Windy Wellington

One windy day in late december, Andrew had his clip-on sunglasses blown off his face to go missing at the lagoon by Te Papa (the national museum). A few days later, the water was calm enough to see that the clip-ons were just sitting in the water, so andrew undressed to his boxer shorts and climbed in. However, the water was too deep, and the rush-hour commuters too numerous. He quickly dressed, and returned the next day in proper swim attire to retrieve them. This activity was captured for prosperity ;)

Andrew's Birthday

While Andrew went on a large bike ride with Zuk and J, mandy went on a "beagle walk" with her mum and "the girls". Later in the day was a family dinner, where J and Andrew had a joint birthday celebration.

For Andrew's birthday, he received a basketball hoop from the Zuks, this was a huge mission to install on our concrete garage, but with Zuk's handyman abilities and Andrew's height they got it up there.

Beagle Walk


All the immediate family


J & Andrew - how romantic ;)


Louis and Emma


Ollie Entertaining us on the Piano


Installing the Basketball Hoop

Wiggen for Thanksgiving

Although the house was in complete disarray, Kevin managed to make himself at home, helping wash the salt off the windows and convincing us (yet again) to do a "once in a lifetime" activity - Heli-rafting on the Mohikinui river (south island). We also had a fun day at "toast Martinborough" a festival at the local wine region. Photos below:

Our new window washer (unfortunately needed stilts)


Toast Martinborough with Mandy's workmate Kim


It had snowed the night before!! Look at the hills!! While we were waiting for the helicopter.


Wiggen and Mandy on the way up in the Helicopter


Andrew helping to inflate the raft

Green Card

A quick visit back to San Francisco to pick up the long awaited green card, enabled us to see some friends, family, do some serious shopping, and a few hikes.

Hiking above Pacifica with Heuga and Wiggen


Hiking Mt Tam with Heuga - before we got lost in the fog ;)


Dinner with Andrew's Parents, Mike & Julie


Gatsby waiting patiently before eating the cookie on his head


Wiggen & Julie comparing their 6 month pregnant bellies

Happy New Year from Wellington

Mandy found a job as a Business Analyst for the Wellington City Council, Andrew has picked up a couple of contracts, and we are both busy looking to buy our future house. In the meantime, we have time for a few outings, like this one to the top of picturesque Mt Kaukau (yes, that is pretty much all of Wellington below us):

So we wish everyone a happy Rosh Hashanah (Jewish New Year) and hope that we all can have a peaceful and happy year ahead.

Ski Trips

Although heavily bogged down in the process of finding new jobs, car, house, and lives, we've taken the time to do a couple short trips up to Mt Ruapehu for some skiing and snowboarding fun.

Back in New Zealand

Our 13 month voyage is over! Hard to believe -- it went by sooo quickly. Here we are in Wellington where the skies are clear and blue to welcome us back on this crisp winter day.

It was good to see family again, including the latest edition Louis. Here is grown-up Ollie with Nicole and Jamie:

And of course "the girls" Emma and Lucy:

Last Goodbye

One last trip to SF before heading back to Wellington. It sure was great to catch up with everyone, but it sure was hard to say goodbye, especially to Gatsby, who sums up how we felt about leaving:

The Last Leg: Friends, Family, and Memory Lane

With 12 months of travel behind us, and one more to go, it was time to visit more familiar places in Savannah, Washington DC, New Jersey, New York, and Boston. From old friends to new ones, close family to distant relatives, everyone made the trip truly memorable, and reminded us that sometimes you make the greatest discoveries in your own backyard.

I was able to see my old elementary school just months before it's scheduled to be torn down, and was even invited in to tour the house where I grew up until I was 13 years old. I realized that everything seems much smaller when you're 31: the "long walk to school" was actually just minutes -- I guess my legs were a lot shorther then.

We re-fell in love with NYC, but as usual I'll let the pictures do the talking...

At the beach in Savannah with Mom & Dad:




Catching up with Chris, Suz, and Lilly at their home outside of Washington DC:




Someone up there must be looking kindly on me for Wilco's schedule to overlap with ours in Washington DC. At the 9:30 club, an awesome venue and awesome show:




Zenia and Mandy comparing tans:




On the Staten Island ferry with the Statue of Liberty and the city in the background:




Only in Greenwich Village:




CC & Kristen with adorable Millhouse:




Andrew at his dream job: mastering for Sony Records top artists like the Boss, Pearl Jam, Celine... ok let Vlado Meller keep this job:




Secret rooftop cafe at the Met overlooking Central Park:




Where I learned to read and write:




Memory Lane:




Me and Jason, old friends from the crib (literally):




Me and Dee Greenberg, who pushed Jason's stroller down the street:




Biking through Central Park, the best way to see it all:




With Eva and Jerry in Berkeley Heights, NJ, our awesome retreat from the city:




Ready to rock the suburbs with Peter, Mishko, and friends:




Quality time on the Massachusetts coast with Aunt Ruth and Uncle Gerry:




Classic New England:




Playtime with cousin Eli:




Gerry, Ruth, Naomi, and Eli with "the big guy" (Eli's words):

The arribeanC slandI of ubaC

Well, here are some pics from our 3 weeks in ubaC. It was a wonderful place to travel, and we'll give you some real info. later on.

The Capitol in Havana:



Inside the Capitol:



The ladies across from our Casa in Havana - just hanging out:



Our neighbours watching the street action below:



Another neighbour watching the street from downstairs:



A common sight in ubaC - broken down american cars, with lots of people hanging out attempting to fix them:



Some colour coordination in the cute colonial town of Trinidad:



More cars, it's hard to stop taking photos:



At "Salvador's Alley" - a famous Muralist's street in Havana:



Some run down buildings in Havana:





One of the few restored buildings in Havana:



Another car:



The view of Plaza Mayor in Trinidad from the bell tower:



Los Pinos, a great band we saw in Trindad - with such cute old musicians:



Moncado Barracks with our old friend Luis Halley:



El Morro guarding the entrance to the Santiago de ubaC harbour:



Andrew hanging with our guide (self appointed guide):



Locals just hanging out on the street in Santiago - a fairly common sight:



A kid waiting for his turn at the street handball tournament:



Crossing a rickety bridge in Baracoa - in an attempt to swim in a cave (that was closed):



The view towards Baracoa on the hike to the caves:



At Maguana beach 20kms northwest of Baracoa



Yaliana giving Mandy a more "trendy" hairstyle!:



Yaliana & Alexandro from Guantanimo



Raol Caboverde and Mandy's birthday present (the big one on top):



The owner of our casa, Carena with her son Andrie & grand daughter:



A typical street scene in Baracoa:



Another in Baracoa:



Overtaking some oxen during a "shortcut" that locals suggested while driving to Gibara:



The local form of transport (shuttles) in most cities:



More "transport shuttle" action:



At Coco Beach, 8km north west of Santa Lucia, with Simon & Franzeska:



Hanging by the pool at the Club Santa Lucia with Simon & Franzeska:



In the cute colonial town of Sancti Spiritus:




One of the many coco taxis in Havana:



A peanut saleswoman:



Our street in Havana "O'Reily":



Drinks with Nicole (from Phillipines/Austria/Germany)



At the Fort overlooking Havana: