A taste of Europe Weekend Escape is on your doorstep - Akaroa - Christchurch, NZ...

This is how the tourist writers promote this new suburb of the city of my birth:

"Visit the stunning historic French village of Akaroa. This harbourside town oozes French charm, waterfront cafes, superb restaurants and is only 90 minutes from central Christchurch.

Feel the freedom of the sea air on a nature harbour cruise, swim withe dolphins, sail on the harbour or visit the only white flipper penguin colony in the world. take a stroll down the waterfront to watch the sunset and enjoy the French ambiance that is Akaroa.

Akaroa - the most difficult part of your visit will be saying AU REVOIR."

Of course I agree with the tourist promoters entirely. While I have been absent from my home town for over 40 years, this tourist promotion makes me homesick. Because, while Akaroa exudes all the French charm of those early French settlers,central Christchurch was a British colony settled by a majority of English settlers and exudes the English influence - the artistic and cultural mix of neo-Gothic buildings and impressive architecture,the many schools and colleges and Canterbury University; unique hideaway alleys, and a fascinating myriad of cafes and bars; the Botanic gardens, the Canterbury Museum; the Port Hills and the Bridal path taken over the hills by the first settlers; and the ocean beaches at New Brighton, South Brighton and Sumner; the acres and acres of parklands, sports fields, the twin rivers; live theatre and gondolas, and so much more...even Banks Peninsular itself, with the Port Of Lyttleton paramount (where My Swedish ancestors landed in 1873) and the many bays and inlets, islands, and the boats and yachts, the fishing. I could go on and on, and I'm not employed in the tourist industry.

Author: Air New Zealand and Peter Petterson