New Zealand, considered the most beautiful country in the world and a paradise of hikers was on the top of my travel wish list.
From Melbourne, I flew to Christchurch with Air New Zealand which welcomes passengers with a very original safety video đ
It was a sunny day and from the planeâs window I could see South Islandâs beautiful snowy mountains . . . my New Zealand trip could not have a better start!
My first stop was Christchurch, the capital city of South Island and the most âBritish cityâ in New Zealand. The 2010 and 2011 earthquakes damaged the city badly and I could not help a moment of sadness when I saw Christchurchâs Cathedral of Canterbury in that state. Designed in neogothic style by the British architect Gilbert Scott and built between 1864 and 1904, this cathedral was a symbol of the powerful British Empire in expansion.
As moving as the destroyed cathedral is the display of 185 empty white chairs, a memorial for the lives lost during the earthquakes, each one is unique with its own personality â just like each person.
However one canât be sad in Christchurch for long time. The city is going to some incredible re-building initiatives and there is a very positive energy everywhere, with very original results. The best example is maybe the Re: START Mall, a colorful shopping mall where the shops are made with shipping containers. It is here where I enjoyed a super healthy breakfast at the terrace of the cute Hummingbird Coffee.
Another perfect spot for a coffee is along New Regent Street. One of the first areas of the city to re-open after the earthquakes, it is made up of pastel-hued shops in Spanish Mission style terraced architecture.
The city gaps are being decorated with street art and murals! My favourite one was maybe the âballerinaâ, close to New Regent Street, but there are many more.
The latest public art project is called âChristchurch Stands Tallâ, consisting in giant fiberglass giraffe sculptures scattered along streets, parks and public spaces throughout Christchurch. Each one is uniquely painted by local artists and I read there are 99 in total but I could only find 10.
Another sight not to miss in the city is the Transitional Cardboard Cathedral, constructed in only 11 months on the site of the former St John’s Latimer Square Anglican Church. This “emergency structure” has a roof made of 98 cardboard tubes. The Cardboard Cathedral’s triangular window design incorporates images from ChristChurch Cathedral’s original rose window (more pictures on the Cathedral’s website), very beautiful!
Molt xulo Eli fa molt que no mirava el blog!!
ELI MUY BONITAS LAS FOTOS HEMOS VISTO EN INTERNES LAS FOTOS DE LA CATEDRAL DE CARTON MUY COLORIDA Y BONITA HACIA DIAS QUE NO SABIAMOS DE TI ESPERABAMOS FOTOS CON MUCHAS GANAS BESOSSSSSSSSSSSS
Just saw your first two posts for NZ. Very exciting! Mount cook hike looked awesome! Glad you had good weather for it! Travel safe my friend! X
Ja era hora! đ
Thanks Anna! After LA where to next? đ