Christchurch to Akaroa

We arrived in Christchurch during the last few days of the World Busker Festival and the Paraolympics.  The city was bustling with people,

tourists as well as members of the Christrchurch community emerging from their caccoons after the earthquake in September.

We stayed in an suburban campground and took a bus in to town.  One evening we stayed late and went to a standup commedian performance.  As in most campgrounds, we met some great people.  We hope to meet up with Lena, baby Hugo, and Jan when we visit Germany in a couple of years.

The buskers (street performers) enlivened the city with color and gaiety.  Several of the performers were from the USA including the Black Street Boys.

Many of the older buildings made of stones and bricks had obviously lost their chimneys and facade peaks.

Several buildings were still closed and cordoned off.








Nevertheless, Christchurch is a lovely city with a gorgeous botantical garden filled with roses, dahlias, and begonias.

 
The Museum was well done.  Part of the museum was designed as a small turn of the century village.  Within the village, there was a toy store.  The store featured a Victorian dollhouse that actually suffered some knock overs during the earthquake which the curators decided to leave tumbled.

There was a special exhibit going on at the museum while we were there - photographs of  Scott's and Shackelton's  attempts of reaching the south pole.  Both stories are testimony to the amazing human spirit of explorartion and endurance.

We left Christchurch in a wind and rain storm and headed south to a little village called Akaroa.

It was originally a French settlement and still has a French flavor.

 We didn't do too much when we arrived other than trying to stay dry and in one piece.  The wind was ferocious whipping up waterspouts in the bay and buffeting our campervan from side to side.

By Sunday morning, the storm had passed and we spent the day walking through the quaint town,

Roz having her portrait done

drinking lattes and exploring the old graveyards.  Many of the old gravestones were pitched around during the big quake.

NO RIP Here

Late in the afternoon, we sat in the park and listened to a community concert, ate ice cream and fudge.  Life is tough!

We are now in a little town called Fairlie heading toward Mt. Cook.  It's beautiful today and most likely we will play a round of golf at the public course.

All is well with the 2 Sail R's.