In a Hole in the Ground . . .

 . . . There lived a Hobbit. John Ronald Reuel Tolkien never set foot in New Zealand, but -- as Peter Jackson understood -- he might as well have. This country simply shouts "Middle-Earth!" Cindy and I ventured to Matamata, in the Waikato District, North Island, recently, to experience Hobbiton. Since I'm a Tolkien nerd, this had been one of the primary motivations for our journey to New Zealand. We celebrated my birthday in the same place as Frodo and Bilbo, together, celebrated their 33rd and 111th birthdays, shortly before Frodo departed to dispose of a troublesome heirloom . . . 

Bag End and the Party Tree

One of Frodo's neighbors. The wondrous part of this whole experience is that Hobbiton is not a tourist trap -- it feels real!

The lovely New Zealand landscape perfectly reflects the idyllic nature of The Shire.

The Green Dragon Inn -- a perfect place to stop for a pint and a Hobbit-sized meal!