Arriving at the Copthorne. Enjoying the evening in Paihia. (Part 4)

We're here at last. What a welcome sight. It'll feel good to clean up and take a stroll around the place. Dinner won't be for a couple of hours yet. An icy-cold beverage might be in order.

After being cooped up in the car, the boys leapt onto this piece of driftwood displayed next to the Copthorne's main entrance. 

There are three more smaller pools connected to this on higher levels. The topmost one is a hotpool. The boys were in the water shortly after we arrived and were in it again while Allie was checking out of our rooms at the conclusion of our stay. They changed into street clothes in the lobby toilet. 

Even with all the natural wonders we saw, I'm sure if you asked them, "What was your favorite thing about your trip?" they would choose this pool. 

The hotpool 

After a warm-up, they come back to the main pool and continue. I've always been impressed by how quickly they make friends with other kids they meet on our travels and start playing games with them. The kid with the orange float is a new friend, although he is younger than most of the kids they play with. 

I also like how they are instinctively careful with younger kids. That little boy's dad was lying by the pool watching his son play with Amiri and Arram. (Allie learned that he was a German on vacation)  A short time after this picture was taken, our boys were playing a sort of 'king of the hill' with the little guy. They would climb up on to one of the rocks you see and let the little boy push them off again. Their falls into the water were done very dramatically. HE was the king of the hill and was shriekiing with the pleasure of repeatedly besting the big guys. His dad was loving it. Our boys had no idea they were making his dad so happy. 

While Allie and the boys continued in the pool, Jeanne and I went for a walk on the Hotel's beach. 

We're down at the limit of the Hotel's beach, next to the fence separating them from the Waitangi Treaty Grounds. We'll tour the grounds tomorrow. 

The Copthorne had some resident critters...

And flocks...

Here's a tough little guy off by himself. 

Low tide

We have come in to town for dinner but we'll walk and explore a little first. 

Paihia is located on the Bay of Islands. There are 144 islands in the bay.
This is Taylor Island.

I am standing on the sidewalk as I take this picture. The wall on this side of the restaurant is all glass doors which slide out of the way to let the sea breezes in, and would-be photographers out. 

This place specializes in both Indian and Thai cookery. 

I'm taking this photo from my seat at our table. Yonder lies Motumaire Island

Boy, have we had a big day. We started early, made stops in Puhoi, Waipu, Whangarei, Kawakawa, and now Paihia. The boys are stellar travelers. Dinner was very good. Time now to head home and get some rest. 

From the deck just outside our room.

Goodnight rabbits, goodnight quail, goodnight all.  -djf