What we have done.

Not much really. The first few days usually comprise of getting the students oriented. There are tours to be taken, public transportation to be explained, ID cards to be issued, etc. We did a couple of our usual things this past weekend, things that we have picked up over the years that are a bit off the beaten track and lacking tourist appeal. Local flavor stuff like the Riccarton Market - a farmers market kind of thing that takes place in the parking lot of the local race course every weekend. Great place to wander about and look at junk - Allan and I met a great seller of old books - he has invited us to his house to have a look through his collection! That will be fun. That is just the sort of thing that sets Kiwis apart from Americans....can you imagine if the guy at the local farmers market invited you to stop by his house in the states!

We went to Sumner beach which is located just outside town at the base of the aformentioned port hills. The aerial picture is taken from the road leaving town and going up into the hills. We had lunch at this cute little cafe right on the beach and then spent a little time for the kids to play in the water. Aidan loved it as usual. He is a real water baby.

The next day we spent some time in Christchurch at the Arts Centre. This is one of my favorite places to come in all of New Zealand. It is housed in this sprawling gothic complex that used to be an all boys school I think. Now the labyrinth of halls and passageways and courtyards is home to craftsmen and artists of every style and flavor you could imagine. It is also a great place to come to eat because there is an outdoor ethnic food market. The Arts Centre is also ground zero for the World Buskers Festival which is hosted by the city of Christchurch every year. Buskers are street performers, (musicians, mimes, contortionists, comedians, jugglers, ventriloquists, etc. etc.) and the best in the world all descend upon Christchurch every year for a two week festival at the end of January. They start arriving prior to the festival proper, and just set up and start performing for the weeks leading up to the big one. It makes Christchurch quite an entertaining place during our visit. We watched a Canadian escape artist this weekend.

After lunch we headed over to the boat sheds at the edge of the Botanical Gardens. We wanted to go "Punting on the Avon". This is something that Susan has always wanted to do and we have just never made the time for it on previous trips. It involves kicking back on velvet cushions and lazing away the afternoon while a strong young fellow poles you up and down the river. You couldn't ask for a more relaxing after lunch activity - and the scenery is absolutely beautiful. Christchurch has world reknowned Botanical Gardens.

While we waited at the boatsheds, Aidan got to feed the ducks and he checked out the canoes and kayaks. Then he got to sit with Mommy for the romantic ride on the river...lucky boy!