Day 2 in Akaroa

It was a lovely relaxing day! We walked the town, bought fish from a fisherman down on the wharf (skate) then returned to the camp wayyyyy up on the hill (great exercise climbing the millions of steps....ok....maybe 500 or so) then got ready for our dinner in town.

The restaurant is very cute and as I may have mentioned, it is so small that it is almost mandatory that you dine with others. We arrived a bit early, read the blackboard menu outside the restaurant (no menu's given inside) to determine what we would have, then were seated at a table for 4. Soon we were introduced by Magdeline (the chef's wife) to Gayle and Elwin from Rockford, Illinois. They had been visiting their daughter Carla in Australia where she is studying journalism then the 3 of them came to N.Z. for a quick trip before Carla left for Thailand on a 3 week junket. We had a lot in common and enjoyed a couple of hours of fabulous food and great conversation. They were driving back to Christchurch that evening....about 2 hours.

Magdeline asked everyone where they were from and when we told her Toronto, she told us she had worked on an organic farm near Cookstown 15 years ago. She said she was surprised to hear that there is a huge outlet mall near the farm. Very nice to have something in common.

Dec 2 we left Akaroa for Christchurch and stopped by the beautiful French Farm Estate Winery (I know, you've all missed me talking about our vice haven't you?), set in the mountains a few miles from Akaroa. What a gorgeous place! We bought a couple of cases....oops, meant bottles....and as it was a bit early for wine tasting, reluctantly left it behind.

We arrived in Christchurch around noon and decided to visit the local indoor mall. What a surprise! Just like Yorkdale....or any other mall you've ever visited. A lot of fun to see everyone Christmas shopping in short sleeves and short pants.

Dec 3 - We walked the 5 km from our campsite to downtown Christchurch. It was hustle bustle at city square due to a huge bike race and the Santa Claus Parade.

The Avon River winds through downtown and boats can be rented or hired with a rower to do all the work. We did neither, preferring instead to visit the Art Centre where there were many booths of artwork as well as food. We settled on the most delicious souvlaki lunch then watched the 2 hour Santa Clause Parade. Much fun! The floats ranged from Hare Krishna to Harley bikers, from Mother Goose to every ethnic group that resides in N.Z......then of course came Santa! What a lovely, jolly fellow he was! Bob got some great photo's which we shall upload when we are able.

We had decided to take the bus back to the camp however there were no buses due to the parade so we walked the 5 km back. I think we are doing ok on the exercise front!

It seems I was mixed up on my dates when I posted the last blog. We leave for Sydney on Wednesday Dec 6th (Tuesday to you lot!).

I will be posting a bit of what we have learned here. I may have mentioned that we read the newspaper every day; obtained a lot of information from the Lonely Planet Backpacker Guide; almost never listened to the radio and spoke to as many Kiwi's as possible. You may be interested in what we learned.

I will mention now that our first guide in Auckland was a bit of a character (we discovered much later) and told more than a couple of untruths. He was the bus driver on the Hop On Hop Off tour who told us that everyone in N.Z. is a contract worker. Not true! There are unions here and several groups are threatening to strike or have walked off the job. This particular driver also told us there are animals called "cabbits" in N.Z. He said they are part cat and part rabbit and are found on farms. I asked if he was pulling our legs and he replied innocently "no! it is absolutely true!" Of course it's not true. I must also say that he told us these fibs while playing the most evangical of music I've heard in a long time. I suppose our reward is in knowing that ultimately he'll be going to a very hot place at the end of his days....religious music or not!
We figure he must dislike tourists.....and he seemed like such a nice fellow.

Talk soon!

Sharon