Old-world charm

Trip Start Oct 28, 2008

107

Trip End Jun 30, 2009

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Where I stayed

Yha Rolleston House Christchurch

(Christchurch hotels)

Flag of New Zealand Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand
Friday, March 27, 2009

Rose:

First things first this YHA wins hands down for best city location. We are right opposite the Arts Centre and round the corner from the Botanic Gardens. This is the second time that we're here - we flew into Christchurch but stayed at the other city Central YHA.

It's late, we are grumpy and you may remember that we are infested with Dundedin bed bugs. We embark on the debacle of washing and drying everything as we hop about the hostel in flip flops and pjamas. We spray our backpacks with deet and leave them outside the room - we could do without getting them nicked leaving them outside (as per instructions)! It's all done now so we have scalding showers and collapse into bed.

A new day - sun is shining and our moods have improved

Punting in Christchurch

. Joel tells me that I have been talking Spanish in my sleep. Apparently I said, "the imperfect of estar is estaria". As soon as he said that I said, " that's wrong that's the conditional, the imperfect should be estaba" - typical perfectionistic streak - I guess I should be pleased if I am able to correctly conjugate my verbs in a waking state!

I have been struggling on and off with an eye infection for the past month that has just re-occured again. As this is not India I have already exhausted the range of what is available from the chemist over the counter. I don't want to let it linger plus I can't wear my contacts so I'm off the the doctors. Lovely surgery - in and out in 15 minutes with a prescription for stronger antibiotic eye-drops. They alreday seem to be clearing up my sore eye. That's what travel insurance is for - but at only 26 quid for consultation and medication it's not that bad anyway.

We check out the Modern Art Gallery but both of us are more taken by the space than what is exhbited in it - not the first time! Then we head to the Art Centre and find a lovely little cafe "Backstage" where we have coffee and a delicious lunch. We enjoy wandering around the Botanic Gardens again. The wild looking flowers are particularly beautiful. Botanic gardens everywhere in NZ - a great institution.

Continuing our theme of seeing films from the countries we have visited we watch "The Rabbit Proof Fence" at the hostel. This film is about the stolen generations- where Aboriginal children were separated from their parents by the State and taken to residential schools. It's a good but hard film to watch

Tram, Christchuch

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Tonight an unprecidented treat we go to the Court Theatre to see "The Tutor". It's about John Sellars who is a self-made millionaire and father of Nathan a smart-mouthed fifteen-year-old who's been expelled from his third school this year. John hires "a washed-out, Daihatsu-driving hippy" to tutor Nathan in maths. "Three opposing mind-sets go head-to-head in a comedy of (bad) manners, modern education and parenthood." It was BRILLANT we laughed so much. There were a few cultural references that we had explained to us like JAFA = 'just another f***ing Acklander". Not bad for a tenner - price of a cinema ticket in London! Afterwards we chatted to the main guy who played the father - teh JAFA. He was really friendly and told us that it was his first play and that previously he'd been doing TV game-show stuff. I seem to be having a bad day for the cultural faux-pas and my third of the day is my response to his, "I felt so fat doing this piece" to which I reply, "Oh yes because you took your shirt off in the play" (thinking maybe he was wishing he had worked out more at the gym). He meant happy, chuffed, pleased, exhilarated at performing in the play. Oh well you live and learn.

On the last morning we wander through the Arts Centre and buy bread and fruit in the local farmer's market. They do great German and sourdough breads. It's graduation day and the sun is shinning as the graduands and families pose for photos.

We've really enjoyed Christchurch - second time round even more.