A nice welcome in Nelson

We arrived at the pre booked motel in Nelson around 5pm to a friendly & smiling welcome from Lynn the owner.She was expecting us &informed us that she had upgraded our room from what we had booked. On showing us to to our apartment she was keen to sell the city of Nelson to us. Pointing out enough interesting places to visit than we could possibly fit in during our stay on South Island let alone the 2 days we were in Nelson. On the kitchen table were some home made oat biscuits as a welcome gift. Lent or not, it would have been rude to have left them there.The apartment was spotless & very modern. At the side of the reception was an art studio. Lynn is also an artist working with various materials, coloured bees wax applied with a hot iron just one example. The form of art is called ENCAUSTIC ART. She gave us a demonstration before we left. Her studio was called LynNZart. A rather clever play on her name and this beautiful country. Our second and final nights stay coincided with her husband Stephan's 60th birthday. She had arranged a surprise drink and desert party for him and invited us along with two other guests and three of their neighbours to attend. The idea was that we would arrive at 7-30 just as they were about to move onto desert at dinner.. It turned out to be a lovely evening that went on until 10'oclock, which is quite late for the Kiwis. Me,Lynn & Stephan in the art studio. On the beach at Nelson. Visiting a vineyard (Waimea Estates) at Hope just outside Nelson. Anne enjoying a shared platter at the vineyard. View looking out across to Nelson from Tasman golf club at Kina bay. The patio outside back door of our apartment. As we were leaving our hosts at Nelson spent the morning reflecting on the previous nights party and also telling us about their trip to the UK and Europe back in 1973. It turned out that Lynn was a Brit really, but not for long. After receiving directions to take us to our next stop (via the scenic route) we said our farewells and headed off. Thank you Lynn and Stephan for a most wonderful stay at your first class motel.

Moving on up South Island

The journey from Christchurch to Hanmer Springs took a leisurely 4 hours by car, on roads that were relatively free from traffic. The views along the way were stunning & by the time we reached our motel they were breathtaking. This was the first RC Church we have seen on the Island with the exception of the ruined Cathedral.It was just about 100 yds from our motel. The Priest serves seven parishes so Mass was a vigil on Saturday at 5 o'clock. It was only a small simple wooden structure. The grotto outside the church. Hanmer Springs is a "Spa town" and the hot tubs are a constant 42 degrees, geothermally heated. They whiff a bit due to the sulphur content of the water. Very very relaxing though. It was 28 degrees ambient temp., so not much different out of the water. Anne declined to join me in the tub & elected to read her kindle on a sun lounger. The road bridge (single track) needed to be crossed in order to enter and leave Sunmer Springs. The views either side of the bridge were amazing. Time to leave this motel in paradise and head out North to the city of Nelson. Hope we aren't deflated when we get there. Took a few pics. at stops along the way. The journey took nearly 5 hours as we had three stops, one of them for afternoon tea at a cafe by a river. Almost at Nelson and the sun is still baking us both. How are things at home? Still snowing????

Time to depart Christchurch

One last view of THE city before departing for Hanmer Springs North West of Christchurch. This is remembrance bridge over the River Avon. In memory of those who have given their life in conflicts for New Zealand. The bell retrieved from the RC Cathedral after the quake is on display in Quake City Museum. This was retrieved from the roof of the Anglican Cathedral. Anne outside Quake City in the restart part of the city. Time to pick up the car ready to head off on our tour of South Island. It is Friday 22nd Feb., the second anniversary of that devastating quake. Plenty of remembrance,reflections and lots of positivity for the future of this wonderful city. We will be returning here in 4 weeks for a couple of nights. Next stop HENMER SPRINGS. See you there!!!!!!!

More pictures from Christchurch

This street of shops will be the first to reopen after the quake in its entirety. Hopefully by the time we return towards the end of March. The remains of the rugby stadium. It was renovated for the 2011 rugby world cup but unfortunately never saw a ball kicked there. Construction of the new but temporary Anglican Cathedral. These reinforced cardboard tubes have a life expectancy of 50 years if well maintained. Time to chill out and let someone else do the work. We took a punt trip on the river Avon which winds through the city. City tour on an old London bus. Stopped off at the seaside town of Sumner bay. This is what you could say is living on the edge. The two of us at the look out over the city. The following shot is from the look out over the "Canterbury Plains.

Welcome to New Zealand - South Island

Flew into Christchurch in the early hours of Tuesday morning (19th Feb) & were whisked through customs & imigration in double quick time. The waiting super shuttle bus dropped us at The Elms Hotel in Papanui, about 3 miles outside Christchurch city centre at 2am. After a good nights sleep it was time to hit downtown Christchurch. The weather was a very pleasant 26 degrees.The photos. were taken during the four days we spent in the city. The weather just got better and better. Me & Anne at the "Restart" village in the centre of Christchurch. The village is made up of businesses housed in converted containers as a temporary measure to encourage people back to the city. Anne enjoying lunch on top of one of the aforementioned containers. Still the sun is shining. Outside the remains of the Anglican Cathedral Christchurch. It has been de-consecrated and will be "deconstructed. The remains of the RC Cathedral. No final decision been made yet about its fate. A stone laborynth in memory of the earthquake victims set out in the botanical gardens. Below are some of the stones.

Leaving Canada behind

We left Canada on Saturday 16th February bound for Christchurch, New Zealand flying via Los Angeles and Sydney. Although our world ticket was a joint BA / Quantas booking, the flight from Vancouver to Los Angeles was courtesy of Alascan airlines. It took 3 hours and was uneventful as I managed to sleep most of the way. We had 3 hours to kill in LA before flying out at midnight (Saturday) bound for Sydney this time courtesy of Quantas. This leg of the journey was a thirteen and a half hour flight plus advancing the clocks 19 hours which was the time difference between the West coast of America and Sydney. On arrival at Sydney mid morning of Monday 18th. Feb. We were facing a 10 stop over in the transit lounge for the connecting flight to Christchurch. To our surprise the customs and immigration people let us enter through and1 into Australia. After a brief phone call to my cousin Phyllis and her hubby Keith who live in Frenchs Forest, just out of Sydney, Anne and I found ourselves on a train heading to meet them. The following pictures are from that meeting. Keith and yours truly (the beers are both his) Phyllis, Keith & Anne Keith, Phyllis and the blogger Farewell for now. Phyllis and Anne say their farewells for now as we were leaving. We will be meeting up again when we return to Sydney at the end of April.