We went to Akaroa, New Zealand for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. This is the French village where we did not buy the Takamatua Lavender Farm in 2003.
On Christmas Day we finally walked the lavender fields and visited this beautiful little farm in the Takamatua Valley.
Akaroa is one hour from Christchurch, the largest city on the South Island of New Zealand. (There are four and one half million people in all of New Zealand so the biggest city is not all that large.)
Akaroa sits on the Banks Peninsula, a piece of the world blessed with mountain valleys, sand beaches, whales, penguins, albatross and dolphins. It is the best place for a dream of life not yet lived.
I still dream of harvesting, distilling and making products from lavender. I am so thankful I had a chance to see the farm and imagine our life there.
It was a magical Christmas Day.
MedFlies 
How different your lives would have been had you bought this farm years ago.
Yes. We would have missed the wonder and beauty of New Mexico, the people and the land.
Jill, you look like a kid in a candy store or maybe a kid on Christmas morning who discovered that she got the present she really wanted. May your dreams always be filled with lavender. Happy New Year to you both! Look forward to your last leg of your journey in Valparaiso.
We had such a good time:-) I am a kid in a candy shop always. Love, J
It starts tomorrow. Wish I could speak fluent Spanish. J
It was so much fun to see you two. Jill, you look like a kid in a candy shop!
Gilles and I wish you a happy new year and the hope for a better tomorrow. We have enjoyed this saga very much. See you in Eldorado!
Hi Leni, We will be home in April after our last three months in Valparaiso, Chile. Looking forward to catching up with you and Gilles. Happy New Year, Jill and Dana