25/26.5. The alarm clock screams at 5:45. We have breakfast, pack and say goodbye to Marc. Down in front of the Residence gate our dear acquaintances are already waiting for us, who have provided us with a rental car to take over the car from us at the airport and return it, what a service! We spend almost the entire time at the airport in the check-in queue. Then we board the plane without any waiting time and watch various movies until we land in Auckland. We expect them to take our luggage apart, but apart from the tent they don't want to check anything. So we get through the control quickly and have a few hours until our bus leaves. An ice cream is just right there, as winter in New Zealand is more like early autumn in Switzerland, so T-shirt to sweater weather. We then decide to take an earlier bus to Manukau and then wait there longer because we hope that there are more shops or restaurants open. Suddenly the bus to Hamilton appears and we can leave 1.5 hours earlier. The internet did not give us all the departure times. Even better, now Johanna and Lobo can pick us up at the bus stop in daylight. First, we go shopping and then drive the 45 minutes to Raglan to celebrate our arrival with wine and food.
28.5. Today, Amelia and I are separating for the first time since the start of the trip! What a strange feeling! I go with Lobo to the Coromandel Peninsula to stay with his friends in a house, Amelia participates in a ritual with Johanna's ritual group in Raglan. Sam, Resa and Sarah are great people and we play until our eyes close. Amelia has a long conversation with Johanna and some old obstacles in their friendship dissolve. They talk and dance half the night in the living room.
29.5. Today we are driving independently to North Auckland to Micky, a colleague of Lobo's, for dinner. Before that, my group takes a short walk along the coast. We meet surf and work colleagues of Lobo at Micky's place and are spoiled culinary by his wife Rosie.
It's a satisfying evening and we are allowed to stay at Micky's place.
30.5. After breakfast, we jam a little more with Micky and then say goodbye to him. The three hour drive home goes smoothly and we can nap a little more at home after a minestrone. Then we take a short walk along the coast at low tide and watch a movie. We also write a song for Rosie May, who is celebrating her first birthday tomorrow. 31.5 Today we stroll through Raglan and visit all the shops. For its size, the town has a lot to offer. Then Johanna shows us the coast where we enjoy cake. Before we go to Rosie May's birthday party, we practice the song again. It's a satisfying celebration and we spend most of the time with Sam's children, who involve us in their drawings. Then we go to the pub to Anna, who is also celebrating her birthday today. In addition, it's game night and we participate in the quiz night. After eight rounds, we say goodbye, but that doesn't stop our team from winning "anyway" ;) a $100 cash voucher is the main prize.
1.6. Amelia and I take a trip to the Bridal Veil Falls. Later, Amelia treats herself to a soothing massage with Therese. Besides reading and playing the guitar, we don't do much today.
2.6. Today, we are also being lazy and in the evening we go to the theater improvisation. It's a lot of fun and we decide to follow the idea and do it at Bären Buchsi.
6.6. We completely forgot that it's a long weekend in New Zealand: the Queen's birthday, which of course counts when you belong to the Commonwealth. So we decide to go on a canoe tour on the sea. We actually fit four people on the boat, but only two paddle at a time. Since I'm the smallest and still have shoulder pain, I get chauffeured the entire ride. We visit 3 beautiful waterfalls and watch riders on the shore. Afterwards, friends come to our place for game night and we watch the first episode of Stranger Things with Sam.
7.6. Besides playing the guitar and piano, we don't do much. Amelia shows me the place where they did the ritual (Solscape) and we visit the second-hand store of the recycling company.
8.6. We drive to Hamilton to have lunch with Johanna, then we want to try beer. Unfortunately, we only manage to visit one brewery, as I then have to take the bus back to Raglan. Amelia stays in town with Johanna. Johanna shows Amelia her university and her work with the students.
9.6. The day is cozy. It's raining on and off, so we hide under the covers and watch Stranger Things ;) In the evening, we go to the improv theater one last time. Then it's time to say goodbye to the beloved people - from tomorrow we will be in Auckland... Sam invites us to a goodnight tea at his place. We chat and make plans for a possible reunion in Switzerland. That would be nice!
