The February. 2010 devastated the city centre. The wealthier western suburbs escaped but the eastern suburbs which were built on reclaimed land and prone to liquefaction became quick sand as a result that foundations buckled, roads sank and water pipes and sewers broke causing utter devastion.
Our first visit was to Cathedral Square, once the heart of the city but now the fate of the Gothic Revival Anglican Church remains in doubt.
The church wanted to pull it down as the restoration costs would be prohibitive. They are being challenged by the heritage groups who have court orders to cease demolition.
En route we met two local women who acted as our guides. One said she rarely visited the city as it upset her. From there they took us to the Cardboard Cathedral- the Transitional Cathedral built pro bono by Japanese idisaster architect Shieru Van. It contains 98 industrial cardboard tubes and the walls are made from shipping containers , replacing the previous St Johns Church. It was the first building to be completed after the 2011 devastating earthquake. It looks spectacular and as one looks at it one is unaware of its make-up.
Around the churc h devastation reigns. What it must have been like after the earthquake is hard to imagine as it took 2,500 Canterbury university students to voluntarily clean up the sludge.
From there we went to see the 185 chairs remembering those who died in the ahter shock , including a baby' car seat - a poignant reminder of the disaster
From there we went to the Re-start Mall where pop up restaurants of all ethnic varieties were serving food from containers. This was established as a sign of renewal amid all the devastion.
There was a lovely atmosphere as people sat around eating and drinking and breathing life back into the city which otherwise is devoid of restaurants.
The city continues to enjoy Hadley Park , a very large park in the city where people can enjoy their recreation time.
The Avon river is the river of Canterbury, nearby if a monument dedicated to those who died in WW1 but it now symbolises those who died in the earthquakes.
The Avon tranquility in the midst of devastion.
This morning , we thankfull y left out bus journeys behind us as we boarded the Trans Alpine which would take us from Christchurch to Greymouth on the west coast.
The scenery was spectacular as we climbed towards Arthur's Pass And into Arthur's Pass National Park. The scenery was of glacial Extraction
The dry river beds impressed. Their scoured mountains and blue watered rivers added variety to the scenery.
Eventually we arrived at Arthur's Pass. We passed through a 8.5 kmtunnel which necessitate d the addition of 3 dextran engines and the closure of all facilities!!
On arrival at Arthur's Pass we alighted to take the usual photograph s. From there to Otira, Moana
on lake Bruner. Dobson and Greymouth.
This afternoon we drove to Frank Josef glacier .... more tomorrow!!
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