Christchurch

On Saturday, we left Mount Cook and endured our longest journey yet (4 ½ hours) to Christchurch. The weather was overcast, with a few showers (the first we've had in New Zealand, so we can't complain).  We spent the afternoon in downtown Christchurch viewing the devastation from the earthquake.  Most of the downtown area remains closed and there are lots of empty spaces where buildings used to stand.

This parking lot used to contain a city block of buildings.

That's what's left of Christchurch Cathedral.

 This is what the cathedral used to look like before the earthquake.

There are many buildings with steel support scaffolding holding them up.

The city is trying to regroup and rebuild itself, although there is lots of political debate and disagreement over what to do and how to do it.  They have created a “temporary downtown” area out of cargo containers that they call container city.  It's a start and is clearly a morale booster.

The containers were stacked like cubes to make this "new town" centre mall.

The people are trying to use this space as a gathering place for the future