Christchurch for a few hours...

Christchurch - we did not know what to expect.  I suppose if we had been watching television we might have known but we really do not watch much any more. So we arrived at our destination with the help of our beloved TomTom.

A quick note that we have a routine at check-in - Adrian pulls up, I hop out and see if we can talk our way in to our room early.  I start to get an adrenaline rush as we get close to our destination, will I be able to get us in, will I be able to charm, intimidate, coerce the desk person into letting us inhabit our space prior to the stated time of allowable check-in. In case you did not know, I am a bit competitive - bless my heart.  Anyway, back to the check-in routine - so I get all jazzed and then all I have ever had to do was say our name - the room is always ready early, the people do not need coercion, intimidation, or batting of the lashes - a shame really as I like to think I am quite persuasive. So into our room we go.  We lay claim to our rooms/beds - often quite labor intensive with the children - and then lay out our plan for the day(s) of our time in whatever place.  Sometimes we have a list of things we would like to do and other times not.  This was one of the "not" times.

We had a drive around town and were prohibited from driving in certain areas because still lots of damage apparent a full year later.  We went to the Botanical gardens and had a great tour of the grounds by a very knowledgable woman.   She told us all about all the earthquakes and the damage sustained.  We saw the areas of most damage and were brought to tears by what the people of this area have gone through.

We were so amazed at the attitudes of all those we spoke with.  They are a resilient people.  A people with great ability to rebound and help their neighbor and come up with a new plan.  There is lots of work going on and lots to do in Christchurch we were only here for one night and had to head out early for another day of travel.  We hope to go back to check it out in more depth.

Christchurch from above

Off we go to Twizel...

Easter 2012, South Island

We have been to God's country!  Some of you have seen photos and made the same comment.  It is so true.  There were parts of the country that were untangled, undamaged, unchanged by man's often harsh hand.  You will see pictures, do not worry.  But let me not get ahead of myself.

We have just sent off our first visitors, sadly.  We had a wonderful visit with Cress and Gigi Whitfield and come to find out Adrian's youngest son coaches their son in soccer - what a small world!  We had a really nice time and the house is terribly quiet this morning with kids in school, Adrian at work, and only the sound of the washing machine.  So I will happily relive our latest adventure.   I was a bit overwhelmed at getting this post out so I am going to break it up into chapters.  The visit through Kaikoura being the first.

ferry ride to Picton

We left Palmy on Good Friday for Wellington - great weather and an easy drive down.

Ferry to the South Island trip was smooth and gorgeous as we entered the Picton area.  We met and visited with a Maori woman, Maata, she had flax reeds and weaved those reeds into a Maori bag during our visit.  Just before we docked she gifted us with the basket.  Through tears we exchanged hugs and the traditional Maori hug which is placing forehead and nose to the other persons forehead and nose.  It was a real highlight to meet and visit with Maata.  She spoke Maori with her grandchildren and had the traditional tattooing around her mouth and chin. The Maori call it carving and as I have learned from Grace (she learns the culture, legends, customs at school) each carving tells a story.  She certainly is a wonderful story teller and a deeply feeling and passionate woman.  A very special beginning to a very special trip, indeed!

dusky dolphins

 We drove off the ferry and on to Kaikoura on the east coast of the south island.  Kaikoura is a small touristy town that is on the migration path of whales and is home to an endangered species of very playful dolphin - the Dusky dolphin.  We went out on a beautiful Easter morning on a boat to see the dolphins - there was a pod of about 200 just off shore.  Some of the people wore wet suits and swam with them while we watched from the boat.  We also saw a seal swimming with them and a very big albatross flew by.

dancing dusky

baby seal at waterfall pool

The other wonderful thing in Kaikoura are the fur seals.  There is a great spot to pull off the road and look at the seals on the rocks.  There were so many of them.  These seals take their babies to a feeder creek so that they can safely learn to be adolescent seals.  We hiked up this path next to the creek that feeds into the Tasman Sea.  There were so many little black baby seals - hard to see against the rocks really.  At the end of the trail there was a waterfall and a pool where the babies were swimming and twirling and trying to fight like seals do - so special and something that enthralled all of us.  

On to Christchurch...