May 8

Tuesday, May 8

Anniversary day. We got up and ready to go out for the day. We made amends over Josh sleeping and my being mad about it. We headed out for the cathedral but first asked at reception how to best reach a National Bank so we could deposit money into the Nicholson’s account for the Tekapo rental home.

We walked across Hagley Park and the ground was wet but we didn’t realize that at first. Then, our shoes were all wet. It was a nice sunny day as we walked through the autumn color trees and the ducks and the river flowing through the park. We walked down the street and saw the tram and the cathedral in the distance. We reached cathedral square and looked in the phone book that was in a phone booth to confirm the location of the nearest National Bank.

We started walking down the street and saw everything that we wanted: a McDonald’s, a place for Josh to get his hair cut and the National Bank. We went to the National Bank and deposited the money into their account and took out $50 for ourselves. Then, we went to McDonald’s and bought one meal of 2 cheeseburgers and ate that in Cathedral Square.

There was an 11:00 free guided tour of the cathedral so we went into the church to catch that. Josh confirmed that there would be a tour and we waited. Then, some lady came out and said she’d find out who was taking us on the tour. Then, some guy came out and said the tour guides were in a meeting and that he’d find out who was taking us on a tour. Then, he came back and said there was not going to be an 11 tour. Great!

So, lots of apologies later and the trying to push a cathedral book on us, we ended up just climbing the tower for $4 per person. Well, it certainly wasn’t the greatest view from a church tower that we’ve seen anywhere in the world. Actually, it was probably the worst view even though it was a really nice sun shiny day. You couldn’t even walk around the whole of the top. It had four doors and four balconies that you could stand on. That’s it. We had the top to ourselves for a long while though.

Back downstairs and we were out to do something else…like getting Josh a hair cut. We went to Mister Snipps and I told Josh if the hair cut was $25 or less we’d get it. I walked in and asked the girl how much would it cost for him to get a hair cut and she said $25 so I said perfect. The girl goes “What’s his name?” and Josh laughed under his breath and said “My name is Josh.”

While Josh had his hair cut I read the magazine that I had put up the other day at the Warehouse because it had cost $8. Josh’s hair cut was pretty fast, we paid and then we decided to go to the bookstore so Josh could buy something new to read. He picked out two paperback books: one cost $33. I was like Josh, what are you doing buying such an expensive book?” But Josh said that he really wanted to read it so he got it.

Then, we headed to the Dux de Lux for some lunch. We ordered a calzone, buffalo wedges, and a beer from a waitress from Chicago. Then we sat outside in the sunshine and watched the sun in the trees and commented how this seemed like Europe. We drank the one beer and had the wedges before the calzone (which was really a pizza) came. Josh went to order us a pitcher. Nice. Very lovely just sitting outside without being in a rush and enjoying a drink.

After lunch, we walked a short bit back towards Hagley Park where the Canterbury Museum was located and we went in for a look and confirmed that the free tour of this place was still on for 3:30. We looked around for about an hour and it was a really cool museum and free too.

Then, we went back downstairs to catch the tour. The tour guide, Louisa, asked where everyone was from and if there was anything we’d like to see. I volunteered and said I’d like to see the Victorian Street and then someone else said they’d like to know about navigation. Then, we were off on the tour.

We learned about the first Pacific settlers, and then the Maoris and oh my gosh, it was so funny. Some American guy asked the tour guide “Why don’t you say “Ma-o-ri” like the sign said and everyone looked at the guy and said, she’s saying Maori correctly. Too hilarious! Then, when we reached the Victorian replica street, Louisa spent like 1.5 minutes talking about it and then said if you were interested in it to come back after the tour. Thanks a lot. She wanted to show us the “crown jewels” of the museum, the Antarctic Exploration area.

Actually, this part of the museum was interesting and I’d like to read more about the ill fated journey of the British team who were the second one’s to reach the South Pole after the Norwegians and then everyone died on the return to the base which ended up being only 11 miles away from where they died in their tent. Horrible.

After the tour, we went to look at the Victorian Street and made some jokes. Especially thought it was funny toward the exit of the museum that their replica of the Rosetta Stone was underneath the skeleton of some elk. I had to take a picture of that.

We left the museum and walked back through Hagley Park to the hotel. We got in around 5:30 or so, asked where a grocery store was located at near the hotel at reception, and watched some tv and read our books and hung out. Nothing big. Toyed with the idea of getting room service dessert but we didn’t. We didn’t set the alarm and we went to bed.