Had breakfast at motel and then strolled across Hagley Park into Christchurch centre. The park is beautiful and includes a wonderful Botanic Garden. They have punts on the River Avon - talk about deja vu for a Cambridge resident!
We followed the tram line around the compact city centre hoping to find the shops that are now held in lorry containers since the earthquake. We saw the cathedralo that was badly damaged and needs to be demolished. However, they have now decided to restore it to its original state. Whilst in Cathedral Square we were approached by a Christchurch volunteer guide who explained much about the earthquake. Her own house was slightly damaged but was then devastated by liquefaction which is when all the sand and sludge gets liquified and pushes up through any available space. Many people were without running water and electricity for weeks after the quake. She told us to visit the Quake museum which was an eye opener and we sat through a sample earthquake! Apparently the container shops had closed the week before as they now had new premises. The Victoria Park had reopened that day after being reconstructed so we were lucky to see that.
We saw the cardboard Cathedral that actually holds 700 people and will be used until the new Cathedral is rebuilt. We also saw the 185 white chairs that are a memorial to the 185 people who died - mainly from one business building.
We went home and freshened up then walked back into town to The Trenches which was a RSA sponsored restaurant ( Returned Services Association similar to our British Legion). We had a lovely meal - scrumptious prawns for me and a steak for Bernard, then strolled to see the Festival of Lanterns on the river. We were going to have some beers by the river but it was full of young people with no oldies in sight, so we went back to the hotel to get ready for the cricket tomorrow!