August 20, 2025 California Heights, where we live, was once part of a massive ranch. In 1784, the King of Spain granted 300,000 acres to a former soldier named Manuel Nieto as a reward for his military service and to encourage Spanish settlement in California. On his death, his children inherited the property and hisContinue reading “Rancho Los Cerritos, Long Beach, California, USA”
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Orange County Fair, Costa Mesa, California, USA
August 13, 2025 The Orange County Fair has been going since 1890. It is now one of the biggest fairs in the world with an attendance of over 1 million visitors during the 23 days it is open each year. There are the traditional farm animals and vegetable competitions. But the main attractions are theContinue reading “Orange County Fair, Costa Mesa, California, USA”
Shotover River, Arthurs Point, Otago, New Zealand
April 27, 2025 We went for a hike along the Shotover River with our brother-in-law, Bill. The river gets its name from one of the early European settlers, William Gilbert Rees, who named it after his business partner’s English estate, Shotover Park. It has a particularly beautiful Maori name, Kimi-akau, which translates as “looking forContinue reading “Shotover River, Arthurs Point, Otago, New Zealand”
Arrowtown, Otago, New Zealand
April 26, 2025 Arrowtown is a historic gold mining town near Queenstown in the Otago region of the of the South Island. Back in the 1860s at the peak of the gold rush, the town had a population of over 7,000, including a large number of Chinese. When we visited, the Autumn Festival and paradeContinue reading “Arrowtown, Otago, New Zealand”
Remuera, Auckland, New Zealand
April 24, 2025 Another day in Remuera.
Remuera, Auckland, New Zealand
April 14, 2025 We returned to our old neighborhood of Remuera, where we lived for a few years in the eighties. It has grown a lot since then with a lot more fill-in housing. So that has left the suburb with quite a variety of housing, with modern homes often tucked in behind the originalContinue reading “Remuera, Auckland, New Zealand”
Kinloch, New Zealand
April 6, 2025 New Zealand’s biggest lake, Taupo, is in the center of New Zealand’s North Island. We thought it would make an ideal midway spot to meet up for a weekend with good friends, Marcus and Vasu, who live in Wellington. We had a great couple of days hanging with them and their dog,Continue reading “Kinloch, New Zealand”
Parnell, Auckland, New Zealand
April 1, 2025 Another day walking around Parnell, passing the usual mix or houses, apartments and light commercial buildings. Washington DC readers will find the colors of this house rather familiar. All hail the Commanders! Owners of one of these houses might want to ask their neighbor for the name of their painter. This houseContinue reading “Parnell, Auckland, New Zealand”
Mahurangi Regional Park / Puhoi New Zealand
March 29, 2025 Last weekend we visited Scott’s Landing in Mahurangi. This week we crossed the bay and visited the Regional Park in Mahurangi West. The tide was out so we were able to follow the coastline around the point before returning over the headland and through the park. With a rain storm blowing inContinue reading “Mahurangi Regional Park / Puhoi New Zealand”
Parnell, Auckland, New Zealand
March 25, 2025 At the end of a street full of commercial buildings, we came across a row of beautiful homes built in 1899 called Dilworth Terrace. It was like suddenly being dropped in England. It is these little surprises that make our urban walks interesting. This part of Parnell is mainly commercial buildings withContinue reading “Parnell, Auckland, New Zealand”
Mal and Lauren 