The rebuilt Christchurch

Quite surprisingly, I woke to good weather today.  Purau Bay looked even better in the improved weather conditions.

I thought I’d make the most of the good day by exploring Christchurch city, a place I was once very familiar with.  But the earthquakes of recent years have changed the cityscape considerably and I had never been for a good look-see since then.

I managed to get free parking on Hereford near the “Cardboard Cathedral”.  This is the transitional Anglican cathedral for Christchurch, standing in for the iconic one in the square.  The nickname comes from the cardboard tubes used in its roof structure.

I explored the once-familiar areas by foot.  Some parts were unrecognisable.  Open parks replaced areas that had buildings.  And new very tasteful and artistic facades replaced buildings that had collapsed.  I very much liked what I saw. I loved how something bad and sad has led to a rebirth of the city.

Dominic had left his bach and would accommodate me in his home in Mount Pleasant for the night instead.  It’s rather funny; his home is a short distance from an area that overlooks the same Lyttleton Harbour and Purau Bay where the bach is located.

We had dinner in a fusion restaurant in Sumner and took a little drive afterwards.  It was around 2130 by the time we reached home but the sky still had a hint of flight.