New Zealand - Part 2

Happy Monday company!

Well... Big troubles call for big solutions! Even though yesterday we were treated to 5 minutes of blue skies that literally melted social networks, today it's gray, always gray. So I'm bringing you some sunshine, to cheer you up for the week! After Auckland, it's on to Christchurch on the South Island. I'm not going to lie to you, this city wasn't my absolute aesthetic favorite, but I think it's still worth the detour, for a whole bunch of good reasons! Hamnpers Springs, Akaora and Chrischurch are not only the starting point for visiting the surrounding area, they're also balls of energy, a place that's a little out of time, that puts you back in the right frame of mind, and for good reason...

Christchurch has become infamous for its earthquakes, particularly the one on February 22, 2011, in which 185 people lost their lives. A few months later, a second earthquake hit the city, causing the collapse of several buildings in the city center and prompting the New Zealand government to abandon parts of the city. Many historic buildings, such as the cathedral, have since been partially or totally demolished.

These tragic events will leave an indelible mark on the history of New Zealanders. For months, the city was closed for work and the removal of rubble... And there were even districts that remained closed for several years, a sort of ghost town center. And then, little by little, life picked up again, and the entrepreneurs and craftsmen who had been welcomed to neighboring towns returned. It's all this that gives the town such a special face, such an uncommon energy. Between solidarity and audacity, these disasters have given them a certain urgency to live and dare. It's as if the earthquakes were a real electroshock for the inhabitants, who decided to follow their dreams. Dozens of shops and restaurants with the coolest, most innovative concepts open every week. For the merchandising freaks that we are, we've lost our minds a little! The city also invites artists to create frescoes on buildings under construction, and there are plenty of little street art exhibitions on every corner. For Posca lovers, I think it's a must if you're traveling in New Zealand. It's also the festival of food trucks... Great food in Christchurch!

Don't forget to click on the arrows to the left and right of the photo to scroll through the gallery! You'll get a glimpse of the city...

This is also where we met Marcia Butterfield, one of the co-founders of the beautiful city guide. Neat Placeswhich I wrote about in previous article. Marcia took us on a tour of her own Christchurch, showing us where to shop, discover local designers and have a good coffee in the latest place to open, which is still a bit of a secret... I love discovering cities through the eyes of the locals. I think it's a great way to be surprised and get off the beaten "backpacker" track. Have fun exploring Instagram with the location to prepare your trips...

Then for our first day of "bad weather", which only lasted a few hours, we headed to the Farmer Market, which I'd recommend. Perfect for lunch, you can pick up all sorts of super-fresh things in a friendly atmosphere, all lulled by live music from local bands. The market is located in a park around the town's oldest house, Riccarton House, at the end of an alley at 16 Kahu Road. An absolute must!

Don't forget to click on the arrows to the left and right of the photo to scroll through the gallery! This market really is my favorite part of the city, but be warned, it only takes place on Saturdays!

• To sum up Christchurch in a few words..:
• To take a leap into the retro-future and get those fries propelled in compressed-air hoses, go to: C1 ExpressoCorner High&Tuals Streets, Christchurch.
• Enjoy a cup of coffee in a futuristic, minimalist diner: Supreme10 Welles Street,
  Christchurch.
• To eat a dream of Asian cuisine, and think of me while taking the spinach leaf : King of Snake 145 Victoria Street, Christchurch
• To sleep we stayed at the adorable boutique hotel MontréalAs the name suggests, you'd think you were in the English countryside, ready to hop on a horse and play polo!
• For shopping and discovering New Zealand designers, and bringing back souvenirs that aren't too "souvenir", head for the project's refurbished containers. Re:start project in downtown Christchurch.
• To see how New Zealanders are transforming the mall into something elegant and tasteful, visit : The Tannery3 Garlands Rd, Woolston, Christchurch.
• For a spot of eye candy, visit Botanical Garden of the city. You know how I can't answer for anything when I see a flower, so this was a real treat!  6 Rolleston Ave, Christchurch.
• And if you want to have a "kiwi experience", I recommend a visit to the reserve.  Willowbank Wildlife Reserve. As well as seeing Kiwis, you'll be able to see all the bird species you'll only see in this country... A perfect place if you're traveling with the family.

