Two Players Backed Out...

We didn't make it to the Waitomo Caves this weekend as two of our foursome backed out on Friday evening. Jeannine stayed the weekend with me and on Saturday we ran many errands. Saturday night we rewatched Lord of the Rings and then proceeded to Coyote Ugly...

COYOTE UGLY....

This is a fabulous little bar where the music is loud and there are 6 beautiful female bartenders who dance on the bar, juggle flaming bottles and all sorts of wonderful entertainments choreographed and not.

When we arrived we were the only two females not behind the bar and there were only six males in the place besides and we were nervous and hid in a corner. The waitresses were lovely, friendly and had great smiles. This was at 9pm. At 10pm just as we were thinking about leaving it started to liven up . Once the bartenders got going the place filled up. The couple next to us left us a shaker full of sweet shots of Kahlua and Baileys which we added to our two glasses of wine. Before too long several girls sat beside us and we shared our shots and I spent half of the night dancing on one of the bars with our new found friends. I wasn't drunk, just love to dance. Halfway through I took off my boots, left them under the table and returned to the bar (much cooler that way). We had a fabulous time!! Jeannine danced on a table with me one song, but was too shy beyond that. Some guys bought us some drinks- never even talked to them, they bought drinks for all six of us. Not sure why. Grin. One guy was trying to watch my new friend dance with his face two inches from her crotch, so I pushed him away with my stocking foot on his forehead. He returned, so she and I both shoved him away, one foot on his forehead, another on his chest. He responded by sliding across the room and putting his
arm around Jeannine and talking into her ear. Enough is enough. We got down from the bar, I went over tapped him on the shoulder and beckoned him with my hands. He looked confused, so I smiled sweetly while holding out both arms to him in a welcoming gesture and backing away. He naturally followed and I simply slipped in next to Jeannine, our new friend slid in beside me and I put my leg over her in warning to ward him off. When she got up for a drink and another song came on he said in my ear "You should dance, you're really good." to which I replied, "I'd love to, but you crossed some lines while we danced and I think you're really creepy." He looked a bit hurt and left. I felt bad, but he was in fact creepy. We were there to have fun, not to lapdance.

We managed to make our way home via a mysterious night bus around 3:30am.

We were up at 7:30am to go to the train station to buy Jeannine's ticket, have breakfast, rent a car and head off for the day. The phone rang at 7:30 and I stumbled out of bed to answer it. Missed the phone but discovered that I smelled like an ashtray and couldn't possibly sleep with that smell any more. Took a shower, left for the station, got her ticket and then headed for breakfast.

I had a huge steak with eggs, grilled mushrooms and grilled tomatoes and two slices of toast. (I was really hungry). It was fabulous.
Jeannine was a little more demure with eggs, toast and bacon. A pot of tea between us finished off the meal and finished sobering and waking us up.

Later that day...

I drove my first standard on the wrong side of the car!! It was easy, luckily the gears are all in the same place or I would have been lost. It was actually less confusing than driving an automatic. More to do always calms me down. We drove to Waiwera where there are thermal pools. Fabulous experience going swimming outdoors in heated pools in the middle of winter!! The slides were pretty cool too. Lovely way to spend a day. Really hot pools, medium pools, cold water on the slides, pools with and without kids. The hottest pool had a bit of a sulpher smell, but not too bad. Not nearly as expensive as some of my other weekends.

Sadly I left the lights on and we had to suffer the humiliation of finding a jumpstart. (Jeannine was actually quite smug. I suffered the humiliation) We got off ok though and Jeannine is now off to Wellington and beyond. She will return this weekend for a night before heading back to Germany on Saturday.

I would like to say that Auckland drivers were barely phased when I made a left hand turn into a right hand lane. (Unlike the people on the cliff two weeks ago) Luckily it was a Sunday night and no one is ever out on a Sunday night. I made it back across four lanes just fine. Secondly I would like to say that I don't think it would hurt NZ to invest in a little reflective paint for their roads. Especially if they don't have street lights!! I downed half a bottle of wine when I got back from that drive. I think I will buy a car here, but I won't drive at night if I can help it. I just can't see anything.

Oi. I'm safe. God is watching over me, for which I'm very grateful. Spanish update to come.

Much love to all. Mi corazon es siempre en Espańa con todo.