Sunday Christchurch - Akaroa

WEATHER
Sunny 23 degrees 

After a reasonable night, a bit hot as I had left the heater on, we woke and had breakfast in the room from our supplies. 

We left the hotel to do a tour of the city all in walking distance. It was very emotional to see the devastation left after seconds of an earthquake spread over a much larger area than I had anticipated.  

We saw the Cathedral Square, very sad. Shops and offices that have been left and nobody has been able to enter so everything left inside.

On the plus side a new shopping mall has sprung up in the centre and all made from containers and very well done, lovely boutiques and coffee shops. We enjoyed a coffee sitting on the top of a container. Hopefully, it will be kept as like the bar last night, they are unique and tell a story. 

We then walked to find the punts and arrived just in time to grab the front seats of a punt that was just leaving. They don't have anywhere near the number in Cambridge and the seats are  much plusher! 

The trip down the river was lovely and we went through the Botanical Gardens and saw lots of ducks. They took photos of us which were good so we bought the pack. 

We then walked back to the hotel to pick up the car, we must have walked a few miles today! 

We wanted to see the new Cardboard Cathedral on our way out and so we set off. Getting round CChurch is difficult due to road closures and lack of street names. I was leading and we went the wrong way and Jon got really angry as he didn't know which way to go and impatient because I could not sort it ASAP. I did manage to get us on the right road and without too much bother, he is so impatient when driving and I am sure he cold not do any better! Grr! 

The Cardboard Cathedral is made of more than cardboard and is quite a substantial building which will seat 700 when completed. Very glad we saw it.
Just across the road is an area with 185 white seats for the 185 people who died, it really makes you think. 

I did think it was a bit morbid going round and looking at all these sights and it is a bit of a tourist attraction but that is the way it is.

We then drove out to Lytelton which is the main port and was badly hit in the quakes. We had lunch in another container bar and saw photos of how it used to be. Whether it will remain as a container or be rebuilt remains to be seen. The girl who runs it wants it to stay as it is.

We then took the very scenic route to Akaroa and it was really beautiful. We had the most amazing views down to the harbour and some very windy roads. 

Akaroa is where the French settled in NZ so has a very French feel to it and the streets are all 'rue'.  

I had found the motel on Tripadvisor and booked it from Christchurch and we were not disappointed even though we were on the third floor and no lift.

We have amazing views across the harbour which looks ,ore like a lake it is so calm.

Went supermarket shopping then came back and sat on the balcony with a cuppa admiring the beautiful view.

We went for dinner to the Har Bar and had delicious fish and chips overlooking the bay and I wrapped myself in one of the lovely rugs provided.

Back for a coffee and Jon was able to watch the end of the Grand Prix.

Not sure if we at going to fit in all the places we wanted but we will try and two days here is a must.