31.12 Rotorua, Sunny in the morning, hot, 28 degrees, cloudy in the afternoon

At night around 4 o'clock, Imola wakes me up and says she can hear someone with tools, intruders? I grab the assault rifle from the wall, put on my bulletproof vest, and attach the searchlight to my forehead. Get out of the camper and check the situation. It turns out that on the other side of the street, the first stalls are being set up for tomorrow's Saturday market. Go back to sleep. When we wake up, the market is already in full swing (7.30am). Breakfast at the playground, Maori family at the table. The Maori addresses us immediately, wants to know where we come from, how we like it. Very nice and friendly. We stroll around a bit, many stalls with food. Our daily ritual at the espresso stand. Then we drive to the center, walk in the Goverment Garden, past the Blue Bath. Beautiful rose gardens, well-kept park, of course there are playgrounds. It is very hot, the sun has immense power. Go back to the market again, where we buy our lunch at a Chinese stand, DimSum.

At a stand with pearls, shells and stones, Imola wants to buy shell pendants and gets the desired pendants from the nice old stall owner and a few stones (which she blows on and gives them strength and health) for a symbolic price of 1 dollar, as today is New Year's Eve (actually the price would have been much higher). The locals are just super nice. From 2 pm onwards, the access streets to the lake and the open-air stage are closed to cars.

We prepare our New Year's Eve menu at a grill in the park. There is grilled salmon, fresh oysters, and Sauvignon Blanc.

We arrive at the lake around 6 p.m., are let in because of the motorhome. Parking right by the lake next to the Lakeside Cafe. Singers are already on the huge stage in the park. An amusement park is set up at the edge of the park. The park is full of families sitting on picnic blankets in front of the stage. The special thing: there is an absolute alcohol ban in the area in the park and around the center and the harbor. Violations can result in fines of up to 20,000 dollars. We have already discovered this alcohol ban in many places so far. Accordingly, the atmosphere on the entire grounds is peaceful and pleasant. No drunken, rowdy, or violent people around. The annoying firecrackers and fireworks do not seem to be widespread here either. Neither yesterday nor today have we noticed the firecrackers. Light art installations are set up. Surprisingly, at around 9.30 p.m., suddenly everyone rushes to the promenade. A presenter announces the fireworks starting in a few minutes. This allows families with small children to enjoy the fireworks. It is a special kind of fireworks. We have not seen such a brilliant, long fireworks display in Germany yet (it surpasses the Killesberg fireworks by far). Malte finds it a bit loud, but he enjoys his first fireworks display. Then back to the motorhome, put Malte to sleep. Around 11.30 p.m. (Malte is fast asleep), we take another walk to the stage and the promenade. The atmosphere is great, peaceful, friendly. Shortly before midnight, people flock back to the promenade: there is a second fireworks display at midnight. One of a group of lively girls comes up to us and gives us a "high five". Our first New Year's Eve without champagne at midnight! There is a very special atmosphere in the air. We both feel that we have experienced our most beautiful New Year's Eve so far. Return to the motorhome, Malte sleeps deeply.

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