Rain, Rain, Go Away: Christchurch

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We left the beautiful weather with all it’s sunshine behind in Wellington. Our excitement over reaching the South Island was somewhat dampened when we reach Christchurch. Dampened is hardly the word, as it was raining. Not just drizzling, but heavy rain and wind that would turn our umbrellas inside out more than once. We had looked forward to seeing Christchurch with it’s bays and alpine vistas in the distance, but it was not to be as the clouds were just too low.

Hoping for the weather to clear later in the day, we, along with Rick and Linda, headed to the International Antarctic Center which is the world’s aerial gateway to the Antarctic since the early days on Antarctic exploration. It is home to the United States, the Italian and the New Zealand Antarctic Programs. We took a ride in a Haagland, the all-terrain vehicle designed of use in the Antarctic, before going inside to the exhibit which encompasses everything from exploration history to an aquarium. We donned warm hooded jackets and overshoes for the indoor polar room chilled to -5 degrees Celsius and the ensuing Antarctic Storm that blew go hard you could hardly stand up or open your eyes. We were looking at each other saying “this isn’t so bad” until the wind started to blow and then it really got cold! Everyone was clamoring to get out.

The rain was still coming down when we left, so saw most of the city sights from behind the glass of a taxi. Christchurch has expansive parks and public gardens and is known as the “Garden City. We toured through the park and Botanical Garden and then went on to some of the city’s notable sites including Cathedral Square, the Anglican Cathedral, the Bridge of Remembrance and a statue of Capt. James Cook who explored this area in 1770. A convenient hop-on hop-off tram loops around the city center taking in points of interest. We also stopped by the 9-11 Memorial. Steel from the WTC was gifted to the city of Christchurch when they created the Firefighters Reserve Memorial. Heading back to the ship, we took a drive though the hills overlooking the bay below. In the evening we celebrated Linda's birthday. Next stop: Dunedin.

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Photos

Christchurch
Botanical Gardens are partially enclosed by a gently flowing loop of the Avon River and adjacent by Hagley Park.

Christchurch
Botanical Gardens

Christchurch
Botanical Gardens

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Botanical Gardens. Duck communicating with the statue.

Christchurch
Botanical Gardens

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Cathedral Square

Christchurch
Catherdral Stain Glass

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Steel from the World Trade Center

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Captain James Cook Statue. This guy has been everywhere!

Christchurch
Bridge of Rememberance: Memorial to soldiers of World War I. Arch erected on a bridge which WWI soldiers passed over on their way to war. Later plaques were placed here to commemorate WWII battlefieleds.

Lyttleton Timeball Station
A rare piece of maritime history, fabulously restored & in working order. Dropping of the ball signaled Greenwich Time to ships in the harbor. This enabled navigators to check their chronometers so they could accurately calcualate their longitute when back at sea. It operated daily between 1876 and 1934 (pre radio time). Only a few timeball stations have survived & this is the only one in New Zealand.

Lyttleton Harbor
This is how most of the day looked.

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View of Celebrity Millenium in Lyttleton Harbor.

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Blue penguin at Antarctic Center

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Copy of original ad seeking men for first Antarctic Expedition. It says "Men wanted for hazardous journey, small wages, long months of complete darkness, constant danger, safe return doubtful. Honor and recognition in case of success. Ernest Shackelton"

Christchurch
Haagland, the Antarctic Vehicle