Christchurch

Early morning alarm call from my Mum and Dad – thanks, you got me up in time to checkout! I took the hotel bus back the 500yds to the airport, well it was free.
Back in the terminal I found a Vodafone concession and picked up a SIM card for my phone, then went to the Avis desk to get my car, this time a Toyota Corolla, bags in the back I drove into Christchurch and looked in the Lonely Planet for a hostel to stay at. The weather is a little like a normal wet Tuesday in Manchester.... wet and cold!
I found the Jailhouse Hostel in the guide and gave them a ring, they had accommodation available so I headed down there, it's just outside town and took me a time to find it as it's hidden off the main road. It's called the Jailhouse as it actually was a prison until 1999 when it was decommissioned and turned into a hostel. Yes you actually stay in the old cells some of them have been knocked through to make dorms and some have been left exactly as they were on the day the last prisoners left, complete with drawings on the walls and the original bench beds, the beds have been replaced for hostel use! Having checked in I went down to the town centre and followed the walking tour around the town in Lonely Planet guide. Christchurch is very English so much so I found it hard to believe I was actually on the other side of the planet! They still have a traditional tram which trundles in a circuit round the town but I forgo a ride on it as it only went in a small circle which I'd already walked and it was a tad expensive. As usual it started to rain so I headed back to the car and took a drive out to the coast – just to see the Sea – there was a chippy near by so I got Fish and Chips and parked up on the prom to watch the mad surfers in the freezing cold.
Back at the hostel there wass not much happening so I called at the local pub around the corner for a 'swift half' before retiring.

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