Tom and I spent the morning on the ship, doing our morning tai chi, got to watch Syracuse beat Marquette and a bit of the Wichita State/Ohio State game.....the ship's captain had changed the itinerary last night. We were suppopsed to be at sea today....instead we are in Tauranga. Gratefully, Roger and Penny, pictured above, were able to change their plans as well....so that we were able to spend Easter Sunday afternoon with them, rather than all day Monday. We met this lovely couple on the Queen Elizabeth voyage....They picked us up in a bar!!! Just started talking and met for a drink every other night after that! Being gracious as all the Kiwis we met, they even offered to show us Tauranga where they had retired four years earlier.
Our first stop was the Tauranga airport. They remembered that Tom had a pilot's license in a previous life....Many of the planes were gone to an air show on the South Island. The MASH jeep, some vintage planes....even the kiddie toys.....
And an airplane gummie comes with every coffee!!
These two are LOTSA laughs!! And great tour guides.....as natives, they gave us tips on where to go, what to see and what NOT to see....such as, avoiding a toll road in the North Island, reminded us that there is no tipping in NZ (which, by the way, is one reason everything is so expensive...but nonetheless, a wonderful practice and makes traveling so very much easier). They had a printing business in Rotorua for many years. The move to Tauranga was for a slower lifestyle and a milder climate....Tauranga is a mecca for retirees and the fastest growing city in NZ. Keeping the climate theme, Roger insists that the only reason the Scots settled in Dunedin is because they are the only blokes who could stand the horrible climate there!
Second time we have seen this sign since we left Florida...always toilets.
Atop this lookout, we have a marvelous view of Mt. Manganui (in the foreground) and the surroundings. This is a resort area, very busy today, Easter.
Attention, entrepreneurs!!! This minivan was filled with "elderly" people on a day's outing!
We are entering Roger and Penny's home...and noting how fitting it is that their front door is red.....color for passion and enthusiasm....which defines these two!!!
Happy Easter!!! Penny's sister and family had just spent the past three days here to celebrate her Mom's 80ish birthday. If we had just had house guests for three days, our home would probably be a wreck!!! Not so here....looked like the maid just left!!
Looking from dining room to pretty courtyard.
LOVE the half size vanity!
The gardener even has red flowers!!
They bought the model home in the neighborhood.....this had been the carpeted sales office.....ok, Roger, but it is STILL carpeted and it is now your GARAGE!!!
Roger collects sports and racing cars......his collection is valued at thousands of $$$$$$ and, guess what....they are RED!!! A very fun day with two very fun people. Thank you, Roger and Penny!
