The Arrival

It’s Christmas morning and we have arrived in Auckland, this is the farthest we have ever traveled.  We are here to meet our friends for a three-week long trip around the islands.  They wait patiently for us to clear customs and join them for celebrations at a childhood home.  We wait for luggage that isn’t coming and realize that today is going to be a bit crazy.

My family is a ham lunch crowd, Josh’s does turkey but Maria’s is lamb.  Now having seen it prepared I was a bit grossed out to try it but hey when in Rome.  While that lamb was roasting in the oven we went to Waiwera Thermal Resort to steam out all the stiffness and just all around yuckiness of the previous day’s travel.  It was awesome, I am a huge fan a hot springs anyway but they do it right.  That is once you get used to the sulfur smell.  We left feeling much more relaxed and ready for dinner.

Not only was the lamb fantastic but we were also treated to a selection of very Kiwi foods.  Roasted potatoes, pumpkin, and kumara along with Pavlova.  I could have eaten about half of that dessert had it not been for all the other goodies.  Josh and I were starting to get tired and figured it was time to make for the hotel.

However we couldn’t resist making a few stops on the way, including a terrific scenic outlook of Auckland.  A bit tough to see with the fog.  We laid down to take a nap before going out to eat and didn’t wake up until the next morning.  That many timezones has to catch up with you eventually.