Thursday 8th May - Day 95

Apart from the little episode yesterday, I feel very relaxed and carefree and looking forward to seeing what New Zealand has to offer. Over the last few months I have gotten use to walking at my own pace, eating when I want to, going to sleep when I want to, taking my time seeing some things and quickly passing by others. I've come accross people who are spending weeks and months in places where I may stay only a day or so. So, I am in no rush to visit "everywhere."

However, my new travel companion seems to have a different mind set and it's like looking at the rabbit from Alice in wonderland: Looking at her watch and frantically trying to rush here and there.

I propose we stay in Christchurch another day and hope this calms her down little, as I can't be dealing with running around. Early evening we look at a campervan as this is to be our main mode of transport - not my choice.

The rest of the day is spent visiting the botanical gardens again and wondering around souvenir shops.

This is a picture of the centre of Christchurch. If you visit here in the near future, you will find it's quite easy to find your way around using the centre as a reference, helped by a free map from a Tourist Information office. You will also find a guy with 'Special Needs' playing a recorder or similar musical wind instrument and making a good living from it. And a guy in a kilt trying to look scottish and doing his dare devil act of lying on broken glass.