It is always lovely to visit the city of Christchurch, and family and friends (including meeting for the first time in person a fellow food blogger, the talented Bron Marshall).
Sad to see that earthquakes are still very much present, the after-shocks are set to continue for a while longer and we felt a few ourselves, the biggest being a 5.1. Some buildings still show the signs of damage from last September, but everybody is grateful that there were no casualties.
One of the highlights for me was to visit this: Ron Mueck's work is realistic, emotional, and strong and fragile at the same time. I have a few images here, some sculptures were small, some huge, some really looked at you.
We had a big tremor while we were inside the gallery, no damage, but everybody stopped talking, and then all talked together again, nervously.
And of course no visit to Christchurch would be completed for us without visiting our friends Wilma and Alessandra Laryn. Wilma and Alessandro are Italian and moved here several years ago; they planted grapes, and started making an excellent Pinot Gris. This is their vineyard.
In New Zealand Pinot Gris tends to be quite 'sweet' and fruity, but Cracroft Chase Woods' Edge Pinot Gris is more like an Italian Pinot Gris: drier, just as I like it. If you are into wine, a few years back I wrote and article about the Laryns in Cuisine Magazine, you can read it here.
Wilma and Alessandro also make Grey Pearl, a lighter off-dry café-style Pinot Gris. For more info check their website
