We arrived in Christchurch on a cloudy afternoon and managed to navigate ourselves to a parking space beside the Botanical Gardens.
After a couple of hours drive, we were grateful for stretching our legs especially as we'd already hiked a mountain in the morning then hit the road again. We found a pretty little boatside cafe where you can hire boats and go punting down the avon, but with the cloudy weather and a chill in the air, we decided to have tea and cake instead.
An enthusiastic staff member from the local tourist information centre equipped us with tour maps and accommodation guides, so we set off to our modern holiday park fully equipped with a drive through check in, indoor pool and spa.
After a welcome hot shower and a change of clothes, we embraced the public transport and headed off in to the city for a night out on the town. The bus terminated at Central station where we got off, looked around and then realised the utter devastation this city has suffered. It was like an apocalypse, there is almost nothing but eerie abandoned buildings, evacuated and then declared unsafe. Those that have been torn down, are now empty building plots.
Whilst it has only been 3 years since the Earthquake, it was still quite a shock to see the devastation. I just don't know where you start to re-build after an entire city's central district has collapsed or been demolished.
Despite the main city hub being either condemned, demolished or in the process of being re-built, you can't help admire the creativity of the locals to re-build the city. Shopping malls made of shipping containers, colourful Muriel's on wire fences and a sight seeing tour on disaster zones goes to show they are making the best of what they have whilst they re-build the city.
Out towards the coast, the destructive effects of nature are no less apparent. Whole suburbs have been evacuated and abandoned whilst other building projects take priority. Those that lived there either moved away from Christchurch, or relocated if they could.
These suburbs were damaged by soil liquifaction, where the sub-surface soil acts like a liquid whilst the ground is shaking, bubbles to the surface to many inches or feet deep, but then sets almost solid when the earth tremors stop. The stuff has been mostly cleared away, but many suburbs are just a permanent building site. shocking, but the communities somehow battle on with the regeneration.
With the central area no longer hosting restaurants and Cafes, and an England Vs All-blacks game on the screens, getting a table for something to eat wasn't easy.
We had cocktails whilst we waited for food at Mexicano's - and it was worth waiting for!
Not sure what most of it was, but it sure was tasty. Quesadillas, and the house special fried chicken are recommended.
Despite the main city hub being either condemned, demolished or in the process of being re-built, you can't help admire the creativity of the locals to re-build the city. Shopping malls made of shipping containers, colourful Muriel's on wire fences and a sight seeing tour on disaster zones goes to show they are making the best of what they have whilst they re-build the city.
Out towards the coast, the destructive effects of nature are no less apparent. Whole suburbs have been evacuated and abandoned whilst other building projects take priority. Those that lived there either moved away from Christchurch, or relocated if they could.
These suburbs were damaged by soil liquifaction, where the sub-surface soil acts like a liquid whilst the ground is shaking, bubbles to the surface to many inches or feet deep, but then sets almost solid when the earth tremors stop. The stuff has been mostly cleared away, but many suburbs are just a permanent building site. shocking, but the communities somehow battle on with the regeneration.
With the central area no longer hosting restaurants and Cafes, and an England Vs All-blacks game on the screens, getting a table for something to eat wasn't easy.
We had cocktails whilst we waited for food at Mexicano's - and it was worth waiting for!
Not sure what most of it was, but it sure was tasty. Quesadillas, and the house special fried chicken are recommended.
 |
| ChristChurch heritage tram back up and running |
 |
| ChristChurch Cathedral still in ruins following the 2011 earthquake |
 |
| re-start mall - a shopping area made of porta cabins |
No comments:
Post a Comment