Images of Christchurch

Trip Start Sep 01, 2011
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Trip End Jun 20, 2012


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Flag of New Zealand  , Canterbury,
Monday, February 6, 2012

I must admit I did not feel very safe going to Christchurch for 2 nights especially cause our driver just left us at the airport and then we needed a bus to get to town. After finding the hostels (YMCA is closer to the Botanical Gardens whereas Around the World Backpackers is a 20 minute walk away) I walked to the other side of town and it is weird and empty plus I didn't know that even people cannot enter the city centre but this one is closed completely. So basically the heart of Christchurch is closed for public but they seem to cope with it very well. Shops, bars and restaurants are in containers and they also use the containers as a saftey barrier around suburbs in case rocks fall off the hill again.
Walking around the centre is a bit scary as you can still see the damages on many houses, churches and on the street.

Open Church
Open Church


A local friend showed us the nicer surroundings and we drove up Poor hill and to Lyttleton and then to the seafront. Those areas were also damaged but for ones the old wooden houses with tin roofs make sence as they survive earthquakes much better than brick or concrete houses.

Christchurch must have looked amazing and they think it will be back in shape again in about 10-20 years. So fingers crossed there won't be more aftershocks here as it is a very nice area for a city that still somehow looks like in England. Aparently, there were 3 aftershocks when I was there but I couldn't feel anything, maybe I am resistant to earthquakes :)
Christchurch hotels Slideshow

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