Tuesday 22 April 2025

Rain easing off today and the temperature getting a bit colder. Lots of admin in preparation for our departure for the US next week.

Wednesday 23 April 2025

The sun eventually came out and we drove into Christchurch to do a walking tour with Brian, a volunteer with Walk Christchurch. He is a retired chap about our age and we had a very informative historical and cultural walk for 2.5 hours, exploring the before earthquake and the after earthquake periods.

The 2010 quakes killed 185 people in Christchurch; closed the city for two years and galvanized the student population into a mud army. Twenty five years later, there are still buildings closed up, awaiting funds for restoration and cleared sites that are temporary carparks, awaiting various owners’ decisions and Council planning. There are also many beautifully restored historic stone buildings and a new Art Centre, Convention Centre and stadium. Christchurch is a pretty city with a strong arts scene and university.

Amazing that these windows survived the earthquake.
Renovated/repaired.
Awaiting funding.
New Art Centre - very flash!
Christchurch's Avon River.
Scott of the Antarctic. Even his statue looks cold.
Sculpture of the NZ suffragettes recognising that NZ was the first place to grant women the right to vote.



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