Christchurch Part 2

No time for lunch or even a cuppa so back on the coach at midday and straight to the Antarctica Experience (which is near the airport and I remember seeing the building when I was last here with D and G).

Our guide for the afternoon is Karen and she is lots of fun. First off, we are put into a Hagglund which is the typical vehicle used in the Antarctica to get around. A special course had been created to drive through a a simulation of the various terrain conditions. Great fun, and need to hang on for dear life!

We next go into the centre where we get to see the rescue penguins. They aren't the same as those in the Antarctica but are just as funny. Fairy penguins are meant to be small but these have been so well cared for that they are double the size, with a sufficient longer life span, they just wouldn't survive if released back into their natural habitat. There are currently 15 of them but as it is breeding season, there are only a couple out and about while we are there.

We are then taken into an area that is set up to create the weather conditions likely to be experienced on any summer day in the Antarctica. We are challenged to say in the chamber for 5 minutes. it gets really cold and dark, and the wind speed gets up to 41kph. It was too cold to take my hands out of my pocket to take a photo at that temperature! So you just have to take my word for it.

I lasted the 5 minutes but was very glad to come outside and defrost. We then saw a 3D movie that reflected being on an ice breaker ship and what we would see and do if we were on one of the bases. It was really well done in that the chairs moved as the Sea bounced us around, birds flew at us, ice dropped on us and we were even crapped on by a gull! Once we recovered from that we had a very quick time with some of the huskies that were so lovely. They love to work and also love to be petted.

Sadly it is time to get back on the coach and it's a rush through the rest of the exhibits.

The weather has been so kind to us, and now it's back to the ship.

It is now after 3 and I haven't had lunch or a coffee for that matter so get back to the cabin and order a Greek salad with blue cheese dressing and decide it is wine o'clock so have a Sav Blanc just because I can. It is cold on the balcony but great watching the world go by.

As we farewell Christchurch, Julie and I head to the Crooners Bar for a cocktail. They make a mean martini, and I've created a bit of a monster now that I have put Julie onto London Lemonades!

Time for dinner and I start with a seafood something or other that I couldnt pronounce but it tastes great. Then a lovely chicken cordon bleu plus I then forced down a baked cheesecake. I am officially full.

I'm happy to head back to the cabin and have a long hot shower and an early night, plus I have heaps of photos to sort through. It has been a lovely day. Dunedin tomorrow will have to pull out all the stops to better it.