About Rhonda Albom

40 Rainy Day Indoor Activities: Auckland New Zealand

August 20, 2019 // by Rhonda Albom// 24 Comments

If it’s not summer in New Zealand, it’s probably raining. Kiwis don’t get bothered by it. Indoor activities in Auckland range from museums to sports, from animal viewing to laugher. Whatever you are looking for, or even if you don’t know, you will find it here. You will never again run out of things to …

Repositioning Cruises: Are they right for you?

August 14, 2019 // by Rhonda Albom// 38 Comments

Turning fantasy into reality, we boarded a ship and sailed away. Traditional turnaround cruises bring us back to where we started. Repositioning cruises take us out into the world. What is a repositioning cruise? Cruise ships sail in warm weather. Therefore, at the end of a season, they often move from their home port to …

Iglesia Capuchinos: A Tour Beyond Locked Doors

August 2, 2019 // by Rhonda Albom// 30 Comments

Iglesia Capuchinos (Church of the Capuchins) captivated us on our first night in Cordoba Argentina. Bold and reaching up to the heavens, it is a masterpiece against a black sky. Staring at it in wonder, I didn’t realise that in less than 24 hours I would be on top of one of those towers. Our …

My Dengue Fever Experience in South America

July 26, 2019 // by Rhonda Albom// 53 Comments

Dengue fever is no fun. I know. It is high on my list of things I NEVER want to do again. A hard lesson learned, my dengue fever experience was a big price to pay for entering the Brazilian and Paraguayan rainforest using an all-natural insect repellent. The Aedes aegypti species mosquito transmits dengue, Zika, chikungunya and …

Chapel of Bones Evora and Other World Ossuaries

July 18, 2019 // by Rhonda Albom// 52 Comments

We have been to some eerie places, no question about it. Capela dos Ossos, the Chapel of Bones in Evora, Portugal tops our freakish list. Entering the macabre world of this ossuary, we crossed into the Twilight Zone. And as we did, we thought we had found something unique. Not so. In fact, it’s not …

South Island Road Trip: Dunedin to Christchurch NZ

July 12, 2019 // by Rhonda Albom// 30 Comments

Wildlife, rugged clifftops, and wonders of nature dominate the coastal drive from Dunedin to Christchurch in New Zealand. While this South Island road trip could be completed in half a day, you would miss so much. From a historical perspective, you will travel from the Scottish influence of Dunedin, through the Victorian era in Oamaru, …

Hiking and Other Outdoor Things to Do in Bariloche

July 5, 2019 // by Rhonda Albom// 34 Comments

Deja vu was strong as we approached San Carlos de Bariloche, a Swiss-influenced, quaint mountain town in northern Patagonia. Situated in Argentina’s Lakes District, Bariloche overlooks the stunning glacial Lake Nahuel Huapi. Winter skiing and summer hiking are the top activities. Whenever you visit, you will discover a vast number of outdoor things to do …

20 Picturesque Cruise Ship Ports Around the World

June 28, 2019 // by Rhonda Albom// 29 Comments

Cruising takes us to exciting and picturesque cruise ship ports around the world. Whether they feature nature’s masterpieces or something manmade in vibrant colours, our favourite cruise destinations are each a photographer’s paradise. What we love about cruising is the variety in destinations, the one time unpack, the culinary delights, and the opportunity to make …

7 Must-See Museums in Auckland New Zealand

June 21, 2019 // by Rhonda Albom// 35 Comments

With a variety of museums in Auckland to choose from, seven stand out as must-see destinations for both locals and visitors. These include cultural and historical overviews, hands-on science, classic and contemporary art, and our southern hemisphere night sky. Auckland is the country’s largest city, so it should come as no surprise that it is …

Is South America Safe? Safety Tips for Travellers

June 14, 2019 // by Rhonda Albom// 39 Comments

Thousands of people visit South America every day without incident, yet some are not so lucky. The question we are often asked, ‘Is South America safe for travellers?’ We examine this from two sides: personal and health. For us, we followed the tips listed below and had almost no South America safety issues. Statistics don’t …

Our South America Itinerary: Highlights of Argentina, Chile and Uruguay

June 11, 2019 // by Rhonda Albom// 25 Comments

We spent nine weeks travelling around South America, visiting five of the southern countries. A whirlwind of new aromas, sites, landscapes, and culture, our South America itinerary provided an ever-changing environment. Below are the highlights of Argentina, Chile, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay. Our South America itinerary map Highlights of Argentina We visited five regions of …

Things to Do in Lake Tekapo: Scenic Days, Starry Nights

June 7, 2019 // by Rhonda Albom// 34 Comments

With the Southern Alps as a backdrop reflecting onto the deep turquoise waters, the picturesque views at Lake Tekapo New Zealand are exceptional. Add to that the aurora australis (southern lights) dancing in skies so clear they are recognized as an International Dark Sky Reserve. Lake Tekapo is one of the most spectacular places in …

Quebrada de las Conchas: Best of Salta to Cafayate

June 4, 2019 // by Rhonda Albom// 35 Comments

Deep red jagged rock formations with golden highlights compete for our attention as we drive from Salta to Cafayate in Argentina. Over a million years in the making, the highlight of this road trip is the 80 km section called Quebrada de las Conchas (Shell Ravine). Here, we find northwestern Argentina’s most stunning drive, a …

Alaska Cruise Tips: Know Before You Sail

May 28, 2019 // by Rhonda Albom// 20 Comments

Alaska is like few places on earth. Wild, rugged, scenic, and abundant with wildlife, it is a paradise. We cruised southbound from Anchorage to Vancouver. However, these Alaska cruise tips apply equally to northbound cruises, or those that loop. Alaska Cruise Tips: Planning 1. Plan early. More than other destinations, Alaska cruises tend to book …

Istanbul Must See: 7 Places to Visit in Istanbul Turkey

May 21, 2019 // by Rhonda Albom// 24 Comments

Energy levels were high as our ship pulled into the port of Istanbul. Exotic, yet familiar, it’s a city filled with an extensive history, intricate architecture, gastronomic delights, and culture. Our Istanbul must see list whittled down to seven key sites, we were ready. Istanbul is a city that deserves more than one day, but …

Rhonda Albom