Happy travellers.......

.......a dismal day for showing our cousins the sights, mum and I were very disappointed but we got out there amongst the rain and showed them what we could.

First stop was the poignant art installation called '185 Empty Chairs', reflecting on the loss of lives, livelihood and living in our city following the earthquake of 22 February 2011. 185 white chairs, all empty, all different - an installation that is temporary as is life.

Then we casually wandered over to the Cardboard Cathedral, the transitional pro-cathedral of the Anglican Diocese of Christchurch which opened in August 2013. It was designed by architect Shigeru Ban and seats around 700 people. A temporary Cathedral which also hosts concerts and civic events.

By now the rain was really falling so we opted for a drive round the CBD,  J hung out the window taking photos, all turned out really good. Feeling like a refreshment and something to eat it was decided to head out to Scarborough by the sea where drinks and scones were had and J and C caught up on some photo's and some note taking.  

Although the light was against me, I quite like this shot as C jots down some notes with brother J adding a few words. C's notebook will be invaluable to her, beautifully written notes of kiwi saying's, words and meanings, places visited with family history at the back - I was impressed!

After a bite to eat we headed out to our 'neck of the woods', North Canterbury. We saw the Waimakariri river at the river mouth, so very different from it's braided stages, we stopped by the Rural Fire Station at Pines Beach and visited the town of Kaiapoi. Maori determined that kai (food/resources) would need to be poi (swung in) from other places hence the towns name Kaiapoi which can be translated as a metaphor for 'economics'. All resources were transported along the waterways to and from Kaiapoi, now known as the 'River Town'. 

While in Kaiapoi we took a look at many empty sections where garden's once flourished and homes once stood. Roads with barriers with signs saying 'closed', an area which went on and on, lumpy bumpy roads with sections now rejuvenating back to how they were in yesteryear. J took a photo of the red letterbox sculpture, letterboxes and names of the roads were taken from the red zone - an area badly effected by the 2010 and 2011 earthquakes. After houses were demolished, just letterboxes and street names were left, now a sculpture.

So not an action packed day but more a day of trying to understand the effect of the earthquakes in our city of Christchurch and outlying areas, getting an idea of what people have been through and continuing to go through, seeing how the city is progressing as it rises from the rubble. Unfortunately there was not enough time to show some of the more enjoyable sights and the weather wasn't on our side.

To end our day  hubby and daughter E joined us as we dined out, again so much to talk about. I had discovered throughout the day C was quite passionate about our fire stations so we stopped by our local station on the way home where photo's were taken. C and J also took photo's of our local park (Victoria Park) and the old council buildings. Then a cuppa at home and our last talk about our family ties, time was far too short.

A very early start tomorrow........as we say our goodbye's for now.