Friendly Friday Challenge- Meet Jan and John

“We have more in common than we often realise.”

Christchurch – 2 weeks before the first earthquake, Cathedral square

Just two weeks before the first dreadfully unexpected earthquake hit Christchurch, New Zealand, way back in 2010, a Kiwi friend had hooked me up to meet Jan and John – two residents of this fair city, who asked us if we wanted to see Akaroa? Even though I plan my sightseeing well ahead on my holidays, this unexpected invitation meant I enthusiastically agreed without knowing what Akaroa might entail.

Where were John, (and Jan), taking us?

Akaroa is a settlement about one hour’s drive south from Christchurch, on New Zealand’s South Island, on the stunning Banks peninsula. As we discovered, it was decidedly French in origin, a new experience for us who have never been within coo-ee of anything French.

on the road to Akaroa

To get to Akaroa, one passes through the Lyttleton tunnel and harbour, on the South Island, taking if you can the scenic route via Cass and Governor’s bay, (where glorious views are matched with stunning houses perched on precipitous slopes). We were heading all the way around the peninsula to the other side of these mountains.

Several photo stops were necessary along the way! Each one surpassing the last for quality of nature and pure aesthetic beauty. By car, the drive took us a little over an hour, traversing the windy hairpin bends and curves to Akaroa, but that time is not felt heavily due to the natural beauty, along the way.

And then finally we reach Akaroa.

Settled initially by the French, in the 1800’s, the soil in the Akaroa area proved to be extremely fertile, which led to waves of British immigration. The original settlers peacefully negotiated and purchased land from the Maori chiefs; the co-operation between all colonists and Maoris, a novelty in the colonial world.

Today, apart from a few French street names, there remains little to show Akaroa’s origin as a flourishing French settlement. It is a county town within the Canterbury Provincial District and has a population of 630. {2010}

www.teara.govt.nz/en/1966/akaroa-french-settlement-at/1

Akaroa Library

Even so, my unofficial guide John pointed out that you can see, and smell, the French influence in the menus at the multitude of restaurants and coffee shops, while Jan was eager to show me the architectural influences in the shutters and gables.

French style of architecture in Akaroa

Gabled cottage architecture from early settlement era in Akaroa New Zealand

They both commented how today, this was a wealthy town, with small cottages often selling for 6 figure sums. It seemed that “settling” in Akaroa would remain a pipe dream for all of us. I would have to be content to visit or perhaps an overnight stay.

Jan and John insisted we stop at the seafood cafe overlooking the harbour, feasting on fresh Akaroa cod and chips. Delicious.

The tide was out when we arrived, but that certainly did not detract from the gob-smacking good views, and the sunshine and delightfully cool winter air.

One could see all the colours and contours in the mountains, and peace and tranquillity and the good life exuded from every compass point.

The consumers of our world are not forgotten in this antipodean outpost of the French empire. Quirky tins, souvenirs, the ubiquitous woollen skeins, fabulous fudge, swanky clothes, toys and books and homewares were on offer for a tidy sum at the tourist shops.

Hot tip: Try the fudge!If you are in Akaroa. You won’t regret it.

Yes, I succumbed to that temptation. In addition, I discovered some elegant but ‘different’ salad servers at the Fudge shop and decided this was to be my Akaroa souvenir. For handcrafted items, they were in fact, very reasonably priced. And I was sorely tempted by a pretty apron, being as I am, prone to buying aprons on holidays, but I managed to resist that little treasure.

Even the Ice cream had a French twist! It was called orgasmic! A good marketing tool, perhaps?

I really felt fortunate for the kind generosity shown. Thanks to Jan and John for a wonderful introduction to the delights of the Banks peninsula and for waiting for an hour at the train station, when the slightly confused railway official gave you the wrong arrival time for my Tranz scenic train.

I doubt that I would have waited so long for two strangers from Australia.

Do you have a story of meeting someone from your travels? Join in the Friendly Friday Blogging Meet Challenge that Sarah is currently hosting. Let me know here as I’d love to visit your blog!