DAY 48-AKAROA, NEW ZEALAND

        This is our first port of call on the South Island.  Akaroa is located in a beautiful, sheltered harbor surrounded by rugged volcanic hills.  It is a popular resort town on the Banks Peninsula with a permanent population of just over 600 but this number swells up to 15,000 during the summers.
        Christchurch, the largest city on the South Island lying near the center of its east coast, is just 50 miles (90 minute drive) from here.  Christchurch was rocked by several major earthquakes and many aftershocks between 2010 and 2012.  During the Feb 22, 2011, earthquake, 185 people were killed.  Christchurch suffered major damage to its buildings, homes, and infrastructure.  Over 1000 buildings had to be demolished after the earthquakes.  The city has experienced rapid growth since then with the central part of the city being rebuilt.
        Agriculture is the life blood of the region surrounding Christchurch.  Dairy farms are growing with many sheep and cropping farms being converted to it.  Wheat and barley are grown, as well as, clover and other grasses for their seeds.  In recent years regional agriculture has diversified with a thriving high quality wine industry and olive production.  Deer are raised on farms for their antlers which are used for Asian medicines and aphrodisiacs.   That’s enough about Christchurch and its surrounding areas.
        Akaroa in the Maori language means “long harbor”.  It is one of NZ’s most gorgeous harbors.  For that reason we have decided on exploring it more today on a harbor nature cruise.  These waters are teeming with marine life which include:  little blue penguins, fur seals, Hector’s dolphins (world‘s smallest oceanic dolphins), and spotted shag.  The spotted shag is native to New Zealand and featured on one of their postal stamps.  They feed at sea and nest on coastal cliffs, living in colonies of 10 to 700 pairs.

WHAT WE DID LAST NIGHT:

 This is the infirmary.  Rebecca went to see doctor at 6pm and was there waiting until 7pm last night. Dr gave her some antibiotics.

                           Elvis, one of the bartenders

                       Green lipped muscles.  They were VERY tasty!

 The veal parmesan was so big that we had them divide one piece for the two of us.  Our waiter was going to eat the other one later.

WHAT WE DID TODAY:
       This morning we both went on a catamaran cruise of the bay to see the wildlife on the water and in the water.  It was very interesting and an excellent tour.  The bay was smooth as glass in the morning but the afternoon people had a rougher ride.  We saw some of the rarest species on Earth.
       We got back on the ship by 11:00 am and I grabbed a hamburger while down loading photos I took in the morning.  Then I caught the tender back to shore for another tour.
       At 12:30 I met the tour (Rebecca did not go).  There were 3 vans each seating about 9 people.  I sat in front seat of mine.  It was a 30 minute drive up to the farm.  The owner greeted us and gave us a long talk telling of his family history.  His great-great grandfather came from Europe in 1800's to start the farm.  Now they own 1000 acres and lease another 1700.  They have 5000 head of sheep and 500 cows on this farm.  You will see from photos that it is too hilly to raise crops.  He said this hilly land costs $5000 per acre in US dollars.  Mario, the owner, was very interesting and told a great story of his family.  Everyone really enjoyed it.  Then his daughter in law came in and sheared a sheep.  They have two men come in normally to shear their sheep.  Each man can shear about 250 sheep a day.  The wool from his breed of sheep is coarser wool and used for making rugs not clothes.  They also own the 3 vans and operated these farm tours for cruise ship and other folks.  Then we went out of the barn and the daughter in law showed us how the dogs the breed and train can herd sheep.  She used voice and whistle commands to the dogs.  It was amazing how well trained the dogs were.  After that we went down to their farm house where his wife and kids served us coffee, tea, and scones.  This was a fantastic tour.  I got to see some incredible views today.

       I am trying another way to put my photos on the blog.  It is not working so far.  I will have to put them on later.  Not tomorrow though as we will be leaving the ship in Dunedin early tomorrow morning to do a two day overland excursion to Milford Sound.  There are 36 of us doing this excursion.  We will take a bus across the country and spend the night in a hotel in Queenstown.  So probably no blog posts until Saturday your time.