
A last look at Christchurch:






A last look at Christchurch:





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You might think that with well over two dozen choices that we made Riverside Market our lunchtime venue. Alas, we did not. The sit-down restaurants with available tables did not appeal to us, and the common area tables at which one could dine from a stall were uniformly occupied. We would be heading elsewhere, it seemed.

So, we exited Riverside Market, upon which I stumbled across this classic Morris Minor panel van:

North of Riverside Market lies Cashel Street. Sections of Cashel Street comprise a pedestrian mall known as City Mall. Other than foot traffic, the only thing you’ll have to dodge here is the tramway, telltale signs of which you can see here:

And here comes a tram now!

So, where to eat? Ursula is quite fond of Malysian hawker-style food, and we found just the ticket on Cashel Street just east of Oxford Terrace. This is Hawker & Roll, and it’s well worth seeking out for lunch. The food transported us right back to Singapore.

Oh my goodness. Would you just look at the time. We have to get back to the tour bus for our return to Akaroa, so it’s time to head back over the Bridge of Remembrance. And considering that today is Armistice Day (now called Veterans Day here in the U.S.) I can think of nothing more appropriate than a shot of a World War I tribute:

To all my fellow veterans, thank you for your valiant service in the defense of our nation. To veterans of Allied militaries (ANZAC, NATO forces, and myriad others), my thanks to you as well.

Comments Off on Circumnavigating New Zealand — Christchurch; Exploring City Mall (Cashel St.)
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We returned to Akaroa on 9 March 2020, this time aboard Radiance of the Seas. But we wouldn’t be in town long. Definitely not long enough to hit Murphy’s on the Corner for those fantastic fish and chips, unfortunately:

But that’s okay. We’ll hit Murphy’s again next time. Instead today we’re headed by tour bus to Christchurch. Today we’ll be spending much of our time visiting the Cardboard Cathedral (more on that in a moment), but before we do here is the archway on the Bridge of Remembrance commemorating those who lost their lives during World War I:

Now it’s off to see a rather unique sight — the Cardboard Cathedral (image at the top of today’s article). The official name of this building is the Transitional Cathedral, as it is a temporary structure serving as the Anglican Cathedral for the diocese of Christchurch.

Why a temporary “pro-cathedral“? Because the beautiful ChristChurch Cathedral completed in 1904 was severely damaged in the horrific 2011 Christchurch earthquake.

The Cardboard Cathedral rises 69 feet/21 meters. The walls are nothing more than intermodal shipping containers. The roof is comprised of polycarbonate thermoplastic. But it’s the structural supports that give this structure it’s “cardboard” designation. These immense tubes, which you can see forming the apex of the roof in the photo above consist of 24-inch/61cm cardboard tubes encasing laminated wood.

But, it’s getting drizzly, and lunchtime draws near. So, let’s head on over to the Riverside Market and take a look around at the offerings:


Filed under Photography, R. Doug Wicker, travel, vacation