It was a drive close to the same roads we had followed to Methven, long and straight across the flats. We had another warm welcome from lovely Liz (are there any other kind of blippers?) and over our Yorkshire tea we caught up with education on both sides of the world. Liz is also a teacher and it turned out we both knew at least one person in the profession from back home, small world. Liz is coming over to the UK later in the year so we hope to catch up with her again.
From Liz's we drove to our final holiday campsite - the Top 10 Holiday Camp, and then made the mistake of walking in the Christchurch Centre! The only route was the main road and the traffic fumes were dreadful after six weeks in the outdoors and away from city pollution.
It's difficult to describe the centre of the city which was devastated by earthquakes in 2010 and 2011. Much building and repair work is going on and there are attempts to encourage folks take part in/support community projects, for example the Commons and the Gap Fillers, but it feels like a place deserted for good. Tony and I stopped off for lunch in an out of town mall on the way in to the centre and it was heaving with people (rather too many for us - last day of the Easter break for the kids - we haven't been around so many people for weeks!)
I don't speak with any authority or knowledge but I wonder if the mall habit will remain when the centre is regenerated? It would be a great shame because there were many independent shops in the centre trying to make a living. We had very good quality coffee and service (and blueberry muffin) at Coffee Lovers on New Regent Street, the decor of which reminded me of Spain, but there was rehabilitation work going on there too.
We walked through Cathedral Square and looked at the devastated cathedral from behind the safety fences. There are two opposing trains of thought as to its future, those who want it restored and those who want it demolishing and a new building erecting. From there we followed the tramlines to the I-Site through streets of damaged/demolished/boarded up buildings. Liz told us that the wealthier folks have been able to move out but those who don't have that choice to do so are still living in dangerous housing or in trailers on campsites. There is so much work still to be done on several levels and when I checked some facts on the internet a short while ago, I was shocked to see that earthquakes, albeit minor ones, are still occurring in the area.
Whilst buildings await their fate, local artists have used them to create artwork and installations to encourage people in to the centre.
The woman at the I-Site was very helpful and showed us where to catch a bus back to the holiday camp. We also have a plan for tomorrow which will involve riding the gondola if we can get Oscar the Van back in time and leave our bags at the hotel.
Back at the campsite we have cleaned the bikes, scrubbed our various boots and shoes and gone through all the papers we have collected along the way. Then we walked to the local fish and chip shop and waited whilst they cooked delicious blue cod and chips for us - not quite as good as Finz in Queenstown, but very good for a local chippy. Tony ate the last tim tam - good job we can't get those back home and I updated my journal before bedtime.
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