Sunday morning started with a taxi ride to the pretty Christchurch ward building about 10 minutes from our hotel. People were so friendly and we enjoyed our experience there. The talks and lessons were excellent and it reminded me of the appreciation I have the Church--to be able to worship together from so many backgrounds and experiences. The sisters who spoke--one was from Nigeria and the other from Malaysia. And it happened that one of the Area General Authorities was visiting and he spoke as well about the importance of fulfilling our assignments whatever they are.
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| Gary on the walkway bridge in front of the Church |
The Avon River which flows through the city
The rising sun to the east although it was around 8:30 am.
After Church, we decided to walk to our hotel since it went through the major city park of the city--Hagley Park. It was established in 1855 and includes an oak tree started from an acorn given to New Zealand by the monarch of England back in that time period.
In New Zealand, they drive on the other side of the road--like in Hong Kong and many other former British colonies. We enjoyed the instructions for the pedestrians.
We got used to wearing Church clothes in parks and other outdoor spaces after our time as missionaries. It was a fun walk home of about 30 minutes through the park.
We got back to the hotel, changed clothes, and then headed out again to take a tram ride that took us through the downtown areas of the city and talked about the impact of the earthquake which is still being felt in the city.
These are the arches in the gathering area across from our hotel.
A great discussion on the power of public spaces to gather.
Just an unusual side of a building....it turned out to be a museum of some sort.
Around the downtown, there was still evidence of rebuilding and buildings waiting to be reconstructed. Covid, disputes between business and government and lack of money has slowed the rebuild. They have also started many new requirements to make buildings more earthquake proof and have restricted the height of buildings to only 5 or 6 stories.
Being in the southern hemisphere, it was approaching the end of the fall season, although there were still many flowers in the parks and along the rivers and streams.
New Zealand is an interesting blend of the British influence and the Maori culture. Reading material referred to it as the southern Hawaii and it does have that friendly, outgoing feel like Hawaii. They also have a large population of immigrants from the South Sea islands, Australia, India, the Philippines, and China. That means there are excellent restaurants here with a variety of food options.
A city map of downtown for the future when I want to doublecheck places....
Of course, they would have decorated sheep in Christchurch...
The street where we found lunch inside a New Zealand food court. We had Indian curry and nana. Yummy!
One of several Memorials to those who fought in the Great War (WWI)
There was a pro-Israel rally in the square that day.
Our tram ride through the city
Art work on the buildings
The Botanical Gardens found in the southern part of the Hagley Park that we had gone through earlier.
They had a vegetable garden as part of this garden with a mixture of flowers and vegetables. So pretty even in the late fall.
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Hard to see but bees were all over this area
with the yellow and blue house being
their hive. |
I wish I was a gardener! So calming to be among the pretty flowers and plants.
We then headed for punting. What is punting, you ask? Let me tell you. I actually learned about punting in a British crime novel I read several months ago. Punting is a fairly flat boat which is pushed by someone using a pole and pushing off the bottom of the river.
Some kayakers on the river as well
Waiting for our turn on the punt.
The Avon River complete with geese
Our guide given us safety instructions
And there is our guide standing with his pole at the back of the boat--sorry I forgot to smile as I was trying to get this picture...
A returning boat....
Going under a willow tree along the side of the river....
An interesting tree
Again, ignore my face but look how our guide has to squat down to go under the bridges.
It was a beautiful peace ride down and back on the river. The river here is only 2 or 3 feet deep, so if you fell out, just stand up and walk to shore (we learned that in our safety instructions.) Because there was no motors, it was so quiet and all along the way, people in the park on the shores waved to us. That was a common thing throughout New Zealand whether on the boat or on the trains that people would wave to us as we passed by...not us personally, of course, but at the train or boat or whatever. They are friendly here.
The green and white striped punting office which is getting its roof replaced, but not because of the earthquake. It just needed to be replaced.
After the punting, we returned to the tram and saw some more interesting things along the way and learned more about the city. I told Gary that I hoped that in the eternities that I could remember all that I heard both here in Christchurch and in all the other places we went and heard things about New Zealand, Mauri people, animals, birds, and other interesting facts and figures...because I certainly can't remember all we heard and learned.
It is very common in the Māori culture to have these type of things in front of your villages and homes. They often demark your genealogy and other things that are of value to this place.
We ended up the evening at the hotel enjoying some quiet time. I had picked up this book to read on Sundays and love it. It was perfect end to a sweet day in New Zealand.
Happy to slip in bed after a busy day.
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