Hobbiton

Sam Gamgee's home

Steve in front of Bag End

Ann Currie in red coat

No comment needed

On our way to Auckland we stopped in Matamata.  Greta, Dave, and Sandy looked around town and did emails while Steve took a tour out to the film set of Hobbiton where part of The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit were filmed.  When we got off of the tour bus, we noticed a film crew was there and they started to film us.  Then a lady in a red coat started to interview some of us (but not me).  I tried to ignore them and then some of the Americans among us had their pictures taken with her.  I started paying closer attention and realized she was Ann Currie from NBC and found out they were going to show parts of our tour on this coming Friday's NBC morning show (unfortunately it didn't happen).  She was there because the premier of the first part of The Hobbit is in Wellington tonight and tomorrow the Prime Minister and some of the actors are going to be in Hobbiton.  So maybe my face will show up on NBC this Friday.  In any case, wandering around Hobbiton, seeing Bag End, and the mill and Green Dragon Tavern, and more scenes from The Lord of the Rings films was great!  It did my Tolkien loving heart good to be there.