Russell

We had a mini money crisis then realised that we were using the wrong exchange rate. All ok now.
We arrived in Russell via the ferry, which Ellie loved, and tried a couple of places which were all rubbish or too expensive. We stopped at the commodores lodge as a last resort before going to stay somewhere else. Fantastic place and cheap for $135 a night in a one bedroom unit. We liked it so much we have stayed an extra night.
Our first night we had fish (Hoki) and chips and no puddings. Had to put that bit in for Phoebe.
We booked to go swimming with the dolphins in the afternoon. I am starting to think that Ellie is going to be a sailor when she grows up. We saw a pod of 20 or so dolphins quite quickly. We were on a catermeran so Ellie amonst others were hanging off of the bit at the front in the middle to watch the dolphins under the boat. They get a free ride in the bow wave. We wern't allowed to swim with them as they had young in the pod.
The restrictions applied by the conservation people are quite stringent, but are there as to not destroy the habits and habitat of the dolphins.
We then continued on to the hole in the rock with Ellie and Chloe standing on the front of the boat with another guy from Manchester. He got soaked cos he was standing on the wrong side. I could hear Ellie squeeling with delight from inside with Aisha. It was very choppy so it was bouncy to say the least.
The hole in the rock is a natural formation of lava and quite earrie. We were told that it was too windy to go through it, unless we wanted to be on that nights news on the TV!!!!
We then had a cruise and commentary around a few of the island, which were beatiful. As usual I can't remember any of it, but some very rich people have bought some of them and have caretakers who live there all year round. One of them only saw the owners for two weeks a year. How about that you get to live in paradise use all of the facilities and get paid for it as well.
Ellie was very upset that we didn't find any dolphins to swim with. Fortunately for us we had done one of the packages that you paid extra if you got to swim with the dolphins. It woked out about $150 cheaper.
For tea we had pasta and custardy yoghurts for pudding, thats for Phoebe again.
We are now going around the town to get some photo's of me next to all of the russell signs. I am a bit peeved as we haven't seen a welcome to Russell sign.
We are off to Leigh next were we have been told that the fish come up to the beach and swim around your legs as fishing has been banned.

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