Hi from Kiwiland, Down Under!!!

Arrived here on the 31st and Tim Hope (some of you know him!) was at the Auckland airport to pick me up. It was only a 3 1/2 hour flight, so was not too bad. Fabulous vistas from the plane as we arrived---coastline, waves, islands, and green pastures!!! We arrived about 2 hours later at the Hope,s home in Hamilton, and I was warmly greeted by Celia. They have a lovely home and enjoyed a barbeque for supper on their deck Have been taking it easy for a few days, as was tired and needed some downtime! Went to two of Celia's English classes--she teaches English to new refugee women, and she is great! These women are so isolated, and this class also helps with socialization and making some friends! The last day was a shared lunch and the women all brough a dish from their homeland. It was nice to try the dishes and they were so proud to bring them.
Have done a bit of touring around Hamilton--the Hamilton Gardens which are world renown! Various themes throughout, all done in a very high quality and standard. Then a walk around Hamilton Lake and a picnic lunch overlooking the lake. Today we got another "take-away" lunch and travelled south to Cambridge and then up a mountain for another picnic. The scenery was quite rugged compared to the towns, but not as rugged as I will see later in my trip, I am told. Lots of cattle and sheep grazing, and on our way back travelled through quite a flat area where there were many stud farms fo New Zealand's horse industry.
Weather is much more comfortable than in Australia, sunny with a few clouds, and about 10 in the morning and going up to about 22.
Tomorrow we are taking Celia's mom for a cruise on the Waita River, the largest in New Zealand, and flows right through Hamilton.
Happy Easter everyone!!!! Enjoy