Hi –
We’re finally made it to our hotel about 1:30 AM Christchurch time last night — almost exactly 24 hours after we got up to leave for the airport. After a good night’s sleep we are spending the day walking in town.
Our motel is about 8 km from the center of the city towards the airport, in a quiet area that seems full of parks. We took a bus towards the center of the city, getting off at Mona Vale, a large Victorian house, which has been turned into a cafe and banquet facility, set on gorgeous grounds with the Avon River running through. Because we had gotten up late, we had an early lunch at the cafe.
From Mona Vale we walked through yet another large park on the western edge of the central city. As we walked, we were serenaded by a concert in the park.
The Christchurch area of New Zealand appears to be lush and green, very much as we remember New Jersey. Not surprisingly then, we recognized many of the plants that we used to grow in New Jersey — rhododendrons, hostas, astilbes, Canna lillies. In addition, however, there were plants such as eucalyptus trees that we know from California.
On the city side of the park is a large, wonderfully arranged botanic garden, that we enjoyed walking through. Of particular interest were a section dedicated to New Zealand natives and a wonderful conservatory. The begonias pictured here are from it.
Another wonderful element of the botanic garden were the many impressive specimen trees. Here is Nina in one of them.
As we write this, it is mid-afternoon and we are in an Internet cafe in the center of the city — a large, bustling metropolitan area.
One Comment