Maybe it was the No Jet Lag pills I tried to take every two hours for the 20 or so hours I was underway from Cleveland to reach New Zealand. Or maybe it was the sheer adrenalin excitement of finally arriving in Wellington, the beginning of a journey that’s been on my bucket list almost forever.
But I hit the streets before I even unpacked and headed up the unlikely named Cuba Street just a few blocks from my downtown Wellington hotel.
I’d been sandwiched between two very portly people in a middle seat on the 14 hour Los Angeles to Auckland leg of the journey. I pressed flesh with each of them since they overlapped into my Air New Zealand seat. So I took refuge in an Ambien, a prescription sleep medication I rarely use when going to Europe. That’s because flights to Europe are maybe 6 hours long and I’m still groggy when I arrive.
No problem this time. I slept like a baby until hunger pangs awakened me at 4 a.m.
I was wide eyed and alert by the time I’d reached Auckland and transferred easily to my Wellington flight without any airport confusion. I was really glad to have a window seat so I could watch the New Zealand landscapes unfold beneath me before my aircraft entered the clouds.
Soon we’d arrived in Wellington, location of the conference of the Society of American Travel Writers and my home for a few days. Cuba Street, which took its name from a ship that brought settlers here in 1840, still has many of its historic old buildings. It’s mostly a pedestrian street with a distinct bohemian vibe, much like a lot of college towns I’ve visited, with many sidewalk cafes, funky boutiques, street musicians and bike racks.
I stopped for lunch at a cafe called Floridita, one of several spots playing on the Cuba and Florida theme. Great meal, good local beer and a check of about $18 — gratuities are included in New Zealand eateries.
Wellington was originally settled by the English and Scots — a fact reflected in its place names. But everything also has a Maori name, since the country is totally bilingual.
It’s on a harbor indented into the North Island from Cook’s Strait and is breezy to the max. Locals feared that our group of travel writers would fall into the Windy Wellington alliteration. You can hear the wind whistle on the video with this blog.
On a break between meetings, I zipped my raincoat, secured my hood and headed for a walk along the waterfront to shoot some of the video here. It was November — early springtime — but cold, I’d guess in the 40s with the wind and rain making it seem much worse.
There, right outside the Convention Center, was an Occupy settlement of tents and lean-tos... just like in the states. Their arguments were the same as those heard at home. Too much government, too little representation and economic issues such as unemployment and the housing bubble.
I’d traveled  8,700 miles from my home in Mentor and many things were the same.
But I’ll have several stories about my visit to New Zealand and I hope you’ll follow them in coming weeks. The first ones will run in the paper on Feb. 12 and will be online before that.

Theresa Neuhoff Audia, a sportswriter at The News-Herald, will be blogging while on her trip to Orlando, Florida from Jan. 21-28.

Today was our last full day in Orlando.
My husband and I debated on going to Epcot, but after a week full of activities we decided to lay low.
Plus, the weather called for showers and a clouds which wouldn't be the best conditions to walk around a theme park which cost $85 per person.
Instead, we started our day by working out. We then went to the Basilica of the National Shrine of Mary, Queen of the Universe. The Roman Catholic church was absolutely beautiful. We walked around, lite some candles and took in the beautiful church.
I almost forgot to add that we attend the Orlando Magic game last night in downtown Orlando. They played the Boston Celtics at Amway Arena.
The crowd was unbelievable. There were people everywhere. When we got to our seats, we enjoyed cheering for both teams (since we are dedicated Cleveland Cavaliers fans).
We left the game early because that day we woke up at 5 a.m. for the hot air balloon ride.
That could explain why we were too tired to go to Epcot today.
After visiting the church this morning, we went shopping at the Orlando Premium Outlets which included stores such as Guess, Bebe, Gap, Banana Republic, Rockport and more.
My husband had more luck than me shopping, but still it was a fun afternoon despite the rain.
Tonight, we are going to eat at Miller's Ale House which is close to our hotel.
Our plane leaves late tomorrow afternoon so we'll spend most of the day at the pool before we drive to the airport to go back home to snow.
I'll miss this sunny place that we've called home for the past week. We woke up to a new adventure every day which made the trip that much more exciting.
I would suggest Orlando as a vacation spot because there is so much to do. Heck, I could have spent two weeks here. But now it's time to say goodbye and go home.
Thanks for the awesome memories Orlando.

-Theresa Neuhoff Audia

Theresa Neuhoff Audia, a sportswriter at The News-Herald, will be blogging while on her trip to Orlando, Florida from Jan. 21-28.

 Early morning getting ready for takeoff on the hot air balloon.

Orlando sunrise from hot air balloon.


