Day Seventeen - Christchurch

Terrible nights sleep.  I had some news from Stoke (of course I did) earlier in the week that has been playing on my mind.  So I saw my old friend 3:33 and that was it; no more sleep.  Skyped in to my tutorial for 7.00 until 9.00 then started to look at what I would like to see whilst in Christchurch.  Jackie is not feeling well so it looks as if I have the day to myself.  I am not surprised, Mal had difficulty walking last night and I thought I would probably be on my own today.  So Jackie went back to bed.  I hope I am not too tired later on, it is going to be a long day for me.

The weather was a bit overcast but warm as I walked out.  I had four things I

Found some Antony Gormley art lying around - as you do

wanted to see today.  My first stop was the container mall.  The one thing I have learnt is Christchurch is very small. It is also like walking through a building site. In fact, it is a building site with a few buildings.  After the Earthquake in February 2012 the city has been slowly, and I mean slowly rebuilding itself. There has been, like always, some legal battle between insurers and the government.  I thought there was a lot of building going on in London; come to Christchurch.  So the container mall.  Very much what it says on the box, in fact there is one very similar to where I live - the smell from the lamb cooking on the greek stall even smelt the same.  Needless to say I did not have any of this.

I was drawn into a shop because of the ACDC music playing. This was a fab

My new 'friend' whose name I forgot to ask :(

shop that sold all kinds of 'interesting paraphernalia' including nose studs (of which one was duly purchased).  I had a lovey chat with the woman who served me, we talked about ACDC and the recent death of Malcolm Young.  I explained to her that I had seen them numerous times but could not force myself to go and see them last year when Axle Rose was front lining.  We then started chatting about music in general and it turns out her auntie used to live in London (so do I), was born in Kent (so was I) and used to go to the Ministry of Sound which is just around the corner from my flat. Small world isn't it.  It was lovely to have a chat and she took my blog details, but unfortunately I did not get her name. I am sorry.

From there I continued on my Christchurch mission.  I went to see the riverside memorial to the earthquake victims; it was very touching.  188 peopled died

188 White Chairs

that day and so many more injured. Terribly sad.  I then went to look at the Christchurch cathedral that is made of cardboard as the original one was severely damaged in the earthquake.  It really is quite strange and does not look like cardboard (well not like a cornflake box anyway).  Opposite the cathedral is a wonderful art installation of 188 white chairs, on chair for every victim of the earthquake.  All the chairs are different, and you are encouraged to sit in anyone that takes your fancy.  I did not bother as they are on a piece of disused land (like a lot of the land in Christchurch) and I thought I would look rather silly just sitting there on my own, especially as a bunch of Chinese tourists had just rocked up.

By now I was hungry and thirsty.  I had my first breakfast at 6.00am and it was now 1.00pm.  I found a lovely Japanese restaurant that was like an upmarket

Cardbord Cathedral 

Japanese McDonalds (I know I am not selling it to you).  I had a lovely meal and it really was quite filling and it was good to sit down for a while and watch the world go by an to also hook up on to some Wifi.  I have had to make some very difficult and emotional decisions today and really valued the WiFi in that restaurant.  Oh and the food was good too.

Continued to walk around and sat by the Bridge of Remembrance reading my book and trying not to nod off.  By now, I was very tired and the sunshine, as lovely as it is, was not helping.  I decided to have some caffeine and found a lovely place in the container mall near to the shop where I had spoken to the wonderful woman (so full of life).  The scones looked lovely too so I had an Americano and a date scone and sat in the sunshine, feeding the sparrows some of my scone.  They really are so tame and will take the crumbs out of your hands.  The other day, when Jackie and I were at the gardens in Wellington they were also very tame there; eating from the waste plates.  However, it was not long until the seagulls rocked up so that put paid to that.

Onwards and upwards an I made my way to Quake City, which is very much

Tourist Tram

what it says on the tin.  An exhibition about the 2011 earthquake.  The guy who was on the desk was so lovely and asked me was I studying (I must have that haggard look, well I only had 4 hours sleep); I said yes and he did not even want to see my University card (but I showed him anyway) and I got student discount!  Yay, go me.

The exhibition was really good, well good in the sense of it being interesting and informative; however, it was also very emotional. It really is amazing what damage can be done by Mother Earth when she is not happy!  Hell have no fury and all that.  

Earthquake Memorial

There was a documentary with witness telling their tales.  There really is nothing more powerful that oral histories. I sat and listened an found some of the stories very emotional (but I don't think the fact that I was tired and also upset about something didn't help).  If any of you go to Christchurch I really would recommend this exhibition as it puts the city and the work being done there into perspective.

Finally rolled up to the Air BnB.  Change of plans for me tonight, I was due to go out with Jackie and Mal and his sister for dinner; I am not going now. It is fine. It is what it is. Also, I think I will be asleep by 10.00 the latest as tomorrow is a very busy day.

As always, with my love x