New Regent St
by fishandchips
New Regent St has been upgraded and is a very nice spot to stop and take a break. There is a Tram stop here so you can get off & back on again if you are doing the tram circuit.
The street has a Spanish feel to the architecture with the balconies very similar to those that you would find in the small side streets of Barcelona. Some shops have flowers hanging from their 2nd floor balcony adding to the flair of the street.
There are several cafes, restaurants, a book shop and a beauty shop to mention a few. Of note is 6 Chairs Missing (restaurant) and the Daily Grind for coffee. There is also Little India on one corner and, the hit & miss, Flying Barrito Brothers at the opposite end.
Winter Travel
by fishandchips
Make sure you bring plenty of warm clothing in our colder months of May through September. These months tend to be wetter than usual and often include a cold southerly wind which will make the temperature feel even colder. Given that it is likely to get wet make sure you have a good rain coat. Nothing out of the normal is needed for winter. If you find you catch a cold then there are plenty of chemists to get supplies from. Any outdoor related travel around Christchurch and further out should ensure that the emphasis is on warmth. It will get very cold in exposed areas including around the Port Hills so include gloves and thermal gear. Bring gear aimed at it being really cold so if it is actually warmer then you can just remove a layer or two.
St. Michael’s Stained Glass Windows
by Kakapo2
(This text is mainly taken from a very detailed 4 page brochure I got at the church.)
The fashion for memorial stained glass in churches was revived in the 1840s in England, in association with the Gothic Revival and the Oxford Movement. The purpose is both commemorative and devotional. Many of the windows of St. Michael’s are little masterpieces. They are among the richest and finest stained glass windows in NZ.
All stained glass was ordered from England and generally made by the most distinguished craftsmen.The early dates of some memorial windows indicate that these may have already been in place in the old church before being incorporated into the new. Then for a period of some 40 years from the time this church was dedicated in 1872, the windows were gradually filled with commemorative glass of varying design, quality and interest. Most windows commemorate the early Canterbury pioneers and parishioners and their families who were settlers from Great Britain.
The East Window (above the altar) was replaced several times. The present three-panelled window was unveiled in 1910 to mark the 60th anniversary of the First Four Ships. It depicts the crucification of Jesus Christ mourned by Mary Magdalene and St. John, and the Last Supper.
The North Transept: The centre of the rose window – placed in 1876 - features words of Matthew, the lancets show the corporal works of mercy.
The North Aisle windows, placed in the 1870s and 1880s, show a series of eleven of the twelve apostles. Most of them hold the weapon of their martyrdom.
The West Window Lancets were filled in 1873. They depict Christ calling Peter and Andrew, and the parable of the lilies of the field.
The South Aisle windows have no theme or unifying style. One of them depicts St. Michael and the defeated dragon. The latest one was commissioned in 1913.
The Rose Window over the West Door depicts the nine orders of angels.
The wonderful South Transept (1910) depicts God the Holy Spirit.
Healthy Bread and Unhealthy Delights
by Kakapo2 about Bakers Delight
If you miss healthy bread with grains or lust for a delicious apple walnut scroll, an Italian inspired Pane di Casa loaf or white bread sticks, savoury or sweet Danishs (with custard and apricot...) or traditional fruit loafs: They have it all. And how delicious!
The product range is a delight, and the quality of the products is a delight. We have never had a reason to complain.
The bread style is a compromise between the - I call it the weightless "cotton balls" NZ style and the heavy dark German breads. They are not as heavy as the gluey German full-grain breads but they weigh more than the normal NZ loafs which shrink to half their size if you squeeze them.
The sweet product range is clearly European inspired, everything light and not tooooo sticky, and all the locals are delighted that there are also traditional buns on offer which are covered in a centimetre of white and pink icing ;-)
The outlets (may vary, as some close down and others open):
Bush Inn Centre, Cnr Riccarton / Waimairi Rds, Upper Riccarton
Avonhead Shopping Centre, Withells Rod
Northlands Shopping Mall, 55 Main North Road
The Palms Shopping Mall, Cnr Marshlands / New Brighton Rds
Tower Junction, Blenheim Road/Whiteleigh Ave, Riccarton Cape Seed Loaf, Pane di Casa, Apricot Danishs, Apple Scrolls... NZ$ 3.00-4.50 for a loaf of bread, 2.20-3.00 for scrolls and Danishs.
The $5 Bus
by fishandchips
Alternative to the Airport Bus is the $5 Bus that travels between the Square and Airport. This is a bit faster than the bus but doesn't travel as often. The vehicles are really mini-vans so take less passengers but move a bit quicker. The pick up point in the Square is across from the Tram Stop - you can't miss it. The cost, amazingly is $5.
As per my Airport bus tip, if you need to arrange a place to stay when you get to the Square - cross the road and past Simply NZ to the Information Centre where the team will find you a bed. Alternativelyr you can go straight ahead from the bus stop and past the Police Kiosk, cross at the pedestrian crossing and go right - there is a backpackers in the corner, beside Warners. If you want a YHA, go left at the pedestrian crossing, right onto Glocester St and left onto Manchester St - a walk of about 5 minutes - the YHA is on the left hand side of the road, just past the Fish and Chip shop.
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His Lordship's Lane
the view from the sky Gondola
Botanical Gardens on a Summer's day
Who is watching whom?
