> Here is the view from our window. I think the bus is from the company that does hop-on hop-off tours of the major attractions in the country. Backpackers get passes and stay as long as they want at each place on the route. I have to get used to taking a few representative and…

>We have left my brother's place just north of Auckland after 4 days visiting around there. New Zealand is a very civilized country – people speak English, the weather is pleasant, no volcanoes are expected to erupt in the next few weeks, and I am told there are no poisonous critters to be found. So,…