-Off Tram: $70.00

Hired car for 11 days 9th to 20th: Mazda CX3c: 112,891 frequent flyer points. Tried to change main driver unsuccessfully but $28.95NZ for extra driver which is fine.

Hotels daily seems to be around $200 a night anywhere in south island.

Therefore Hotels: $2,800
Food: $700 - $50 a day
Booze: $120 - $9 a day
Petrol: $400 - $36 a day
Hop on Tram: $70 Christchurch
Te Anau day tour Milford Sound: $400-$500
TOTAL maybe: $4,660

Suggested 14 day car itinerary for 77 year olds starting and finishing in christchurch new zealand. Miss out dunedin and include greymouth at the end
. 4 star hotels and prices.

Here’s a relaxed 14-day South Island self-drive itinerary starting/ending in Christchurch, designed specifically for 77-year-olds:

🚗 14-Day Christchurch Loop (Leisure Pace)
Days 1–2: Christchurch (2 nights)
Recover from travel + gentle sightseeing.
Highlights
Botanic Gardens, Avon River punt
Tram ride, Riverside Market
4⭐ Hotels
The George – NZ$350–500
Sudima Christchurch City – NZ$250–350

Days 3–4: Lake Tekapo / Mt Cook (2 nights)
Drive ~3 hrs (easy, scenic)
Highlights
Lake Tekapo, Church of the Good Shepherd
Optional Mt Cook scenic drive (no long walks needed)
4⭐ Hotels
Peppers Bluewater Resort – NZ$280–400
The Hermitage Hotel – NZ$300–450

Day 5: Queenstown. FORGET IT. Not worth it.

Day 6-8: Te Anau (3 nights)
Drive ~2 hrs
Highlights
Gateway to Fiordland
Relaxed lakeside stay
4⭐ Hotels
Distinction Luxmore Hotel – NZ$200–300

Milford Sound Day Trip
Return to Te Anau (long but manageable day)

Highlights
Coach + cruise recommended (no driving fatigue)
👉 A Milford Sound cruise is one of NZ’s top experiences.

Days 9–10: Wanaka (2 nights)
Drive ~4 hrs via Queenstown
Highlights
Lake Wanaka waterfront
Café/rest day

4⭐ Hotels
Edgewater Hotel – NZ$280–400
Oakridge Resort Wanaka – NZ$220–320

Day 11: Franz Josef Glacier (1 night)
Drive ~5 hrs (longest day, but spectacular West Coast)
Highlights
Glacier viewpoints (short walks)
Optional scenic helicopter (no hiking needed)
4⭐ Hotels
Scenic Hotel Franz Josef Glacier – NZ$250–350

Day 12, 13: Greymouth (1 or 2 nights) - Obviously stay with Val and Ken.
Drive ~2.5–3 hrs via Hokitika
Highlights
Coastal scenery
Hokitika Gorge stop

Day 14: Christchurch (1 night / departure)
Relax, shopping, depart next day.