Post from Tim:
We flew in from Christchurch yesterday on a twin engine prop plane from Rotorua.
As it happened, we arrived at the end of the Christchurch Winter Festival just in time to watch the nighttime City of Lights Parade. Chinese dragons, clowns on stilts, dancers, and other community people marched through the streets wearing glowing necklaces and bracelets. Fire dancers carved arcs of flame to the beat of music. A hot air balloon basket carried by a flat bed truck blasted 20 foot flames through the air. To the delight of the small kids watching curbside, the balloon's flames reflected eerily from the windows of the tall glassy buildings surrounding the street. After the parade, a makeshift stage featured performances by parade groups, then fireworks were launched above Cathedral Square.
The parade was a nice suprise last night. But today, the Christchurch Winter Festival continued with a dog costume contest on the grounds of the Arts Centre. Dogs were dressed in all sorts of outlandish costumes. There was a pirate, a ballerina, a skier, a bride and groom, a cowboy, and a bumblebee. Michelle was in heaven. I had to leave - I didn't enjoy watching small dogs being dressed up as much as the little old ladies in the audience, so I found a walk through the market at the Arts Centre a much better alternative.
As it happened, we arrived at the end of the Christchurch Winter Festival just in time to watch the nighttime City of Lights Parade. Chinese dragons, clowns on stilts, dancers, and other community people marched through the streets wearing glowing necklaces and bracelets. Fire dancers carved arcs of flame to the beat of music. A hot air balloon basket carried by a flat bed truck blasted 20 foot flames through the air. To the delight of the small kids watching curbside, the balloon's flames reflected eerily from the windows of the tall glassy buildings surrounding the street. After the parade, a makeshift stage featured performances by parade groups, then fireworks were launched above Cathedral Square. The parade was a nice suprise last night. But today, the Christchurch Winter Festival continued with a dog costume contest on the grounds of the Arts Centre. Dogs were dressed in all sorts of outlandish costumes. There was a pirate, a ballerina, a skier, a bride and groom, a cowboy, and a bumblebee. Michelle was in heaven. I had to leave - I didn't enjoy watching small dogs being dressed up as much as the little old ladies in the audience, so I found a walk through the market at the Arts Centre a much better alternative.
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