A Trip to Paradise:  The Cook Islands

Photo from Jim and Wendy White's Travel Diary

   Kia Orana.  I'm Christine Owens, the art teacher at Fernan Elementary School in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho.  On June 16th, 2001, my husband, Merrill, and our best friends, Lori and Bob Blessing climbed aboard a jet for what I would have to call a dream come true:  tropical paradise.  After 20 hours of traveling we took our first breathe of warm tropical air.  At the small airport on Rarotonga, the Cook Islands' largest island, we were met by the singing of Jake, retired airport fireman and official greeter.  Even after a very long 9 1/2 hour flight, everyone was still smiling.  Actually, I can't remember very many times when I wasn't smiling during our entire two weeks on this friendly island.

   You'll find pictures and links about the art and culture of the Cook Islands here.  Of course, I was on vacation so I may not have been as thorough as I should have been.  I may have missed something or someone important.  Please forgive me.  I just followed my heart.

    The first question people ask me when I tell them where we went is, "Where are the Cook Islands?"  I usually say, "Near New Zealand."  But here's a great little map to help you get the big picture:

    From Los Angeles, we flew for 9 1/2 hours--an all-night trip with two movies on New Zealand Air!

    Now that you know where we are, check out these links, but come back using your "Back" key so that you can see what I found and the artists that I met on the biggest island, Rarotonga.  Don't forget!