We arrived in CHCH yesterday and had the rest of the day off (it was after all a Sunday).
We strolled around a bit in downtown Christchurch and were again amazed of just how much was destroyed by the quakes 8 years ago and how much has been demolished, cleared, repaired, rebuilt and constructed. It is a long-term ongoing process.
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| New and quake-proof buildings mix with old to-be-repaired ones. |
Container-based businesses are excellent space-fillers in the many lots with no buildings.
Pieces of art are another good space-filler in the townscape.
Carpark buildings have been constructed in excessive numbers post-quake, apparently due to a lack of coordination among investors.
Across-the-street arcade game done with a giant joystick operated by any by-passer.
Typical Kiwi: Sewer cleaning in no-nonsense language.
Today has been yet another melting hot late summer day and we thought it fit to visit a cool place.
New Zealand has for centuries played an important role in Antarctic exploration and science.
For the past 60 years Christchurch has been the main gateway to Antarctica for deploying researchers from the US, Italy and New Zealand.
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| Swedish tracked vehicles are essential for surface transportation in Antarctica. |
Although I am done with the cold Polar regions it was interesting to see the fine educational exhibits about Antarctica and the way researchers survive on that frigid continent. Indeed, I met the very tent model (at right in photo) in which I spent my first cold (-42ªC) winter night in NE Greenland almost exactly 46 years ago.
And my good old Swedish friend, the Optimus primus, was also on display! – with this text provided: "The light, portable and very reliable primus stove, invented in 1892, made long distance polar travel possible. More modern gas stoves are not as reliable and your stove needs to be reliable if you are to survive". – That is absolutely correct.
Once again, New Zealand's own home-grown Blue Penguin, was displayed in a fairly respectable penguinarium.
The BP is the smallest of all penguin species ...
... and it fits easily inside the mighty jaws of the Leopard Seal, king of penguin predators.
. . .
Tomorrow, we plan to become elevated.
