Hello everyone!
Just a quick note from me from New Zealand, before I get ready to head South.
Tomorrow I'll be going to the CDC or Clothing Distribution Centre - where I'll get my Cold weather gear for traveling and use while I'm in Antarctica.
Meantime, I'm getting to see the sights here in Christchurch. Right now it is spring/ summer here - temperatures in the 50s and 60s (that is 10s to 15s in Celsius which is the common scale used here!), with lots of daylight and green everywhere. In fact, Christchurch is known as the Garden City. On the west side of town they have a fantastic botanical garden...right along the Avon river. Very picturesque.
Weather was a bit rainy this morning - but has since cleared out. Not as breezy today.
I've spent some of the day exploring downtown - near the Cathedral Square (the center of Christchurch), and Victoria Square (named after Queen Victoria of England - there's even a large statue of her there!). The Avon River snakes its way through the city, and right by Victoria Square. Often you can see folks "punting" on the Avon - or taking a gondola boat ride on the river.
That's all for now. I'll e-mail more later, if not from here, from McMurdo Station.
Matthew