Christchurch, New Zealand

While visiting New Zealand our ship had to stop in Akaroa, because of a huge earthquake in Christchurch in 2011. It had damaged the city enormously.  We were in Akaroa every other week, and Christchurch being only 1 hour away I had talked about taking the day trip. I was hesitant because I hadn't heard the best things after the earthquake. The day before we finally decided to take the trip, there was a 5.8 earthquake followed by 9 aftershocks all throughout the afternoon. 
 The morning came when I was suppose to get on the bus and I didn't want to go at all. Everyone insisted it was fine and to go and check things out.  
Me and a few friends took the trip and it was a fabulous day! 
We got dropped off in the heart of downtown, which I can say had been totally devastated.  All the old buildings were crumbled and it was totally a ghost town. Very depressing.  


They had built this fantastic mall out of shipping containers. Around the mall it was very lively. People were playing music on every corner which created a unique vibe to the city.  I felt so awful for the people who day by day are anxiously waiting for the next hit.
Why would they leave though, where would they go? That was their home and most of them will stay and await the next earthquake.

Magnificent mall!

I loved these guys made the whole place feel so alive.

This girl auditioning for Juilliard was amazing, and then there was this fellow beat boxing around with he blaster!

Giselle and Sarah having a coffee time out.

185 people died on February 22.

 Pirate newspaper hat art train

The gardens still un touched.

You could lay here and imagine nothing had happened to Christchurch, a place you can feel away from the all the deconstruction.