This morning at 5 a.m., my husband and I awoke for a once-in-a-lifetime trip on a hot air balloon.
We booked our flight through Orlando Balloon rides. The cost is $175 per person, but it is worth every penny.
We met at a local Radisson Hotel at 6 a.m. along with about 20 other people from all over the world who were just as excited as we were.
Shortly after we met, we packed into two vans and headed out for a field in the middle of nowhere about 45 minutes away. When we arrived at the field, the crew unloaded a large wicker basket which over 20 people fit into.
With the sun rising in the background, we watched as the crew blew the balloon up with fans. It was an amazing sight. Before we knew it, we were climbing into the large, stabilized wicker basket. Soon, we gradually started to float off the ground and into the air at a height of over 1,700 feet.
Once we maintained a comfortable flying height, we enjoyed the silence and beauty around us. It was a surreal feeling to be so high in the air. Slowly, we cruised over trees, houses, golf courses and orange groves.
The pace was controlled and relaxed. I was little tense at times, but the crew seemed to know exactly when to tell a joke to lighten the mood and make everyone around them feel at ease.
We were told the landing would be the hardest part, but it was smoother than I imagined. Our captain safely touched down in a cow pasture. There were a handful of bumps, but nothing to be alarmed about.
The flight was easy and safe, but still I was thrilled to be back on the ground. We were safe after flying in the air like birds.
The day before, I went hang gliding and if I were to compare the two, I would say hang gliding gives you more of a adrenaline rush. Riding in a hot air balloon is a piece of cake compared to the hang gliding because so many people are in the same position as you are.
A few weeks ago, I had to beg my husband to ride in the balloon. Today, I could tell he was thrilled to take a chance.
We will never forget the experience.

-Theresa Neuhoff Audia

Theresa Neuhoff Audia, a sportswriter at The News-Herald, will be blogging while on her trip to Orlando, Florida from Jan. 21-28.

I didn't think my day could get any better after hang gliding at the Wallaby Ranch, until my husband and I went to Universal Studios and Universal's Islands of Adventure.
It was a perfect, sunny day with temperatures over 75 degrees.
We started out at Universal Studios and walked immediately to the back of the park around 9:30 a.m. We figured if we started at the back of the park, the lines wouldn't be nearly as long and we were right.
We got right on The Simpsons Ride without having to wait. From there, we went to the Men in Black Alien Attack ride which was also located in the World Expo section of the park.
Since we were on a roll, we continued on in the back of the park to the New York section to ride Revenge of the Mummy. We also rode Disaster which was located in San Francisco. To top it off, we went to the E.T. Adventure in Woody Woodpecker's Kidzone.
Right before lunch, we rode the Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit which was like riding Top Thrill Dragster at Cedar Point. It was a rough ride and all I could think was I'm glad we rode it before lunch and not after.
Lunch was a nice break in the day.
We stopped at an Irish-themed restaurant called Finnegan's Bar and Grill. It was average, but we were so hungry and thirsty it felt like we were eating filet mignon and drinking martinis.
The second half of our day, we watched back-to-back shows (we were still spinning from the Rip Ride). The first show was Terminator 2 which was a 3D delight. Afterward, we went to a Horror Make-Up Show. The cool air inside the theater made it worthwhile to sit through the show.
Since it was getting late in the afternoon, we decided to hit Islands of Adventure. Again, we timed it perfectly. It was 3 p.m. and it felt like the place was clearing out. We headed right to the Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey ride which was spectacular. We didn't even wait for the ride, which is the best I went on the entire day.
We ended the day by riding The Incredible Hulk Coaster and the Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man ride.
At about 5:30 p.m., we ran out of energy. We also wanted to beat the crowd that would be leaving at closing time (7 p.m.) so we decided to leave.
Looking back, it would have been nice to do the Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios on separate days. I think there is just too much to see to limit it to one day. My husband and I don't have kids and we could only see so much rushing through the parks.
I think we would have enjoyed it more if we took the time and made a two-day adventure out of it.
Either way, I'm glad we had such a jam-packed fun day.

-Theresa Neuhoff Audia

Theresa Neuhoff Audia, a sportswriter at The News-Herald, will be blogging while on her trip to Orlando, Florida from Jan. 21-28.

