Wellington - our tour day

Our second hotel in Wellington. 

Bruce was feeding one little bird part of his banana. As you can see, the bird was joined by a few of his friends. You can see Bruce's knees and how close the birds came to us.

The rain obviously stopped by the end of our museum tour. We were able to take a walk down along the harbor.

A fountain in the park at the harbor.

Bruce wanted this picture. It is of two trees lined up, one behind the other. Look at the shadow.

A couple of sculptures. There are 3 other "palm trees" around the courtyard. They are made of metal.

At the bottom of the stairs as you leave the park.

And you thought we were in New Zealand!!!!

New GBR pics

 This is for all my single friends, an Australian hunk (a bit young, but...!)

Another hunk and also the lifeguard.

Alice

Want to hang in the cold water a bit longer to take more pics.

Wetsuit????

OK. 

Te Papa Tongarewa

On the windy roof of the museum were these awesome sculptures.

Yup, that's me!

Wellington #2

Bruce has rested now for almost 24 hours and feeling much, much better. We head to the Museum of N.Z.-Te Papa Tongarewa. It is pouring rain.

The cafe patio.

The dock outside the museum.

It's a statue.

Bruce on suspension bridge, obviously feeling better!

Wellington

We arrive in Wellington and check-in to the Shepard Arms Hotel. Our room is above a bar. What a dump! Bruce is now sicker than a dog and it is time to get medical treatment. I pack all our valuables, toiletries and a change of underclothes in a carry-on bag and we cab it to a minor care emergency clinic. 

It seems that Bruce has a case of food poisoning (can you guess what he ate?). He is given a shot, pills and needs rest.  I find more comfortable accomodations, the 5 star Bolton Hotel (check it out at boltonhotel.co.nz) check us in and give him his drugs to knock him out.  

A room with not much of a view, but nice inside!!!!

Rotorua - Te Puia #3

Rotorua - Te Puia #2

Bruce standing near geyser, but not too close!

Bubbling mud.

Rotorua - Te Puia

Te Puia is the Maori Cultural Experience.

Bruce at the entrance of the village.

Rotorua - our last night

This is a replica of a Maori meeting house. We  attendeda live song and dance performance which was followed by a full hangi (earth oven) meal. Bruce was feeling a little better at this point and decided he could eat this meal of meat, potatoes, corn, and many other heavy starch foods. Needless to say, he really regretted doing so before he even got back to the lodge.

Off to bed.

The next morning Bruce is sicker.

Mom starts her journey home very early.

We follow her to the airport a half hour later but we are going to Wellington, the capital of N.Z.

The airport has no security check-points. You walk in, check in at the ticket counter and walk out to the plane on the tarmac. Not often you see that these days.

Rotorua - Duck Tour

Even though Bruce is not feeling well, we take a "Duck Tour" so he can get his kazoo shaped like a duck bill that sounds like a duck quack.

 The amphibious vehicle was from WWII.

We are driving around in the lake.

Rotorua - Agrodome #4

A long horn.

An even longer horn!

Across the road from the farm is this cool ride. It is called the Zorb; a big inflated rubber ball that you get into and then you are rolled down the hill. Another option is to have some soapy water put into the ball with you to make you slide all around as you are rolling down the hill.  Do this before you eat!