Author Archives: travelbynatasha

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About travelbynatasha

I am a retired attorney who loves to travel. Several years ago I began working on a Century Club membership achieved by traveling to 100 "foreign" countries. Today, at 49 years of age the count is at 82. Many were visited on land based trips. Some were cruise ports. Some were dive sites. Most have been fascinating.

Picton, New Zealand

Today we are docked in Picton, New Zealand at the northern point of country’s southern island. Although there are also small islands that are part of the country, New Zealand is considered a country of three islands, the southern island, … Continue reading

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Akaroa, New Zealand

Southern New Zealand is an adventurer’s paradise with wonderful hiking, water sports, and amazing scenery. Today we are in Akaroa, a French-influenced seaside town that is a home base for hikers and animal lovers. There is just a small pier … Continue reading

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Dunedin, New Zealand

We are in Port Chambers the seaport gateway for Dunedin on the southern island of New Zealand.  Our tour today is by train into the Taieri River Gorge of gold rush fame.  We were actually met directly on the pier … Continue reading

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Milford Sound, New Zealand

For the last two days we have crossed the Tasman Sea. We are once again on the boat today, but land is in sight as be traverse the fjords on the southwestern side of New Zealand. Warned of the Tasman’s … Continue reading

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Hobart, Tasmania

This morning we are in the capital of Tasmania, Hobart. The state has a population of 512,000 people and about 100,000 live in Hobart. If you add in its suburbs, about half of the island’s population lives here. As you … Continue reading

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Port Arthur, Tasmania, Australia

Tasmania! We are anchored in the bay off Port Arthur, Tasmania. Port Arthur was developed as a penal colony. The historical park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, where we made land is a day’s visit in and of itself, but … Continue reading

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Natasha Goes Walkabout and sees Koalas and Kangaroos

Today we are in Melbourne, our only other mainland Australian port, and I couldn’t visit this country without my koala and kangaroo fix. It was a hot day for a walkabout with temperatures reaching 104 degrees Fahrenheit. Boris and I … Continue reading

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Sydney, Australia

Natasha is cruising again; this time to Australia and New Zealand, including stops in Tasmania.  We flew in yesterday on Air New Zealand directly from Houston to Auckland, New Zealand.  After a short layover, we flew to Sydney, Australia where … Continue reading

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Route des Vins, France

Today, our last excursion day of the cruise, we have our choice of two long half-day tours in this wine producing region along the Alsatian wine road, the route des vins which hugs the foothill of the Vosges mountain range. … Continue reading

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Strasbourg, France and the Black Forest, Germany

Today we dock in Germany, but cross the river to visit France-Strasbourg, a French city with a German name.  In the afternoon we return to Germany to visit the Black Forest. We had the choice of morning excursions, Boris was … Continue reading

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