06 Jan
Today was a day used to adjust to the time difference and see bit more of Christchurch and the surrounding area. We took a bus ($2.50 round trip fare) ride to the port town of Lyttelton, about 25 minutes from Cathedral Square. The port is used by the NSF to send cargo to Antarctica, and a berth for some of the ice breakers used there as well. The Palmer was in dock there and will be traveling to McMurdo while we are there.




Ended up the day with a nice dinner and a visit to the square before returning to the hotel (which is right on the square). There was a lone flute player who was playing when the church bells started - pretty cool. Even though we expect continuous daylight at the Pole, the sun sets here about 9:30 pm Tomorrow we go to the staging center at the airport to get our cold weather gear. Ironic in that it was probably close to 80 deg F here in Christchurch today.