Across the World for the Hot Guy I Met in Barcelona

Full Story 

After that magical meeting on the cruise ship in Barcelona—the one with the chocolate martinis and the unexpected spark—Tony (a.k.a. the “Booze Bug”) and I went our separate ways.

He flew home to New Zealand. I flew back to America.

But something about our connection felt too big to ignore. I truly believe God had a hand in it—there was no other way to explain how our paths crossed.

Before I left the ship, the Australian and New Zealand friends we’d met during those two weeks surprised me. They invited me to a beautiful, private farewell dinner on board, listened to my story, and before the night was over, raised their glasses to me with a gift I’ll never forget:

“Whenever you can come, Wendy, we’ll bring you to Australia and New Zealand to see where we live.”

They could see the spark between Tony and me. And so could I.

A Leap of Faith

Back in America, I had a divorce to finalize, a business (The Ladybug) to figure out, and a whirlwind of emotions to process. But that invitation—and Tony—kept tugging at my heart.

So I booked a ticket. A nearly 13-hour flight from Los Angeles to New Zealand. I’d never been there before, and as I looked out the plane window, I thought, Wow, this is further than I imagined.

When I landed, Tony was waiting for me. The sparks were still there. The chemistry? Unmistakable. And so began a 90-day adventure that changed everything.

Falling in Love with New Zealand (and the Booze Bug)

New Zealand is, without question, one of the most magical places I’ve ever been. Everything was new—different stars in the Southern Hemisphere sky, unique flowers and birds, and oceans unlike any I’d ever seen.

Tony showed me 37 different beaches in those three months. We explored wineries, visited stunning natural wonders, and spent hours collecting incredible shells to make art in the sand. I learned about the Māori, the indigenous people, and felt a deep connection to the history and culture.

Adventures I’ll Never Forget

Tony picked me up in his Dodge SRT Challenger (points for coolness). I found out he was in a band, and one night they even let me join as a backup singer while he played lead guitar.

One of my favorite memories? Tony and his friend invited me to choose my dinner—then dove into the ocean to catch it. They came back with fresh scallops, massive snapper, and fish so big I could hardly believe it. We cooked it fresh, right from the sea.

The whole trip was salty kisses, sandy toes, laughter, music, and adventure. Every single day was something new.

Looking Back

I went for 90 days. I came back with a heart full of memories, a deeper connection with Tony, and a love for New Zealand that’s never faded.

As the saying goes… “In the end, we only regret the chances we didn’t take.”

And this? This was one chance I’ll never regret!