Sydney, We Have a Problem Getting to New Zealand's South Island I write this from a cafe in our new home, Mt. Maunganui, on New Zealand's North Island. I can see the Pacific Ocean, feel the cool breeze, smell the fried fish. Already, the promise of a lunch special (cranberry, chicken and brie panini, salad and coffee) has made my tummy happy. We've been here a week, which has allowed me to gain a shred of perspective about our travels to, and on, the South Island. First, the "going-to" part We left Sydney January 1 st in the afternoon, with temperatures pushing 90 degrees Fahrenheit (32 Celsius). I dumped another load of chlorine into our host family's pool (it had turned green, and the homeowner told me to unleash 2 giant containers of chemicals), cleaned the kitchen and took a final peek through the house before hopping on the highway to the airport. I returned our black 4-door Hyundai to the rental car lot, praying no one would notice the thin squigg...
When you look like your passport photo, it's time to go home. - Erma Bombeck