Christchurch (Ôtautahi for the Maori) is an amazing city!! I have been enjoying the city and its surroundings for the past 48 hours and I have been very impressed. There is so much more to explore and enjoy, and by no means I am a Christchurch specialist, I humbly share with you my own impressions of this magical land.
I love that Christchurch is a small city with so much to offer. Small for me means it is extremely easy to go places with no traffic. It also helps that there is a wonderful and reliable public transportation system within the city, its suburbs, and the beach. I say it has so much to offer because it seems to be able to keep its identity and cater to all sorts of interests without problems. Downtown is gorgeous, with Gothic Revival Style buildings like the Anglican Cathedral in the main square, or the wonderful Arts Center that once housed the University of Canterbury. To my students I would say, think Harry Potter…
Anglican Christchurch Cathedral at Cathedral square. A great building on a nice square.
Interior of the Cathedral during the flower festival. You might distinguish the chorus dressed in red at the altar.
Great spaces within the former University of Canterbury, now an Arts Center
Another great courtyard at the Arts Center
Lets return quickie to the University of Canterbury, since it is here where a very famous physicist studied: Sir Ernest Rutherford. Here is a view of the class room where Rutherford sat. The rest of the buildings now host galleries, classrooms for art classes, cinemas, theatre, yoga, dance etc. An amazing amount of cultural and art activities to partake.
Classroom at former University of Canterbury, where Sir Ernest Rutherford took classes
Stair case at the Arts Center. Great combination of wood and brick.
Next to these marvelous buildings we can find wonderful modern buildings coexisting in harmony, like the Christ Church Art Gallery Te Puna O Waiwhetu. The last part of the name is in Maori, the language of the first settlers of New Zealand.
Christ Church Art Gallery Te Puna O Waiwhetu, a wonderful modern building.
Detail of the Christ Church Art Gallery Te Puna O Waiwhetu.
And check this waiting area at the bus exchange. I have not seen a bus depot so creative.
Interior of the bus exchange, where one can leisurely can wait for a public bus.
See how well old and modern coexist on this picture of the Cathedral and the Chalice, an 18 meters sculpture featuring 42 leaf patterns of native plants to New Zealand. It was erected to commemorate the 150th Anniversary of the foundation of Christchurch.
Old and new mix at the Cathedral Square with this beautiful Chalice and the Cathedral in the back.
It also looks nice at night...
The Chalice and Cathedral on a nice warm night.
The mixing of past and present can also be seen in the interaction between the Maori and European cultures. It is believe that the Maoris, the first settlers of New Zealand, arrived to these islands about 1000 years ago. The first European settlers arrived to Christchurch on 1851. The coexistence of both cultures has been rocky at times, but now there are big efforts towards recognizing both cults as essential parts of the New Zealand identity. A modern government building with a Maori sculpture in its front symbolizes the current peaceful coexistence of both cultures.
Modern New Zealand proud of its heritage and lively Maori culture.
A beautiful city does not happen by accident. Christchurch has had a beutification Organization for a century. Thoughtfulness and reflectiveness came to miff when I saw this sign.
Thoughtful people have made this a wonderful city.
More on Christchurch on my next entry