Dave and Louise

Last night was our dinner with a local couple. The sixteen of us who remain on the tour were split up into groups. Cas and I were placed with two other people in a group to go have dinner with a couple named Dave and Louise. It was very easy company for everyone, I think, since Dave had been an accounting teacher and Louise had worked with special needs students. Cas and I both teach high school, of course, and we were at their house with a Spanish teacher and a school librarian. Talk about having a common point of reference. 

Since it is appropriate to bring a gift in such instances, Cas and I brought wine and chocolates. In fact, everybody brought something. 

As you might imagine, we had roast lamb. I think that may be a requirement, and imagine it's a point of national pride. I have to admit that this was the part of the agenda I found the most unusual. It struck me as odd that we would be going into the home of strangers and having them make us a meal. It may have been awkward with different strangers, too, but Dave and Louise were so very friendly and accommodating that they should work for the local tourism bureau. 

By the time we got back to the hotel, we were pretty exhausted. The morning had begun pretty early, and the shuffling between different modes of transport all day took a bit of a toll. This hotel has a washer and dryer, and we had contemplated doing some wash. Sleep won out. Hopefully, we can throw a few shirts in a machine when we get to Queenstown. 

In the meantime, here is a nearly full moon on the right side behind a sculpture in the park near our hotel. See you in Queenstown.