We’re now in Christchurch, and are staying at Hotel off the Square, just, well, off the main Church-endowed square. Very nice it is too, with nice decor in the rooms and a very friendly staff. It all worked out after our previous hotel got dinged, and Lastminute.com.au stepped into the breach.
Flight over was fine - nothing spectacular. We both spent the trip buried in books (Whit, by Iain Banks for me, and Memoirs of a Geisha for Frances). On landing, we grabbed a cab to the hotel, checked in, then out for a bite to eat at one of the many nice looking restaurants on the river. We ate at the The Boulevard. The Canterbury beer was a nice enough introduction to NZ beer, and the Lamb Shanks a nice introduction to New Zealand lamb. Frances stuck with a turkey escalope, figuring we had a month ahead to sample New Zealand lamb…
Sydney now behind us, and the weather couldn’t be more different here than there. Sydney had 25C and clear blue skies when we left, Christchurch was grey, overcast and 11C. Dug out my warm jacket: I was relieved to have it. I’d packed it the night before thinking “WHY! did I pack this?”.
We pick up our hire car tomorrow: This is where I find out about the different driving rules and regulations. Obviously no problem driving on the left, but sometimes I find it easier to drive on the /right/ with different rules - you’re more aware things are different. Still, we’ll not be spending that much time in busy cities…
More postcards en route from Sydney, although some Sydney postcards will be posted in NZ due to lack of Australian money at the airport. Oh, and note to self: Don’t buy money at airports before you fly. Rates are pants.
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