The Seaside
Dave Says:
We’re at the seaside. Strange I should use such an English turn of phrase but NZ seems to be more British than I can stand. All of the little things I’d forgotten about are perfectly preserved in the Kiwi way of life. For example, there are butcher shops, chemists, hairdressers. The shops open at 9am and close around 5pm. You don’t tip wait staff. In fact, I left a tip yesterday and the server ran after me to say that I’d left money on the table. Everyone drives on the left (even Sarah after a little training), the roads are small and the road signs are exactly the same as the UK. The roundabout is welcomed back by this driver with open arms.
Anyway, I digress. We’re at the seaside in a little town (that starts with the letter “w” - they all do actually) somewhere on the Coromandal peninsula in the NE corner of the North Island. The weather is great. Hot and sunny.
Check this out. Yesterday we went to a beach called Hot Water Beach which, as it’s name suggests, has hot water. One rents a spade for $2 and digs a hole in the sand. After digging down about a foot, scalding hot water bubbles up and you sit in your personalized sandy hot tub wondering just how this witchcraft works. Then your legs get scalded and you run into the ocean to cool off. Rinse and repeat. Strange but true and we have pictures to prove it.
January 14th, 2005 at 4:30 pm
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January 15th, 2005 at 6:27 am
Wow, sounds like a wonderful way to burn your butt! I wonder what Ms. N said that she felt the need to remove??? Glad y’all are having a great time, keep the pictures coming…they are great fun!
Roz
January 15th, 2005 at 7:36 am
Roz you will never know what I posted that I felt the need to delete! My only regret is that there’s any evidence whatsoever that I did delete a comment! Anyway you guys, it just sounds like you’re having such an awesome time….. a bit hard to imagine “hot and sunny” right now when we’re in the middle of such a very cold streak in Seattle. That natural hot tub sounds great and we are loving the pictures. All is well here, we’re bringing Nikki home on Sunday and we’ll e-mail pictures!
January 17th, 2005 at 12:21 am
Hi there we have just had a good look at the pickies are you in Devon or Cornwall we cannot believe you are in N.Z? but I suppose the weather is better there than what we are experiencing please keep the news coming as it keeps us in touch with you
January 17th, 2005 at 12:24 am
by the way Dad has printed out a map so that we know where you are or have been.