A few kilometers from Chirstchurch, about 1h30 by car, is Hanmer Springs. Already, just the road is a spectacle in itself... In April you don't pass many people, and at every turn it was a party, I wanted to stop every 5 minutes to take a photo, like a compulsive shell collector. I had the feeling that the further south we went into this country, the more beautiful it became, the greener and crazier it got. A sort of crescendo of beauty. Talking to the locals, I realized that all the seasons in this region offer diametrically opposed landscapes, in April it's the end of autumn and a few weeks later, all these mountains will turn white, it must be something really unique.

Don't forget to click on the arrows to the left and right of the photo to scroll through the gallery! I couldn't bring myself to edit, every view makes me nostalgic.

Hanmer Spring is a small town where Thomas Hanmer opened the first thalassotherapy spa in the 19th century. Nowadays, the various hot springs in the area are widely exploited as spas and mini resorts. But what's really worthwhile here is to go hiking or biking to discover the valley's different viewpoints! And if you're not planning to go to Queenstown, why not go bungee jumping? Before relaxing in the town's hot springs, of course, you might as well make the most of it!

Another gallery, but it's impossible for me to choose, and I'm so eager to share all this light and greenery with you! Then off to AKAROA!

Akaroa is the slightly far-fetched story of a French whale hunter, Jean-François Langlois, who tired of going back and forth between France and his spot, a small island in New Zealand. Decided to establish a French colony there. Jeff bought the peninsula from the Maoris for 1,000 francs, a bargain. By the time he'd gathered all the paperwork and people, he'd been overtaken by the English, who already had sovereignty over the North Island. Between negotiations and haggling, the French ended up with 2 villages, including Akaroa. Well done, guys... Today, the only traces of the frogs' passage are the street names, all in French. It's a confusing mix, really comical, and the shopkeepers who say "Bonjour" and "Merci" at every turn! It's a lovely village with little wooden houses, flowering like never before, and it's truly something to behold!

And best of all, take the boat out to sea! "Black Cat and swim with dolphins... You read that right. Well, as far as we're concerned, it was very cold and almost winter, so no swimming, but I'm sure that if you go earlier, you can enjoy swimming with the little Hector dolphins!

Don't forget to click on the arrows to the left and right of the photo to scroll through the gallery!

And now I'll take you to one of the city's craziest, if not downright indescribable, spots. At first, I went there dragging my feet, because on paper, "the house of the mosaic giants" sounded like a bit of a fantasy to me, and I wasn't sure what to expect. And what a nice surprise, even if I'm not consumed with a devouring love of mosaics, there's something going on in this garden, around these houses where you can stay, everything is so well maintained, it's a bit crazy, you can't help thinking of Nikki de Saint Phalle's chicks and Gaudi, it works, it's unexpected, another nice surprise.

The Giant House Address: 68 Rue Balguerie, Akaroa 7520 ( told you so! )

Another gallery with little glimpses of this magical house and views of this incredible garden. And after that we spent the night, in the most magical place I'd ever dreamed of!

Pure Pods! But what madness! It's a single room in the middle of nowhere, it's already an expedition to get there by car, then at the end of a path, you can't drive anymore, you have to bring a small map, rain boots and head into the forest for a 15-minute walk on a small, barely marked path. And suddenly, in a sort of plain, this little glass room. Even the floor is glass! Everything is open, and overlooking the wilderness, we arrived for the golden hour that made our discovery of the place even more magical. In the mini kitchen, everything was ready for dinner and breakfast. Of course, everything can be closed if you're worried about the local wildlife observing you taking your filtered rainwater shower... There's not a plug in the house to really disconnect from all reality, and I can assure you that I spent a magical night looking at the stars, because by sheer luck there wasn't a cloud over our heads!

Don't forget to click on the arrows to the left and right of the photo to scroll through the gallery! Truly one of the craziest experiences I've ever had: Pure PodsAll info and access are on the website! I'm sorry this article is a bit long, but it's impossible for me to control myself and cut through my memories; but don't hesitate to tell me if it seems too long! Kisses and see you tomorrow!