Christchurch

Friday, Jan 2nd, we spent our final day of our holiday relaxing in Christchurch. The weather was sunny and warm, but most of the shops were closed (they just stayed closed the whole New Years weekend).
People can hire punts to ride on the Avon River that runs through the city. Very picturesque.

They also have a tram to take mostly tourists around the main parts of the central city.

Christchurch is the most English of New Zealand cities. Many of the buildings are distinctive stone Gothic Revival. We kept feeling like Harry Potter while walking around the maze of artists shops now located in the former University of Canterbury.

Mar and I walking to class...I mean to the shops and galleries. At least the ones in this area were open while we were in Christchurch. Lots of local artists shops with greenstone and woolens and other NZ made things we couldn't afford.

We got to visit Christchurch cathedral on our last day which has this impressive statue just outside the cathedral.

Christchurch was our last stop of the holiday. Marlene flew out from there and got home safely after a very long flight; Dan & I got back to Dunedin where it was hailing and cold. Holiday time is officially over and now it's back to work. At least until the next trip.