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Published: February 25th 2014
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Pallet Pavilion
3,000 recycled pallets are home for a cafe and stage for live music and films! It was a dark and foggy night flying out of Wellington late on the 20th. So much fog that we almost didn't make it into Christchurch! But my pilot friends would have appreciated the approach and landing the Air NZ pilots made in what looked to me like zero-zero conditions! Reminded me of Sacramento's thick tule fog that rolls in during the winter nights.
I only had the one day in Christchurch, much was spent in the every helpful i Site (NZ Information Center) booking the rest of my trip. My procrastination really cost me this trip. My ultimate goal is Mt. Cook and I had booked accommodation in the YHA Backpackers Accommodation for the next night but not the actual travel to get there from Christchurch. When I went to book a bus, the only one available was almost $200! Dammit, no way was I going to pay that much for a four hour bus ride! So, the i Site lady helped me find a car. Yep. Right then and there I committed to the next let of my trip and decided to drive to Mt Cook, then Omarama, drop the car off in Queenstown. Anyway, $500 later I
Cargo Container Mall
These repurposed containers make up a mall for shops, restaurants and offices! had my transportation setup ($300 for the car, $100 fee because I wasn't returning the car to Christchurch and $100 gas). And she helped me book the rest of my stays and bus transportation through to Nelson. With that taken care of, I could get down to the business of checking out Christchurch.
22 February 2011 a 6.3 magnitude earthquake struck Christchurch, killing 185 people. Christchurch was devastated and will be recovering from it for generations. Most of the demolition of hopelessly damaged buildings has been completed. And rebuilding is going on everywhere. It is hard to take a photo without seeing some impact of the earthquake in the frame. An empty lot, damaged street, a crane. The people of Christchurch have found some creative ways to transition currently empty lots through 'Gap Filler' projects including a Pallet Pavilion, Cargo Container Mall, and a Cardboard Cathedral! There are also some moving memorials. I wish I had time to take one of the bike tours but settled for a self guided tour of several of the City sites.
Unfortunately, due to the iOS 7 photo issues, I am unable to post several photos that show some Christchurch ingenuity, cleverness
Punting on the Avon
This pastime has resumed - the bucolic float down the Avon river is very peaceful. and fun that prevails amongst the devastation. I did find one on YouTube featuring the Dance-O-Mat where you insert $2 into a washing machine and plug in your ipod and you have an instant dance floor!
I will end this blog reprinting a poem I found at 185 Chairs.
"If you haven't already, you will lose someone you can't live without, and your heart will be badly broken, and you never get over the loss of a deeply beloved person. But this is the good news. The person lives forever in your broken heart that doesn't seal back up. And you come through, and you learn to dance with the banged-up heart. You dance to the absurdities of life; you dance to the minuet of old friendships". Ann Lemott
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