The first time we were in Rotorua, the man who was working at the front desk of our hotel gave us complimentary passes to the famous Rotorua Polynesian Day Spa. We still had those passes and decided soaking in thermal hot pools would be a perfect ending to a perfect, yet very strenuous day. Thinking about the hot pools made the hour long drive back to Rotorua seem bearable, but by the time we actually arrived in Rotorua we were so dead tired that showering and eating were the only things we could muster the energy for before crashing into a deep sleep.
The next morning we woke up feeling sore and slightly depressed. It was our last day in beautiful New Zealand. Our flight back home was leaving that evening. After chowing down on leftover snacks from our hike, we headed to the Maori culture and geothermal visitor center called Te Puia. There were geysers, mudpools, hot pools, Kiwis, art, a Maori village and a group of young men performing the Haka. We were so sore from our hike the day before that I don't think we enjoyed it quite as much as we would have otherwise. Walking was so painful. Especially downhill.
After Te Puia, we bid Rotorua a sad farewell and slowly started making the three hour drive back to Aukland. We decided to take our time and stop along the way whenever we saw something of interest. We took pictures, ate lunch at a roadside cafe, followed a sign that lead us to a place called Candy Land only to find that it was closed, and eventually ended up back at the airport where we dropped off our rental car and waited for our flight.
We arrived in Los Angeles Saturday afternoon. After making it through customs it was time to say goodbye. With a tearful (my tears) farewell, John and I parted ways. Our once in a lifetime trip had come to an end . . .
"Well, here at last, dear friends, on the shores of the Sea comes the end of our fellowship in Middle-earth. Go in peace! I will not say; do not weep; for not all tears are an evil." - Gandalf
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