Rotorua

Saturday we got in the car and headed south to Rotorua, which in Maori means “second lake” (roto = lake, rua = two; it being the second lake the newly landed Polynesian explorers had seen – fun fact). In and around Rotorua are hydrothermal areas; it lies on the Pacific Ring of Fire. The volcano Tarawera lies in the area; the last major explosion was in 1886, but there have been numerous others, with the most recent in 1973. The surrounding area, including old craters, some which have since formed lakes, and valleys is the Waimangu area. It was very cool. It was a rainy day, often just lightly misting. You could see steam eking out of the side of rocks, leaving little sulfur deposits along the rock face. From the gasses escaping from the crater bottom, the lake waters bubbled like a simmering pot; the water itself wasn’t boiling, though it was a good 50-75 degrees Celsius (which would be about 120-165 degrees Farenheit, I think). Other water would actually be shooting up, like a small geyser, a natural hot spring. In some areas, you’d be surrounded by tree ferns and other greenery, standing alongside a bubbling stream, sulfur smell in the air, and steam all around. The most striking view was that of Inferno Crater Lake. You know that blue-green color you pulled out of the Crayola box as a kid? Well, this water is truly that color. You really couldn’t stare long enough.

Last night, then, we watched the All Blacks game. If you recall, they’d been beaten pretty handily on the 26th by the Australian team, whose coach is a newly imported Kiwi rugby great. But, relief, the All Blacks pulled it off last night and whomped them!

I also wanted to give you a quick update on the culinary side of things. Okay, maybe culinary is too strong a word… But there are two different sodas here – ginger beer and L&P. Ginger beer had potential but the aftertaste that burns the back of your throat is just too strong. (Dad, you would love it.) L&P, or Lemon & Paeroa, however, is pretty good stuff. Paeroa is a nearby town with a natural spring – that, a little lemon, and some “secret ingredients” combine for a pretty good flavor! In fact, as the label states, it is “world famous in New Zealand”!