DC3 LUST

So, I'm driving down one of the main streets of Taupo, in New Zealand and there is a burger joint, McUbiquitous blah blah blah and then, I have one of those blokes-on-the-beach, first-fleet kinda moments.

You know, the locals, having never seen tall ships before or the people on 'em, don't see them because they can't imagine the possibility of them. It's only when they notice the ripples of the water on the beach are unusual that they figure out something unusual is causing those 'weird' ripples. They look up and see, well, they see their world about to be turned upside down really.

So, back to Taupo, my world wasn't turned upside down, but only when I noticed the weird shadow in the car park, did I look up and see the huge silver wing of a DC3 over my head. Turns out McGlobal or rather, this particular franchise has it as part of their kiddie playground.

Against my better nature I go through the 'restaurant' to get to the playpen and then up the stairs to the play that has been tastefully fitted out with tables inside. Revisiting the past glories of this flying work horse is only a greasy portion of chips away.

Sadly a small bird had somehow got into the cock pit and had died, trapped in there. It's final resting place just to the side of the starboard pedal, head tilted at an odd angle, looking toward the port-side cockpit window. Unlike the bird, I could get in, have my fill of the memories and post-war, aerospace engineering, and get out again, safely, with body and diet intact.

What's the point of this story? I enjoyed it. I found myself thanking McFranchise and all the tourists who keep Taupo profitable. It's getting harder to be black and white, to dismiss things out of hand. I don't wanna eat in those establishments, but I will compromise if it means having a keenly desired or nostalgic experience not offered elsewhere.

Does Taupo have any secrets? Masses of them, as many undercurrents as there are thermal spots quietly boiling and steaming away: beauties, history, precious memories and unseen delights. However, in this instance it was the unexpected public displays that were the most fun.