Christchurch and blisters.

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After the very exciting drive to the B&B  in Christchurch as described in the last blog, and checking in, I had two and a half day to explore the town. Arrived around 1 so went for a walk and bought some stuff that didn’t fit into my suitcase anymore. Went for lunch in a sushi place with a conveyer belt, it was fun, the food was on different colored dishes going round on the conveyer belt and you can pick up the ones you like. Eat and stack the dishes. Once done the price is calculated by number and color of dish. Minimal human interaction. Just the way I like it after two days of travel.

Looked around some more in town. Noticed how much it looks like a construction site.

And if you are religious you might not want to read the next couple of lines. But it is very clear the most damaged buildings during the earth quake of 2010 and 2011 where churches. Seems like God had a message about those buildings.

In the evening had a drink with some other Dutch tourist, two couple’s staying at the same B&B. One couple about to go home, the others only just arrived like me.

Made plans for the next day.

Only then did I realize is wasn’t Thursday but Friday. I had lost a day while traveling. It is 12 hours earlier in New Zealand and I only  slept once, so my internal clock was going Wednesday was start of trip. One night so now Thursday, nope it was Friday. Oeps.

Saturday I did a hop on hop off tram. That was fun with lots of stories about Christchurch and the earth quake and how the town changed after that.  And while on the tram there was the offer of going to the gondola’s with discount. And I am all for discounts. Wanted to do the Gondola the next day but hey why not now with discount. So from the tram onto the shuttle bus to the down station of the gondola. That was already higher than town so from there there where already nice views. Going up in those gondola’s is not my thing. It goes fast and swings a bit. But the beautiful view over Christchurch and Canterbury planes was worth it. On top of the hill it was indeed a beautiful view, and there where nice walks around. Going down a bit. Sun was shining, nice cool breeze, and lizards sunning on rocks. I was having a blast. By the time I finally looked up to where I had to go for the gondola’s back down I was halfway down the hill. Oh well, might as well walk down the rest of the way. According to the map it was an easy walk down.

That might not have been the smartest decision of my life, also not the worst but my leg muscle’s are not happy with me. And I went from no blisters to three blisters in about a 45 minute walk. Down a very steep hill, on lose rubble on sandals that where never meant for going up or down hill’s.

At the down station the shuttle bus drove off right before my nose and the next one was after an hour because lunch break for the driver.

When I was finally back in town it was time for a nice late  lunch, fish tempura. And after lunch a museum was just what I needed. Some out of the sun time.

In the museum was the most dreadful house, full of kitsch. The people who lived there had it as a museum themselves for over 30 years. And where happy with everything they got. Polished seashells everywhere.

Closed the day of with a nice evening stroll around the botanical garden.

Sunday  a heatwave was predicted, temperatures over 28 degrees, so after breakfast off to the beach I went. Looks like the New Zealand weather forecast is about as accurate as the Dutch. It was warm and muggy but also clouded and lots of wind. But the beach was fun. The lifeguards where friendly. The bus to and from the beach was interesting to say the least.

Lunch in a very colorful street. And the rest of the day I have been lazy in the garden of the B&B.