From a modern day market to a market street of olden day, some artsy fartsy stuff, and a crusade

Fun and busy day exploring Christchurch.  We started with the Riccarton Market which served up all manner of fruit and veg alongside yummy treats like breads and cheeses and olives and cookies and French pasteries and chocolates and candies and…

 

Then on to the Christchurch Botanical Gardens to view the small tucked away corner of native plants and wonder at all the flora brought with European settlers like large sequoia trees, roses, and a hot house filled with warmth (!) and gnomes as part of the greater Christchurch area Kidfest activities.

Checking out a sequoia at the Christchurch Botanical Garden

One bough is big enough to "swing" three of us

Hen and Chicken Fern

The Sun Dial in the Rose Garden was right on time (12 noon)

Hen and Chicken Fern Gnome in the hot house

Grace helps us see the Silver Fern that is the symbol for New Zealand

After lunch in the YMCA building, we headed over to the Canterbury Museum to explore natural history of the Maori, flora and fauna of NZ and cultural icons like the Paua House, Arctic area, an old time Christchurch street replica, and an alternative radio special exibit.

At the Peacock Fountain

Flat White art - Silver Fern

Lunch break

New Zealand is really close to Antarctica - expeditions there leave from Christchurch

A wall in the famous Paua House

Hey Dad, I got to hold an Albatross chick!

Amber rides a bike on the old Christchurch market street

Next we were off for some time in the Christchurch Art Gallery, newly reopened this year.  Here we enjoyed traditional and modern NZ artists work.

Bad Hair Day gallery

In the late afternoon, we made our way to AMI stadium to take in a Crusaders Rugby game (bummed that they lost by a large margin when it was predicted to be a close game). The Crusaders lost to the Highlanders 35-10. Some fun rugby terms: try, scrum, maul, ruck, blood bin, hooker, hospital pass, etc.

Sunset over rugby field

Scrum!

in the stands - a bit cold!

Whew!

Sweet Dreams, m&m