Today was one of the best days of my life.
I woke up at 6 a.m. to prepare for my first adventure of the day - hang gliding at Wallaby Ranch in nearby Davenport.
When my husband and I arrived at the 500-acre ranch, we were greeted by a knowledgeable, friendly staff who made us feel comfortable from the start.
Before we knew it, the owner of the ranch, Malcom, arrived to give us a quick tour. Soon, we were driving on a golf cart to the launch site.
My guide Steve and I rode tandem on the hang glider. He and I were strapped into the glider and before I knew it, a towplane took us over 2,000 feet in the air. Once we were released from the towplane, Steve and I went free-flying over a dew-covered forest with the sun shining brilliantly in the background.
It was one of the most beautiful sights I've ever seen.
I felt like a bird flying through the air. At times, I was a little scared and my body tensed up, but once I got the hang of it, I relaxed and soaked in the experience.
I could barely see the trees below let along my husband who was taking video of me. The view was once-in-a-lifetime. The thrill made you feel as if you could accomplish anything.
Honestly, I couldn't believe I had the courage to hang glide until I was up in the air. It was like a challenge I made myself do, just to see if I could do it.
Before I knew it, the ride was over. We slowly swayed to the ground at the exact same spot we took off from. Steve, who has been hang gliding for 18 years, ensured we had a smooth landing.
When I got out of the hang glider, my husband, Malcom and a few other employees were there to greet us. It was a great feeling to be safe on the ground.
I'm glad I was able to cross something off my list of life-changing events I've always wanted to do.
It was life changing, because I didn't let fear hold me back from going 2,000 feet in the air.
Instead, I went for it and accomplished something I never dreamed I could.



-Theresa Neuhoff Audia

Theresa Neuhoff Audia, a sportswriter at The News-Herald, will be blogging while on her trip to Orlando, Florida from Jan. 21-28.

This morning, we were all set to go on a hot air balloon ride through the Orlando Balloon Rides, but it was postponed until Thursday due to weather.
We went to plan 'B' and decided to workout and hit the pool instead. 
It was another perfect day. The temperature reached 83 degrees. My mom called me from her home near Cleveland to remind me it was still snowing there.
It made me appreciate the sunshine all day long.
At the pool, we met a nice couple from Atlanta who told us to check out Downtown Disney. We didn't realize the exciting entertainment district was less than two miles from our resort.
We arrived around 6 p.m. and had dinner at Fulton's Crab House. My husband ordered the stuffed Rhode Island lobster. I ordered the seafood platter which included scallops and crab-stuffed shrimp. With drinks, an appetizer and tip, the dinner came to over $150. But it was well worth it.
Afterward, we walked around Downtown Disney which is divided into three sections - Pleasure Island, Marketplace and West Side. Even though it was a Tuesday night, it was packed with people.
What was most exciting about Downtown Disney was the different cultures all mixed into one. In one corner of the entertainment center, we heard country music. In another, we heard a band playing motown. From restaurant to restaurant, each one had its own unique theme.
It didn't cost anything to walk around Downtown Disney which was a plus.
So far, Orlando has proven to be a hot vacation spot. It's not just about Disney, but so much more. If there's something you've always wanted to do, you can find it in Orlando.
Early tomorrow morning, I'm going to do another activity I've never done.
I'm going hang gliding for the first time in my life at Wallaby Ranch.
Earlier today, I watched a video in which Al Roker of the Today show went hang gliding at Wallaby Ranch. It made me that much more excited to take the ride.
I'll tell you all about it tomorrow.
For now, I'm exhausted after a busy non-stop day.
Here's to a fun-filled vacation so far in Orlando.
The trip has exceeded all of my expectations.

-Theresa Neuhoff Audia

















-Theresa Neuhoff Audia 

Theresa Neuhoff Audia, a sportswriter at The News-Herald, will be blogging while on her trip to Orlando, Florida from Jan. 21-28.

One of my favorite shows growing up was Fantasy Island.
Guests would arrive at the island in a relaxed setting and set out on an adventure of a lifetime.
That is kind of what going to Discovery Cove is like.
It's an adventure you won't soon forget.
Dan and I arrived at the quiet, beautiful place around 10:30 a.m. We were greeted by knowledgeable staff who knew every answer to our questions.
Where was the Sea Venture?
How long would it take?
What else is included in the price of our admission?
The staff answered every question and made us feel right at home.
We walked along a beautiful path full of lush, tropical plants to Sea Venture, which was our first stop. Sea Venture is located in Discovery Cove. There is a separate charge (around $60 apiece) to do the side trip, but it is worth the price.
The experience starts with a large astronaut-like helmet that is carefully placed on your head as you ascend underwater. It's almost like diving without having to do all of the extensive training. Anyone can do it. We were told if we could breathe and walk, we could do it. They were right.
We were lucky because it was just my husband and I on a guided tour with three guides who pointed out everything from sharks to sea urchin and starfish. They were a first-class crew who obviously knew what they were doing.
I would give the experience an A+. When you come back up on the surface after being underwater for about 45 minutes, you feel refreshed. You have just experienced a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that few people are able to enjoy.
It's like walking in an aquarium packed with the greatest, most colorful fish you've ever seen.
Since Discovery Cove is an all-inclusive resort, breakfast and lunch was included in the price of admission (which is over $100). The lunch was cafeteria style and the food was delicious. Drinks (including beer, mango margaritas and pina coladas) were also included.
After a wonderful lunch, my husband and I went snorkeling in the same spot where we did the Sea Venture. Sting rays were swimming right under us along with schools of fish and more. It was an awesome experience to be so close to the fish.
To end our perfect day, we went took the lazy river which took us through the bird sanctuary. Along the way, we saw a pink flamingo napping on one leg. It made you feel as if you were somewhere in the Caribbean instead of simply in Florida.
Before leaving Discovery Cove, we showered, enjoyed a cold drink and soaked in the atmosphere one last time.
If a Fantasy Island remake is ever going to be made, it could be filmed at Discovery Cove.
It is that beautiful.

