Today our ship anchored out in the French Bay off the
eastern shore of the South Island. New Zealand is actually referred to as 2
islands; the North Island and the South Island. We have been travelling around
the South Island and will head to the North Island tonight as we depart.
Auckland is part of the North Island.
Akaroa is the only French-founded community in this country.
Akaroa itself is a small beach front community where the French flag flies
proudly next to the New Zealand flag. Although small in size, Akaroa is the
oldest colonial town on New Zealand’s South Island.
Many restaurants included French cuisine on their menus and
the local tourist guides wear berets but I didn’t truly feel like I was in
France. Of course it is as beautiful as the rest of the places we have seen so
we were drawn in by the beauty of the countryside and the friendliness of the
people.
Usually cruise ships stop at Christchurch but I believe that
due to the earthquake a few years back they are still in the reconstruction of
that area.
We spent a few hours walking around and window shopping and
then took the tender back to the ship where The Lord of the Rings-the Return of
the King was playing on the large outside movie screen with the real New
Zealand as its backdrop. Even for a non-Lord of the Rings fan I found it
beautiful and stunning.
New Zealand is such a world apart from everything else. The
southern island is so beautiful and spectacular that I don’t know how it could
get any better.
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| A spectacular sunset leaving South Island |
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