Humbled by a city...

The date says it all...

So, a couple of days in Christchurch after leaving Tekapo. I must admit I had not thought very much about what to expect... I was aware that the city is under significant reconstruction and development, but I had not thought a great deal about what I might see...

I took a couple of walks round the CBD (central business district), and was very humbled by the remnants left from the earthquake, especially as it was nearly two and a half years ago.

While there is significant building work going on, the corners and windowfronts which still bear the scars of a city hit hard were ever present.

As it was on February 22nd 2011...

A business in tatters, what of the proprietors...

This appeared to have functioned after the earthquake... a makeshift till table with hand-written cardboard point-of-sale was in the corner...

A couple of blocks from here is a temporary city centre, set up from containers; the big name stores revived and alive in what appears to be a quite funky setting.

Furniture still present, but the baristas and customers are elsewhere...

Nouveau-something, but what... This only tells part of the story...

A vibrant injection of colour and life perhaps..?

I was very moved to see a memorial set up opposite the birthing cardboard cathedral, chairs painted white, set up on a patch of grass, to commemorate each person who lost their life in the quake.

Very moving and saddening to see small children's chairs and babies car seats amongst all...

I was very taken by what I have seen today, but do not really know how to place the feelings. I know very little about the event, nor the aftermath. I have heard about whole districts which are uninhabitable, so am not certain whether the reconstruction of the CBD accurately reflects the impact on all the Christchurch residents who were affected...

I have many questions about what I saw, but overall was very moved...

A sobering experience...