-Theresa Neuhoff Audia

Theresa Neuhoff Audia, a sportswriter at The News-Herald, will be blogging while on her trip to Orlando, Florida from Jan. 21-28.

We are lucking out with the weather in Orlando because it is unseasonably warm. It was in the high 70's today and we took advantage of it.
Following a quick workout at the resort, we headed straight to the pool where we spent most of our day.
It was amazing being in the sun in the middle of winter. So refreshing.
Later that night, we drove to downtown Orlando which is only about a 20-minute drive from our resort to meet my youngest sister Mary.
It was so good to see her. She looked as pretty as ever. I could have talked to her for hours, but the night was over before we knew it.
I am looking forward to my adventure tomorrow which is Discovery Cove.
It's an all-inclusive, reservations only tropical island oasis. I've read you can swim with dolphins which will be an amazing experience. There is also snorkeling which is one of my favorite activities.
Just imagine, it's snowing and cold back home and tomorrow I'll be spending the day swimming and playing with dolphins.
Pretty amazing.

-Theresa Neuhoff Audia

Theresa Neuhoff Audia, a sportswriter at The News-Herald, will be blogging while on her trip to Orlando, Florida from Jan. 21-28.

Day One...

When we left our house in Euclid, Ohio today, it was cold and snowy. Despite the weather conditions, I walked out with sandals because in a few hours, I knew I would be in the warm sunny weather in Orlando, Florida.
My husband Dan, who is always thinking, upgraded us to first class on Continental. Earlier in the week, the cost to upgrade was over $500 a person. He paid under $70 for each of us to fly first class which was worth it because it would have cost us around $25 each to check a bag (baggage fees were included in the first class upgrade).
It was my first time in first class, and I was pretty impressed. They bring you whatever you would like to drink during the entire flight and a plate of food, which on this day was cold cuts, cheese, crackers, fruit and cookies. How lovely.
When we arrived in Orlando, we picked up our rental car and decided to upgrade there too. We splurged and rented a red Mustang convertible. The first thing we did was put the top down and drive straight to the hotel.
We arrived at the Sheraton Vistanta resort around 7 p.m. After checking in to our quaint room, we drove straight to Publix to go grocery shopping.
We picked up essentials and more because our room has a small kitchen which I'm hoping will save us a little money.
After a first class day all the way, I'm ready for some rest.
Tomorrow, we plan on getting up early, working out and checking out our resort. I'm hoping the pools are beautiful.
Later tomorrow night, we will be meeting up with my youngest sister Mary, who lives in Orlando. I'm not sure what we will be doing, but I'm sure it will be an adventure.

-Theresa Neuhoff Audia

Theresa Neuhoff Audia will be blogging about her trip to Orlando, Florida which begins on Jan. 21 and ends Jan. 28. She is a sportswriter at The News-Herald, but loves traveling just as much at NH travel writer Janet Podolak.

