We had noticed, when we had checked in, that the hotel provided a free bus pass into the city centre. We felt that as we did not have to be at the airport for checking in until 2.00 p.m. we could spend the morning in Christchurch looking around the centre. So after breakfast, we vacated our room and left our luggage at reception. We checked out having arranged to return around 1.00 p.m. for their shuttle to take us to the airport. The staff could not have been more helpful and made our last day of the holiday start on a high note.
The bus ride was a pleasure as both of us could watch the world pass by without having to worry about our route or the other road users. The 'end of the line' was actually in Cathedral Square and just across from the start of the Christchurch Tram circular tour, which we had decided would be one of the easiest ways to see as much as possible in the short time we had available. It was very interesting to discover that the trams had been reinstalled after an absence from the streets of Christchurch for around forty years and the system is currently being extended.
We were provided with a running commentary on the places we passed. There was the very stunning concert hall,
the Arts & Crafts building we had seen the day before and Hagley Park. We also crossed the River Avon, twice, but did not see anyone actually in a punt. We passed Queen Victoria's statue, the driver said it had been erected three years after she had died and that is why she looked so unamused (little did he know she looked like that when she was alive as well!!). Part of the route was through the tram station, a covered area with shops and cafes.
When the tour was finished we went back to have a cup of coffee and watch the trams pass by the window.
We walked back in to Cathedral Square and took in the various buildings surrounding the square. Sadly one of the most attractive had been seriously spoilt by the installation of large Starbuck's signs. Bert did manage to take a photo which excluded these signs but does not really give you a true impression of the building.
It was incredible to look down one of the city streets and see mountains!
One of the most stunning items we saw was the millennium ice cream cornet, which depicted a number of native NZ plants and only one of several pieces of street art around the centre of the city.
All too soon it was time to set off back to the hotel and then make our way onwards to the airport. For our final morning in New Zealand, our experience of Christchurch could not have been bettered. Next time we come we will spend more time in the city looking more closely at all its treasures. The journey back on the bus took us along a different route and we saw some of the buildings that had been damaged by the earthquake, looking very sorry for themselves, boarded up and behind fencing to protect passers-by. It would seem that these repairs are going to take a long time. We saw headlines expressing concern about the lack of progress but with the amount of damage that has been caused and the finite resources of people able to carry out the work, then such delays are likely.
We were quickly back at the hotel and the shuttle was available immediately so within 45 minutes of touring Christchurch City centre, we were sitting in the departure lounge of the airport waiting to be called for boarding. It promised to be a long wait, as we had to be checked in three hours before the flight was due to leave but the time began to pass more quickly when we fell into conversation with a couple travelling to Shetland, where they live. Their way of life was fascinating and we found we had much in common, eventually continuing our conversations at Sydney and Bangkok airports, on our short stopovers, by which time we had exchanged email addresses and promised to keep in touch.
Bert was intrigued to see the United States Antarctic Program hangar at the edge of the airport. He says to excuse the tail of a plane in the middle of the photo but he could not persuade the staff to move it for him!
Although we had breaks in the journey at Sydney (where the man on the Emirates desk spoke a very strange dialect of 'gabble' – must have trained at a British railway station), Bangkok and Dubai none of them were long enough to do anything other than walk for about 20 minutes before climbing back on board and bid farewell to our new friends, who were staying in Dubai for a few days. However we can recommend flying on the A380 double decker jumbo - our flight from Dubai. An excellent ride, comfortable seats and plenty of room. We had hoped to sneak a look 'upstairs' but we weren't allowed!
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