Monday

I need a few more blog lessons. I wish I could label the photos but in this format I can't get the photos and narration to go together, so think of it as a puzzle where you have to pair up the pictures and the words. Some pictures show yesterday's activities in Rotorua...the visit to the salt flats, the visit to the Rotorua museum and the mud baths, and the trip up the mountain by cable car and the luge down. (The person on the chair lift is me returning from the luge ride) This morning we left Rotorua for Taupo. Unfortunately, I don't have any pics of the scenery on the way here...it was all rolling hills and farm land...just beautiful. On the way, we stopped at the Haku Falls, which are not large, but an incredible amount of water pours over, enough to provide 20% of the electricity for all of NZ. The amazing thing about it is the water...it's a beautiful crystal clear turquoise and it rushes in great currents into the narrow river, and over the drop, where it swirls in white drifts that look like merangue (sp?) Absolutely beautiful. My pictures just don't do it justice. Will I ever be a decent photographer? Our motel is across from a large fresh water lake. Don and Louis went parasailing over it this afternoon and the rest of us looked around the shops. We stopped and got a pastry in Bumble's Bakery, and some books from the bookstore then back to the motel until dinner. Shirlee chose a great restaurant once again. The food has been fantastic and some of us are a little concerned that our clothes are a little tighter than they should be. Dave says its the dryers we've been using, but I think that's wishful thinking. We've booked into Taupo for another day and there are more than enough things to keep us busy. Ah, life is very good!