All the wonderful places. All the great people.

The two weeks we spent in the North Island (aaages ago!!) went quick and were a true summer holiday. Besides some climbing fun, we spent the days with our friends and family members who were kind enough to host us for a few nights each. Thanks so much to Kathi, Zarna & James, Richard & Tasha and Krystal and Matt for having us and spending some time with us. It was great to see you all again!!
Thanks to Waihi Beach, where we spent a and magic night at a very special beach. I will never forget how the stars twinkeled through the branches of the Pohutukawa tree and the magnificent morning light warming our stiff joints.

After those happy days our vacation wasn t finished: On the last day of the old year we were off towards Auckland to pick up my Mum and Gotti from the airport. Timing was awesome, I was looking forward to hug them soon. But unfortunately the day changed its face when we stopped at a petrol station to get our car loaded up for the drive. There is not too much that can go wrong when filling up your car. There is one thing that can. And that is exactly what happened. Our fortune kind of kicked in again and we had a look in the car manual before doing anything else. DONT START YOUR CAR IF YOU PUT THE WRONG FUEL IN! So we didn t. So friendly people helped us to push it out of the way and we spent the rest of the afternoon organise a pick up for my family (thanks Christine!!) and arrange for the car (thanks BP) and ourselfs (thanks Marc and Peter!). My Mum and Gotti got a welcome hug in the evening and while Louie and his Swiss mates went out in Matamata (if you can call it that :)) I had a wee sleep into 2017 on the couch.
Next day we were fuelled up ourselves and with Grosis Car (thanks Grosi!!) we headed off for Coromandel. There, we spend two days fishing, walking, relaxing and organising all those different Swiss friends and family. Once more we stayed in Louies Mums cozy bach/shed (thanks Kathi and Bred!!). We love it up here! Feeling like happy gypsies (we slept in a Boat! 😀 ), drinking some cool beers, eating self-caught fresh fish, reading, talking, keeping quieting 🙂 and just “d Seel lah bambele”.
Mum and Gotti stayed in a funny little backpackers in town and on our last day Louie and me went for a very entertaining train ride in Coromandel with them before we headed back to Matamata.
While my time up North came to an end here, Louie started to travel down with his Rugby mates, my Mum and Aunt spent some more time in the North Island and I flew down to Dunedin to meet Jael and her kids; our next busy summer adventure ;).