Julie Perry Nelson writes: Most Americans are unfamiliar with New Zealand until you tell them it is where The Lord of the Rings trilogy was filmed. Even those wonderfully choreographed scenes cannot capture the beauty of the country. I met my first Kiwi (New Zealander) eight years ago when I hosted her visit. She showed me pictures of her country and I was hooked. I decided that is where I wanted to go for my honeymoon. Now, I just needed a husband. Eight years later, and two years after we were married, my husband, Darren, and I finally could afford our dream trip. [More]