I may not be Janet Podolak, but I may love travel just as much as her.
My name is Theresa Neuhoff Audia and I'm a sportswriter at The News-Herald.
Tomorrow, my husband Dan and I leaving for Orlando, Florida.
Janet has been kind enough to put me in contact with some knowledgeable people from Visit Orlando who have helped me plan a few exciting adventures.
On my trip, I'm going to be blogging every day to keep you updated on what's going on. It's hard to believe my suitcase is packed full of bathing suits, dresses and shorts since it's about to snow here any minute.
Packing in the middle of winter for a sunny place is exciting. I think I've been excited since the moment I knew I was going on this trip. Who wouldn't be?
Part of the reason I'm excited to go to Orlando is because my youngest sister Mary lives there. She is 10 years younger than me and already has a full agenda planned for Sunday night. It will be fun, I'm sure and I don't even know what we will be doing yet.
Here's what the rest of our week looks like:
Saturday: arrive, grocery shop, settle in
Sunday: out with my sister
Monday: Discovery Cove, an all inclusive, reservations only tropical island oasis. While at Discovery Cove, Dan and I will also be taking the underwater Sea Venture.
Tuesday: Hot air balloon ride at Orlando Balloon Rides
Wednesday: Hang gliding at Wallaby Ranch
Thursday: Orlando Magic vs. Boston Celtics game (I think my husband is most excited about this event).
We also plan on going to Universal Studios, possibly zip line over alligators, SeaWorld and whatever else we can fit in.
So here's a final goodbye from Ohio.
The next time I'll be talking to you, I'll be in warm, sunny Orlando, Florida.

-Theresa Neuhoff Audia

Just as it's difficult to say goodbye to a great book, so it was hard for me to end my four-part series about exploring France's Loire Valley chateaux.
I loved every minute of my September trip and writing about it to share with News-Herald readers was just as much fun. Thanks to the internet you can catch up with those stories online.They are:   Steampunk meets tomorrow in Jules Verne’s French hometown at http://tinyurl.com/d4qc6g3; Choose different perspectives to discover 900 years of Loire Valley life at http://tinyurl.com/7svb7wc; Walk with daVinci’s genius at http:// /tinyurl.com/cnf6ftc; and Meet Renaissance women rivals who lived in chateaux 12 miles apart at http://tinyurl.com/6nr7op4
Call me a romantic but I can't imagine a more wonderful Valentine trip than this part of the world. And with Discover France you can stay in castle hotels, have a vintage car and driver take you around, enjoy a chocolate tasting,  wine tasting and cooking class. Take romantic walk over cobbled streets of an ancient village or two, sample fresh caught oysters from a market stall and visit vineyards and troglodyte dwellings. Gourmet meals and visits to Chenonceau are important elements.
The experience combines the best of a self-guided tour with privileged access to places only the experts know about. Visit http://www.discoverfrance.com or call them at 800-960-2221.

Who would cruise the Mediterranean in January? I shared that reaction with Jennifer Fried, manager at Traveline in Willoughby, when I first heard of the Friday 13th disaster involving the Costa Concordia off Italy's Tuscan coast. Passengers still are missing from that 4,000-passenger ship, which was recently built and the largest ship serving Europe.  It's winter there this time of year, just as it is here.. not quite as cold but winter nonetheless. The seven-day Med cruise was priced as low as $399 online, and Fried said it's marketed mainly to Europeans. She said she wouldn't book anyone on a wintertime cruise in the Mediterranean.

 I also wanted to find out why many passengers apparently hadn't been part of a lifeboat drill.
On all of my own two dozen or so cruises, the  lifeboat drill took place within the first 24 hours, usually shortly after the ship set sail. Jennifer tells me that when a passenger she booked on a Caribbean cruise failed to attend the mandatory life boat drill, Fried was contacted by the cruise line. "They were ready to put the passenger ashore," she said. "That's how seriously they take it."

Life boat drills have changed some in the 30 years I've been cruising. On my last voyage passengers didn't have to retrieve their life vests, put them on and go to their assigned lifeboat stations. Instead we took life vests to the lounge where we saw a video about evacuation procedures.Attendance was taken to be sure every passenger was there.  Members of the Cruise Lines Industry Association trade group comply with rules mandating a life boat drill within  the first 24 hours of a cruise, according to a spokesman.

Maritime law may differ in Europe, and as Fried pointed out, the Concordia's itinerary allowed it to take on and disembark passengers at several different ports - quite unlike cruises in this part of the world, which begin and end at certain ports and last a prescribed number of days.

"The Concordia seems to have been more like a ferry boat," she observed. When they appeared on Tuesday's Today Show, Concordia passengers Melissa Goduli and her mother Maria Papa said there had been a lifeboat drill aboard the ship the previous Saturday. But other passengers had differing accounts.

But when I took  the Hurtigruten Norwegian coastal voyage from Kirkeness to Bergen it was aboard a true ferry boat. And a very thorough lifeboat drill took place before we departed that Arctic village near the Russian border.

Will this disaster mean the end of the cruise industry? I asked Fried.

"Those who have cruised before usually have a great experience and they'll cruise again," she said. As far as vacation types go, cruising gets high marks for satisfaction.

But I predict some who have never cruised might not be so anxious to do so, despite cruises fares that may come tumbling down in the wake of this disaster off Italy. And I also predict that the rules governing cruise ships and safety at sea will also undergo some changes.