Central New Zealand

Most of the towns in central New Zealand are sandwiched between miles of incredibly green farmland, dairy factories and mills. Tokoroa is one of them. It has truly been a delight to stay with Morgan's grandparents and meet her cousins. The pace moves a bit slower here. There's always time for tea- English breakfast tea that is- with milk, sugar, and a chocolate raspberry slice. On Wednesday, Morgan, her grandmother, cousin, and some family friends made the 45 minute drive to Rotorua. The smell of rotten eggs alerted our arrival--it's actually because of the high amounts of sulfur in the ground, which back in the day was used for beauty and medicinal purposes. We learned all about it at the Rotorua Museum of Art and History, which used to be a very luxurious bathhouse and hospital. The museum is located right in the middle of the peaceful government and gardens and was designed along the lines of European spas. People would come from all over the world to receive healing from the treatments at the Bath House. Yesterday, we drove through the small, quaint towns of Tirau, Mournsville and Cambridge. In Mournsville, we took a trip down memory lane and visited Morgan's old neighborhood and schoolhouse--which had a total of two classrooms. I may sound like a gluttonous American to Morgan but the best part thus far has been the food: sausage rolls, mince pie, pecan tart, cornish pastie, honey ice cream, hokey pokey ice cream...the cereal here is fantastic! Good thing the only scales here are in kilos....ignorance is bliss. Below are some picures of the Rotorua Museum and Morgan's first triathalon which she completed on Monday at Scorching Bay in Wellington. Work it Morgana!

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This is the view from Morgan's flat