InsaneJournal

New Zealand Day 4
and the continuing travel journal...



Today did not involve getting up, packing, loading the car, etc.  Rotorua is a place we are spending 2 nights, the last being tonight.  We got up and Oldersis and I had tea while we waited for Clue to awaken.  She took sleep aides the night before to help shake her ick so she slept later.  While that was going on, over our tea, we looked at the pictures on the CD from the tubing trip.  Yes, we look stoopid, but we had sooo much fun.  After Clue got up and moving, we set forth on our game plan.  First was breakfast, which turned out to be second so we could get our tickets to go play in the mud (more on that later); next was the Government Gardens and Bath House Art Museum; then was lunch and a little shopping, then to the Hell's Gate Spa, dinner and then the fireworks for New Years.  Lovely plan... not so much on the reality.

Actually we did well with the start.  After tickets and quite a nice breakfast, we walked over to the gardens and museum.  The Bath House is, or was till 1960 or so, exactly that.  A place where they used the local sulfur springs from the geo-thermals to 'cure what ails you'.  It is amazing some of the things they felt were good treatments, like running electric current through your water.  It is also interesting some of the things that were stopped as 'false science' that are coming back into fad, like physical therapy in the water so as to relieve stress on the joints.  The art portion of the museum is really nice and you can get up on the captain's walk as well.  There is even a short movie about an big volcanic eruption in the area that occurred in 1886.  A great place all in all.

Next stop was a pharmacy to get me sinus meds as I appear to have picked up Clue's crud.  After a bit of shopping we took off for the Hell's Gate Spa.  We toured the geo-thermal area first, which was quite fascinating and I have lots of pics.  The upper end of the facility even has a helipad for the quick evacuation of the fatally stupid that disregard all the warning signs and step off the path into the boiling pools of volcanic water.  No, I am not joking here... we saw footprints of people that were off in the 'squishy' zone.  Thus proving that people all over the world are capable of 'Hey y'all, watch this' moments.  After the walking tour, we took a mud bath, in geo-thermal water with the local mud.  Oh my muscles and skin love me... I am now a convert.  I am NOT a convert to the cold shower immediately following said mud bath.  It is necessary, but I am not a fan.  Next came sitting in the sulfur hot water pools until we all decided we were ready for food.

It turns out the Grumpy Mole is strictly a saloon and not a place to get food, which the local guide book said we could get there.  Thus, we went next door to the Lone Star Bar and Grill.  Nice place, really good food and friendly wait staff that even gave Clue their "secret recipe" for BBQ sauce.  Thus fed, we determined it was time to head back to the room and crash.  I have taken my night time sinus pills and now that I can smell... I smell like a fart.  Oh well, it wears off.

Sleep now and Happy New Year (well, not quite yet, we roll over in 1 hour and 20 min)