The last three nights in New Zealand I've spent at Jailhouse hostel in Christchurch. A small cell in a former jail, with a bunkbed, really comfortable. The door was very heavy, but I got the key to unlock myself.
On Friday I've met Stefanie again (the German girl I've met on Sunday evening in the Jailhostel). It was really nice and we just talked all day. First we had some brunch, I've tried another fruitjuice with a lot of different fruit and a wrap with spinach and roast beef. Then we took the bus to New Brighton, the beach of the Pacific Ocean. So I finally had my dip in the Ocean. And yes it was really cold, the waves were high and the water was salty, so my hair was a real mess. But I suppose that's why they invented bandana's. I've tried to dig a little hole and it was an interesting thought that on the other side of the tunnel there would be some European country, just so hard to believe. After returning to the city centre of Christchurch we had our picknick in the Botanic garden. We just sat there for hours, talking and we had dinner at her hostel (a different one).
On Saturday I've walked to the city centre, perhaps 30 minutes. And I did some real shopping. I've been to the Kathmandu store (outdoor clothes) very often before, in other cities and also in Christchurch the first time. But now I allowed myself to buy stuff, because I don't have to travel anymore and to carry my backpack, just the trip to the airport and from the airport to Amsterdam back to home. And I've bought some shirts, a blouse and a pair of linnen trousers and some other practical equipment for a world traveler. So nice to use my creditcard ;). I've thrown away some of my old stuff, like a pair of trousers, that is getting shorter than it was before. Using the dry cleaner does that to my clothes. So I had enough space in my backpack for my new clothes. After the shopping I've been to the Art Gallery with modern art, and a lot of 18th, 19th century art. For example some cows from Paulus Potter (Dutch painter). And I've been to the Canterbury Museum with different exhibitions, like stuffed animals (a lot of penguins), information about the explorers to the Antarctic, vehicles, an historical street of Christchurch. Somehow it reminded me of all the other museums I've visited in New Zealand. It's funny how normal things on the street remind me of all the other places I've been, together with all the good memories.
And although New Zealand is quite a big country (8? times the size of the Netherlands, comparable with Japan and the United Kingdom), it is also a small world, where I meet people again I've met before in other places. Yesterday when we were sitting in the Botanical garden I 've seen the man I have spoken with in the Taieri Gorge Train, near Dunedin. And he remembered me as well. And today I saw the American couple I've met at the kayaking and hiking in Picton some days ago. So I was just thinking that when I would sit on a bench for some hours I will see all the people I've met here again in this park. In the afternoon I have met Stefanie again, but actually we planned this. We had some Lebanese food in the garden of the Arts Centre. At the hostel I packed my bag, just very curious how heavy it would be.
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| 9/3 & 13-16/3 Christchur |
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