Dawn arrives quietly and the shopkeepers start to prepare for the day in the mall below our windows. We join in and go downstairs to get tickets for the hop-on-off tram system. They all seem of a different design, we stayed on #15 mostly with driver Jan. The trams are all over a hundred years old and are very interesting, but the drivers are real characters as well, giving a commentary as we go. Quite a lot of gen on the Earthquake and it is an eye opener. We will be at the museum tomorrow for more. Seems as if 80% of the buildings were damaged and it is more expensive and difficult to repair than demolish and build anew. Now Christchurch has GOAT Earthquake defence in all the new buildings.

Highly delighted to see Doppelmayr made the sky lift we are on. It is only a tiny one, but we travelled nearly half an hour in a bus to get to the bottom of it. Once up there we discover a 'ghost train' sort of ride trying to tell the story of Christchurch from the dawn of time through to today. Quite fun, it provided sensory stims such as a blast of heat during the volcanic period and some forest smells at another point. From the top you can walk down.

On a solo sortie, Liz took in the Botanical Gardens while I had a rest after a rather good Falafel salad bowl street food extravaganza. The temperature kept rising during the day. Now at 18:00 with Sun low, it is blisteringly hot in its gaze. The wind that was chilly this morning is now like a hot air fan oven.

Safely home now via the ice cream shop. Time to reflect on the Venn diagram representing what I have been told today and what I remember today. Ready? 1. There are four sheep for every person in NZ. 2. The streets in Christchurch are all named after the capital cities of Anglican countries. Example, Colombo Ave.

And the Cathedral; Earthquakes in 1881, 1888, 1901, 1922, 2010 and several in 2011 mean it is now de-consecrated and in pieces scattered around the foundations, being rebuilt. A temporary construction known as the Cardboard Cathedral is actually consecrated and attracting as many, if not more visitors. Liz found a rare gourmet delight in the market which was a superb end of day meal. I have left you a clue as to what it was. Yummy!