Monthly Archives: December 2009

Pic of the Day: December 21

Pic of the Day: December 21

After the conference in Phoenix, there was time for a family reunion in Tucson. Mandatory stops on any Allen family tour of Tucson are the Café …

 

Pic of the Day: December 15

Pic of the Day: December 15

I doubt that you’d recognize Ella’s darkened head from the back, but this picture is proof that we did reconnect with our colleagues from Örebro, …

 

Pic of the Day: December 13

Pic of the Day: December 13

The missus is here comparing fashion notes with the hyperkinetic Sophia Cartsonis, and her more serene brother Oliver. The Cartsoni were kind enough to host a …

 

Pic of the Day: December 10

Pic of the Day: December 10

All sheep jokes aside, there are 12 sheep for every person in New Zealand.  That’s down from 20 at its peak. Our last New Zealand bed …

 

Pic of the Day: December 9

Pic of the Day: December 9

As big tree lovers, we were impressed by the kauri trees in Waipoua Forest.  Not so much by their height, but by their world-class girth. The …

 

Pic of the Day: December 8

Pic of the Day: December 8

In 1955 “Opo the friendly dolphin” was found orphaned in a harbor near the small town of Opononi.  The dolphin swam beside fishing boats, and …

 

Pic of the Day: December 7

Pic of the Day: December 7

The Treaty of Waitangi between the British and the native Maori is usually seen as the founding event of New Zealand.  But figuring out exactly …

 

Pic of the Day: December 6

Pic of the Day: December 6

After the spectacle of watching Santa parade in searing summer heat during the Melbourne Christmas parade, we were eager to see what the Christchurch version …

 

Pic of the Day: December 5

Pic of the Day: December 5

Kaikoura in Maori translates to “meal of crayfish”.  These guys (or gals?) were cooking at a roadside outdoor grill. Sadly, we went for the grilled fish, …

 

Pic of the Day: December 4

Pic of the Day: December 4

What exactly is the theory behind this sitting area, along the cliffs of Kaikoura?  Is it a reference to New Zealand’s sheep herding heritage?  We …