Christchurch, New Zealand

2923-E Olney-Sandy Spring Road Olney, MD  20832 Phone: 301-774-4646 Fax: 301-774-3610

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October 2, 2000

I woke up early again today in Christchurch, but it does give me time to enter descriptions of pictures in the computer.  I caught the Airport bus around the corner from the hotel; it only cost $2.70 NZ, to pick up the Maui Camper.  It is pretty nice and has a lot more room than I figured it would.  I can actually stand up in it without hitting my head on the roof and it looks like I might fit in the bathroom.  The lady, Rae, was nice who set me up with the camper but couldn't seem to get her computer working.  She went through how to work everything really fast so it will be a miracle if I remember everything.

The Mascots Of The International Antarctic Centre Fighting The Wind Movie (Scroll Over Box For Movie)

Next to the Maui Camper location was the International Antarctica Centre.  This was a great place to stop. One so I didn't have to drive more than 1/4 of a mile and two it was pretty neat.  There were two parts to the center, the museum and a ride on The Hagglund.  The Hagglund is a Swedish built, two cars, four tank track mobile for traveling around Antarctica.  The museum was cool and the best part was the Antarctic room.  They had simulated mild conditions in Antarctica.  They had butt sleds for the kids to ride down a snow slide, a wind chill machine which basically was just a fan that you turn on and stand in front of to see how wind affects the cold, and a tent for the kids to sit in.  They even provide booties for over your shoes and jackets for those who wanted them.  The rest of the displays were pretty good including interactive displays on current conditions in Antarctica, real seal fur to pet, humpback whale songs, a snow mobile that sounded like it was running that you could sit on, and Antarctica clothing you could wear to take pictures.  The price for the museum was $16 NZ but it was free for travel agents.  They also had a couple of films one of which had this great music, sort of like the Electrical Parade music at Disney, which they choreographed with pictures of penguins.  I had a little bit of a wait for the Hagglund ride so I had lunch at their cafeteria.  I had crumbed Hoki fish and chips. They gave huge portions and the Hoki fish was really good.  They had an internet hookup, $2 NZ for 10 minutes, so I emailed Erin.  Of course I spent the first couple of minutes trying to figure out what I was doing.  It was really windy and while I was waiting outside I was completely amused by the two mascots a penguin and a killer whale pretending to be blown away by the wind then leaning into the wind.  I am very easily amused.  When you get in the Hagglund they first take you to the clothing warehouse.  Apparently the fly down there all the time, in fact they said a lot of people only go there for a few days at a time.  They showed us all the different types of clothing including an insulated size 7 boot that was the exact same size as my size 14 shoes. 

Wind Chill Machine In The Antarctic Room (Scroll Over Box For Movie)

Kids Playing In The Antarctic Room of the International Antarctic Centre (Scroll Over Box For Movie)

After the warehouse they took us by the airport and showed us the customs house (who would have thought you would have to go through customs to go to Antarctica) and a US plane that had just been loaded and was ready to go.  The last part of the ride was the best.  They take you to an obstacle course to show you what the Hagglund can do.  It is incredible.  It can go up 45 degree inclines, traverses crevasses, and can act as a boat.  The driver took us over a bunch of really steep hills in both directions, went over a crevasse that was at least 3 feet across, then went to this circular hole and just kept driving around its incline.  It seemed like we were getting flushed down a toilet.  Finally he went down through a trough of water that we boated across.  Water came at least 1/2 way up the back window.  It was a great ride, as good as any rollercoaster. 

International Antarctic Centre Warehouse Movie (Scroll Over Box For Movie)

Memorial York Glass In The Christchurch Cathedral (Scroll Over Movie For Movie)

I finally had to go drive to the city in this beast of a camper.  I really don't have a problem driving, but driving on the wrong side of the road, shifting, trying to read a map, and read road signs at the same time was a bit of a pain in the ass.  At least with 2 people one person can drive and one navigate.  I got to the downtown area and located our hotel but then spent 45 minutes trying to find a place to park.  I finally put it in a lot a couple of blocks away but I needed to but the parking passes for today and tomorrow.  It shouldn't have been a problem but the first place that sold them was closed for the day and the second had relocated to another part of town.  My third choice was about three blocks from where I was but then I happened across a silk shop that sold them. 

I then took in some of the city center.  This really is a charming town.  I walked up to the Christchurch Cathedral and did the walk to the top of the bell tower.  The Cathedral is nice; they definitely wanted it to be very English.  It reminded me of a mini Canterbury Cathedral.  It is about 120 years old.  They have a gift of original York Minster stained glass they were given for the 100 year anniversary in I think it was 1981.  There really was any good view from the bell tower except for the square immediately in front of the Cathedral.  I got a certificate of achievement for climbing the 133 stairs.  I should have got it for fitting in the stairwell.  Like usual it was a little tight.  I then went to a park around the corner and saw monuments to Captain Cook and Queen Victoria.  At the Cathedral there was a World War II monument next to it and I also saw a statue of Robert Scott, Antarctic Explorer.  I stopped in Punters Sports Pub but to my surprise they were not showing the Redskins - Tampa Bay game.  Had a beer, wrote some post cards and headed back to the hotel.   

I loaded some digital camera pictures which at times is a pain because the A drive only seems to work when it wants to.  The evening led me to the Christchurch Casino.  It's not as big as Auckland's casino but much classier.  I dropped $90 NZ and my gambling for the trip is now over. I've got 5 new chips for my collection though for only about $80 US of gambling.  I thought I was playing blackjack until I doubled a 10 and pulled another 10 and was asked if I wanted to forfeit. I thought the guy was kidding until he tried to quickly tell me I'm not playing blackjack but some bizarro New Zealand form of blackjack with a funny name I can't even remember.  I left the casino to try and find a pub but there was no one out and about.  The place is like a ghost town so I came back to the hotel to catch up on my journal.  It's just after midnight and Scottie should be landing about now.  Hopefully he kept the paper I gave him with the hotel name.  I'll find out soon.

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