Devastation.
Earthquakes shook the town of Christchurch nearly 3 years ago. Everywhere you look there is evidence of the massive damage caused by the quake – abandoned buildings & homes, empty lots, and construction equipment.

But there is also a lot of great things happening in the city. For those people that stuck around, it is evident they are trying to make the most out of a disastrous situation. We didn’t have a lot of time to explore before we had to catch our flight, but we did have a couple hours to look around this area of the city center where locals have used shipping containers as stores. Sounds a bit redneck at first, but it was actually a really cool, lively neighborhood. They had some really cute shops and cafés.

They also had a little market with artists selling their handiwork.

All in all, NZ can go down in the books as one of the best vacations ever. It was the right amount of fun and relaxation. The kids were troopers (and so was Jay). We didn’t have nearly enough time to see everything South Island has to offer. We just might have to come back if things work out.

Leaf Lake.
In other news, our house in davenport got rented out to a couple that lost their home and everything in it in a fire just before Christmas. They will be there at least 6 months with potential up to a year as they rebuild. I am so glad things have worked out, great for both us and them.