Christchurch

Monument to WWI Dead
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3.03.2007 Lyttleton, Christchurch, New Zealand

Happy 5^th Wedding Anniversary to Joanne and Donny.

Lyttelton is the harbor town serving Christchurch, twenty minutes away and the capital of the Canterbury region and now the second largest city in NZ. Surrounding the harbor are rugged mountains that come right down to the water. Across the mountains is a tremendous plain area where Christchurch is located. During 1850-1851 the first organized groups of English settlers, the founders of Christchurch, arrived on the first four ships in Lyttelton Harbor. The city has many beautiful public and private parks and gardens. It is truly a beautiful city and most inviting. It’s close proximity to lovely mountains and coastline as well as it’s modern cultural and sporting facilities make it a popular place to live and visit. Having fond memories of our visit here in 1996 we were very pleased to be back. We took a tour that started by driving up into the Port Hills overlooking the pplains to the west and the sprawling city of Christchurch . a drive trough the city stopping at the city museum, Cathedral Square, and a beautiful estate,” Mona Vale” for a lovely walk and morning coffee.

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Sallie and I left the tour and boarded a tram for a ride around the city. The weather was ideal and we enjoyed a terrific lunch outside at a small but good French restaurant. After returning to the ship I had a workout ,showered and went to an interesting lecture,” The Serious Side of Stealing”, by Bob Arno. Arno has become internationally known as a one of the world’s foremost experts on scams and rip-offs. He demonstrated in a frightening way how pickpockets around the world operate and how today identity crisis and computer thefts are becoming such a treat to travelers.

Cathedral
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We then helped The West’s celebrate their 5^th Wedding Anniversary. at a quiet dinner for four. They are dear friends and we are enjoying traveling with them .We have known each other long enough and well enough to get along well.

Despite the fact that every evening the ship offers a performance by top entertainers, I have not mentioned them. The reason-show time is 10:15 and by then we are ready for bed.