Survivor

Marian and I have been feeling a little emotional this evening. We drove up from Kaikoura to Christchurch and handed our rental car back. We've only had this one on South Island and done 3590 km (1200 miles). I forgot to take the mileage of the North Island car so I'll have to check the GoogleMiles of that one if I want a record.

We got a cab into Christchurch this afternoon and had a walk round. It took us less time than we expected. Four years after the earthquake it's still a scene of recovering devastation. So many empty spaces where buildings used to be. So many buildings propped up. It's hard to imagine how it was after the earthquake (or before). So much money being spent on rebuilding and so much loss of revenue from tourism and other kinds of business. And yet there are things like the quirky Restart Mall (shops built from shipping containers) which make a defiant presence and so much street art which does the same. Whether it's that or the fact that it's the last day of our New Zealand holiday that's affected our mood is hard to say. Probably a bit of both, I suppose.

My blip today is 'The Chalice' by Neil Dawson. It's 18 metres high and the metal is cut into shapes of native plants (it says here). It was installed in Cathedral Square and survived the earthquake despite the severe damage to the nearby cathedral, which is still under debate regarding whether it will be replaced or repaired.

Thank you very much for your response to yesterday's sunset. I'll catch you from Dubai next. There's twenty two hours of flying but we'll be nine hours closer in time, so heaven knows what that'll do. 

David

PS there are some more from today here.