Road Trip, Stop 3

Lake Taupo is the largest lake in New Zealand. Taupo and nearby Turangi (where we stayed overnight) bill themselves as the "trout fishing capital of the world." Lake Taupo sounds like "Lake Tahoe," so I thought this would be a happening place for the holiday weekend. Not so much. I walked through a small carnival that involed many gypsies and astrologers operating out of vans. By 5pm on Sunday, everything in town was closed.

A leisurely stroll around a lake would usually be a safe activity, but the Kiwis manage to inject danger into everything. A sign was posted every 10 feet to alert you to the possibility of falling in the lake and drowning. Why, then, is there a slippery staircase that leads directly into the lake? It's convenient if you plan to load your pockets with rocks and pull a Virgina Woolf. Not a pleasant thought, but I can't think of a less sinister explanation for this slimy staircase.