Rotorura

Today, we left Napier early and headed for Lake Taupo. It was a gross, rainy day so we all just relaxed and slept on the bus. After dropping off people in Taupo, we continued on the bus to go see the champagne hot mud pools. It was really interesting, but realllllllly smelly!! The whole park reaked of rotten eggs because the hot pools are smoking with sulfur from the ground. There was a stinky fog that hung over the whole park. There were lots of acids in the water and rocks and it turned the water different colors like orange, green, and yellow. It looked like the slime from nickelodeon; it was so cool! Then, we continued on to Rotorura. I was exhausted and still a little sick when we got here, so I took a nice long nap. Then I woke up, went for a run and checked out the town and all the little shops. It is adorable here! I found a grocery store and bought food for the rest of the week, so that I won't have to spend so much money eating out. I got cereal, bread, milk, llunch meat, fruit, and some gluten free pasta. I was able to cook at my hostel and made pasta for dinner, it was great! It is so easy to be gluten free here! Everywhere I go there are gluten free options and tons of choices! It feels so good to not have to worry about eating all the time! I can relax and have fun and know there will be things for me to eat! I hope it becomes more popular in America in the near future!! Tonight, I'm just hanging out in the lounge with other travelers. They have American TV here!! Friends, Greys, and The Nanny were on tonight!! I can't get enough!! Tomorrow, I am going to a polynesian spa to try to get a massage and sit in their naturAl, hot water spa. Then, I'm going white water rafting at 2 o'clock for the rest of the day. I can't wait!! The raftabout instructor is going to pick me up right at my hostel; it is so convenient!! Then, Friday I am leaving for Mt. Maunganui and then, back to Auckland on Friday. I'm going to stay in Auckland Friday night and then catch my flight back to Australia on Saturday. I'm hopin for better weather tomorrow!!