I was last here in 1990 and spent 6 weeks touring the North Island with my good friend Lucia, getting as far as Rotorua before she met and fell in love with her Maori prince, Anthony. One year later, I was delighted to be their bridesmaid at their beach wedding in Fiji (she is of Fijian descent), with her and I resplendent in the Maori outfit whilst Anthony and best man George wore traditional Fijian wedding skirts. Sadly, that was the last time I saw them and about 8 years ago, I lost touch with them completely. Numerous internet searches failed to reveal their Auckland contact details and I was therefore determined to find them whilst I was here. With a total population of 4 million, I figure it can’t be that hard.
A copy of the White Pages telephone directory reveal just two families of the same surname in Rotorua, both of which turn out to be cousins of Anthony’s (hardly surprising since his dad has 15 brothers and sisters) and one gives me the number of another cousin in Auckland who supposedly knows of Anthony’s whereabouts. One more call and I was in possession of the phone number I searched for so long.
Sadly, Anthony and Lucia are no longer together and she has gone back to Vancouver. He has no contact details for he so my search is not over just yet. But so lovely to meet up with him again after all this time and, after a couple of hours spent catching up on all the news, both good and bad, he takes me off to his rugby club to hang with his mates. Me and 20 rugby playing Maoris, with even a hongi or two (the Maori kiss – pressing noses together) thrown in for good measure. I’m in heaven!!
A bit of shopping in preparation for Ruby’s birthday in a few days time and then we’re meeting up with Peter Kidd-Davis, a cousin of Will’s who he last saw here 18 years ago. Bought up in Ireland, it seemed appropriate to take him to the Irish pub for lunch.
Off to the airport for our 5pm, 11 hour flight to Chile. We’re back in proper travelling mode.
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