The One with the Buskers Convention

Back on the Stray bus, and H and I began to feel a bit lonely without the security of our chums. We headed through the Lindis Pass towards Christchurch, with our new driver Fido.


Again the day was grey and so we had no chance of seeing Mount Cook, and as we reached Lake Pukaki our fears were confirmed. A big wall of cloud where the mountain should be.


We drove on to Lake Tekapo instead, and the grey day gave a very scottish feel to the lake, with the beautiful purple and pink lupins framed against the lake and hills and the Church of the Good Shepherd, looking like a little scottish chapel. I spent quite a while kneeling in amongst the lupins trying to get the perfect photo. They may not be that great but I like them!

From here it was pretty straight sailing through the Canterbury Plains to Christchurch. Time for another movie and a quick stop just outside Christchurch at the Cookie Time factory, to buy big bags of yummy cookies.... mmmmmmmm!

Finally reach Christchurch, and I think our partying has caught up with us. We are exhausted, and settle in quickly to the Base Backpackers.

Our friends from home Helen and Ben have arrived in Christchurch today and we meet up with them, catching up on the gossip over dinner - it's weird to meet up with people from home so far away, but really nice for us to have some more company, and we will be spending the next part of our trip with them.

The next day, and a gloriously sunny one at that, we head out to explore Christchurch itself. There is the World Buskers Convention in town this month so the streets are lined with street artists, magicians, and performers of all sorts!

We jump on a tram and follow the two road route about the city centre, checking out sights and trying to get our bearings. We hop off at a little park, and take some photos of the River Avon. Needless to say, Christchurch is a very English sort of town, and there is no surprise that there are punts floating down the Avon!

We go and check out the craft markets, and stand for a while watching one street performer who was particularly amusing, and then another who was dressed like a gargoyle... making the children scream in fright!, then a quick walk around the Botanic Gardens. There were some beautiful flowers, and randomly a UFO parked in the middle of the grounds!

From here, we caught a bus out to the Gondola, and went up in the cable car to get a good view of the city. I think Helen and I are jinxed with views at the moment, as as we reached the top the clouds rolled in, giving us precisely one quick whip around teh top before we could see no further than the end of our nose! Time for a cup of tea, and a quick travel back in time in the museum (Ben was hilariously jumpy in the dark!)

That night we tried (and failed) to go on a ghost walk (they don't run on sundays) so had an early night instead.