So we've returned The  Goat to the Jucy Van base to be prepared for someone else's big adventure.  Last night and tonight we have a real bed in the Country Glen Lodge Motel.  When we booked our room there wasn't much accomodation left in Christchurch hotels and now we know why.  Today is the opening ceremony for the ICC world cup! 

Before we get to the ceremony we must tell you about Christchurch. Mike visited and stayed in the Youth Hostel in town when he was last here in 1997.  Mike didn't recognise any of the city as most of the centre is being rebuilt after the earthquake of 2011.  Huge sections of the CBD are blank empty plots either grassed over or used as car parks.  Whole streets are closed and buildings boarded up.  Redevelopment is going ahead but poor old Christchurch centre is not what you'd expect for the biggest place in South Island. 

We went on a bus tour of the city taking us to new development sites and telling the story of the earthquake.  Amongst all the facts and figures we heard sad and postive stories.  It was rather spooky visting an entire neighbourhood that was evacuated and is now abandoned, the treasured homes gone only to be replaced by grass and garden trees.  Our guide was rather pleased that there are more cranes in Christchurch than Auckland. 

The weird thing is that in certain parts of the city there is no evidence of the devastation but look 180 degrees the other way and it tells a different story. The spirit and resilience of local businesses is shown in all the pop up shops and cafes using shipping containers.  Not everyone has had the heart to remain in the city and the population has reduced since the earthquake , many businesses have relocated to other parts of New Zealand or just closed. 

After a busy day site seeing we had a good sort out of our bags ready for our departure tomorrow (sigh).  So what to do on our last night in New Zealand?  Go to the opening ceremony of the ICC world cup of course!

The event was handily taking place two blocks form our lodgings. After a stonking meal at Spice Paragon we ambled up to Hagley Park for the event.  

Now with opening ceremonies you expect to have to get tickets in a lottery or at least queue for ages, but in New Zealand it's a bit different!  There are only 4 million people in New Zealand and 300,000 in Christchurch.  So the potential pool of people available to go to the ceremony is relatively small even if you count the teams hangers on.  We were able to get to about 100 metres from the stage as kids wizzed around on scooters and grannies and grandpas snoozed in their deckchairs.  We got there in time to see the NZ prime minister, a few of the teams and then some songs from a local band.  The finali was a very loud and bright firework display.

Just the way to finish off our fantastic trip to New Zealand.