We're here!!!!

So, we have arrived in Ruapehu safe and sound. There were no problems getting here. It has just been an overwhelming amount of traveling. After the 12 hour flight (in a 747 with personal TV's and lots of leg room, and free alcohol!!!!!)during which neither of us slept more than an hour or two, we got to Auckland at 5 AM. We took a bus to downtown, where we caught the bus to Ruapehu (another 6 hour drive). Now that we are here, we are exhausted.

Unfortunately, it turns out that this town is really just a block of housing, mostly full of hostels and lodges for skiiers. There are only 2 bars, and there is no bank or grocery store. The closest town is a 25 minute drive down the mountain. The only way to get down the mountain is to find someone with a car to take you, since the train doesn't run on weekdays, and there are no buses. Apparently hitchhiking is quite common.

We did hit one bump in the road. It turns out that "The Park," the place we are staying at for the moment, failed to tell us that they had already filled their "work for accommodation" spots. This leaves Jon out of a job, and it means we will have to pay for our housing. Kind of a problem. He has already applied to work at the bar next to our housing, and we will be looking for jobs on the mountain itself tomorrow. Not to worry! We will figure something out. We have already gotten an offer from a guy from england to find a house to live in at a cheaper price. Who knows, maybe that'll work out.

Tonight, we are just pooped. It's time to go sleep...

Jalissa