A damp day in Rotorua

We were up and ready to go quite early this morning so that we could make the most of the day in Rotorua.

We stopped off to take the recycling on the way and were in Rotorua just after 10.00. We went up on the gondola and as it was fine but threatening rain we went on our first ride straight away. Katharine was a little nervous to begin with but soon got the hang of it and we had a few stops on the way down to take photos. I took photos of them on the way up on the chairlift but it was a bit nippy on there today.

I didn't want to go on again so we went to the cafe and had a drink. I ordered a large flat white with a double shot and we all had a nice muffin. When I got my coffee she said it was a triple shot!!! The 'large' comes with a double anyway and as I had asked for a double shot that meant three!! I told her the man on the till who took my order didn't mention it was a double. She was very nice and said if it was too strong to bring it back and she would make me another but with two sugars to help, it went down very well.

Heather and Katharine then went off for their other two rides and I stood waiting to see them go down and take photos. I got chatting to a young Dutch woman and she told me she worked on Mt Ruapehu but because of bad weather on the mountain she was at the luge with a group of the young bar/hotel workers as they did not have much to do. I told her I knew Victoria and incredibly she told me she was living in the same accommodation as her - small world or what!!!! I also got talking to a lovely old lady from Wellington who had spent two years living near Guildford in the 50s. She was really sweet and said she was there with her son, daughter in law and grandson but that her son thought it would be too dangerous for her to go on the luge - bless her, she must have been well into her 80s and I think I have to agree with her son and so I told her I thought it would be too difficult for her. She was so sweet and we had a lovely chat.

Heather could not believe that I had been chatting to two different people but as I told her they were away for quite some time. We had a look in the shop and Heather and I bought some piggy banks, hers has slices of Kiwi fruit on it to make up the face and mine, well it was a present for Jon, is really a piggy sheep!

We then went to the Fat Dog for lunch but I only had soup today and no big pudding.

Katharine had seen a hoodie the other day when we were in Rotorua so we went back to buy it. There was only one left and fortunately it was her size - phew. We have looked all over and that was the only one she really liked so we were glad it was still there.

We continued on to Lake Tarawera and took some photos and then to the Buried Village which was just as pretty as I remember from our last visit two years ago. The river was very full and so the falls looked very pretty.

Then the trip home stopping into Pak n Save in Papamoa on the way. It was dark by the time we came out and I was not happy driving home in the dark on the unlit parts of the road but we made it safe and sound.

Heather and Katharine cooked dinner tonight which was a lovely treat and very nice.

After dinner we caught up with Corrie and then a very welcome bedtime.

WEATHER
Showers with a few sunny spells and some heavy rain 17 degrees