Christchurch Red Zone Tour

We spent Thursday touring around Christchurch.  It is such a different city from when we left since the earthquakes that happened about two years ago.  The second major earthquake devastated much of the city including the majority of the whole down town area.  Two years on they still have it cordoned off.  The only way in is if you are working on the demolition or construction or by taking the Red Zone bus tour.  The area that is cordoned off is called the Red Zone and it is shrinking more and more however the city has a long way to go to being completely rebuilt.  It was really sad but I know each time we return it will be making its way back to being even a better city than when we left.  

Dorothy and Me in front of the fountain at the Christchurch Gardens.  It is known as the garden city.  

Waiting in the sunshine outside of the museum for the bus tour.   The museum was retrofitted a few years back and although it is a really old building it was fine through the earthquake.

This is where one of the most unique churches used to stand.  Now it holds a white chair for  each of the 185 people that died in the February 22nd quake.

Site of the CTV building.  115 people died in the collapse and fire of the building.

New Regent Street where one of our favorite Mexican restaurants used to be.  This street is close to being reopened.

Containers filled with concrete holding up buildings.

Christchurch Cathedral in the heart of downtown Christchurch.  The fate of the Cathedral is still unknown as it is now being decided in court.  However it is beyond repair but the artifacts can't be saved until the case is finished leaving many of the items in the interior to be destroyed.

Another church that will be salvaged as it is privately owned and served as a function space.

The claw.  How many of the buildings are being brought down.

The ReSTART.  This was one of the main shopping hubs in downtown Christchurch that was almost destroyed.  The city put up the ReStart in its place.  Shops made from shipping containers.  It has done so well that after the block is rebuilt they will move ReStart to a new location in downtown.

Cathedral Square

Chalice in Cathedral Square

Front of the Cathedral

The last building we were in when we lived in Christchurch no longer stands.  This is right across from Cathedral Square.  It was where we went to renew my passport before we moved back.

In front of where the shop I worked at stood.  The mall it was connected to is still standing with some damage but many of the shops on the exterior did not make it.

After the tour and the visit to where I used to work, we met up with my sister in law and my nieces and went back  to walk around the ReStart.  Dorothy walking down the path.  The tracks were for a trolley being extended for the Rugby World Cup but no games were ever played in Christchurch after the quakes and the track was never finished.

Reca and Luca at ReStart

All of the shops and coffee shops are made out of shipping containers.  It was such a positive place among the city streets.

The jaws at work that we drove by during the bus tour.

This was such a cute street with shops and cafes.

The new Christchurch Cardboard Cathedral.  This will be a "temporary" Cathedral made partially from cardboard.

Bridge of Remembrance looks over the Avon river and down the ReStart street.   It was dedicated in the honor of those who died in the first World War.