This one is for you two, John and Barbara....Val went back 4, FOUR, years through her guest book to find you!!!! We slept in your bed!!!
Our host, Brian, and hostess, Val....he built the home 27 years ago and they have been sharing it with guests since that time....
Tom is having a protein packed breakfast.....even Brian was impressed....actually, I think Val misunderstood T's order, but he ate it all!
When Brian built the house, he used a system involving self supporting walls. This is a cutaway of part of the wall. They put insulation in the void space. Clips hold the pieces together and the system is called Lockwood; it is earthquake rated -- very important in NZ (especially Rotorua). Brian is a multi-talented man; he initiated white water rafting in NZ, he worked in the Park Service, building various structures throughout the country, a scuba diver, and his own fishing guide business.
Nasty picture and nasty feeling....this is why we ate in last night and taking it easy this a.m.....our last night in Havelock North, it had rained during our time out for dinner....the entrance to the residence was all tiled and I fell flat....and been kinda yukky, dizzy and not up to snuff since....
Enjoyed the morning in this wonderful window seat, warm, cozy and the view...then we ventured into the city.
The arches are the gateway to the Government Gardens, the museum and the history of the "lore" of Rotorua.
This is the croquet club in Rotorua.
This is the Bath House, built by the local government, in the early 1900's to encourage tourism in the area. It currently houses the city museum....a magnificent structure.
Ouch!! Looks like torture....pull the chain when you have had enough!
This diagram of the facility is a testimony to its popularity.
The croquet lawn from the top of the Bath House.
And here is the view of Lake Rotorua, again from the "turreted" top of the Bath House.
The second story of the museum was dedicated to the history of a nightclub/disco type place which had a brief life....
Perhaps this is one reason Kiwis seem so upbeat, positive, happy, carefree.....they embrace the philosophy "one day at a time"!
Each orange line is a fault line....and Christchurch has only a faint line in the distance....and yet has been hit with 4 earthquakes in the last five years!!!
The following plaques represent a portion of the Maori heritage.....the values they cherish and foster....
A yummy lunch at "Lime"....we both had the same dish...chicken salad with chorizo, garnished with oranges and shaved beets! This is just a cafe!!!! Tellin' you, the food is delicious....
For you, Kiki and Jamie
For you, McKenzie....these were sculpted by an artist in residence.....go for it!
These woods were started in 1899, as an experiment to discover which trees could best be planted to produce lumber.....turned out not to be the redwoods, but the radiata pine, which is now the most important commercial species in NZ.
What is left of the redwoods makes for a spectacular walk....and the undergrowth of the tree fern adds to the "art museum".
Back in town, vestiges of the British influence still exist....
and the Wickedcampers are still entertaining travelers.....
Sometimes it is difficult to distinguish the black swans from the geese or the ducks....the black swans are prevalent in many of the lakes....haven't seen any white swans.....have to get very close to see the red beak!
Pedestrian only center of bars and restaurants in Rotorua
New Zealanders are not hung up on "corks"....all of their wine is "screw top"....but have never seen a cork handled/folded/preserved as this!!!
This is our second rack of lamb, (the first being that we bought in a grocery and cooked for ourselves) which we thought we would be enjoying nightly.....one of the few disappointments of the trip....we were quite excited to find it in a restaurant....but it was not nearly as good as that which we cooked for ourselves!....yet cost three times as much!!
More NZ humor!!!!
