Captains Log. Star Date: 25.07.05 What is most people's response when you tell them you are going to Canberra for the weekend? I'll tell you! Its, "why??????" (accompanied by a rather pained look on their face!) What is my response? "Because I want to go and see how bad it is for myself!!!" So...after some inscessant nagging and pleading (didn't quite have to resort to bribing but was prepared to do so!!) I managed to talk Emma into coming with me (and Trev) and we hired a car to get there... The hire car dad...was a 1.8, it was really nice to drive, although perhaps a bit too easy to speed in, as I found out when the speed camera flashed at me D'oh!(we shall wait and see if a fine comes thru!!!) Its a 3hr drive down from Sydney, and it was dark by the time we arrived, after driving around Canberra, and over the bridge, oh I dont know, maybe 30 times, we found the hostel and went to bed ready for a fun packed weekend in the nations capital! :) So, Canberra... its another place in Australia that I would describe as 'quaint' although its just on a bigger scale than the small towns I've visited. Another word that springs to mind is "cold". Brrrrrr, frost in the mornings for the first time since I've been in the country came as quite a shock to the system! We went to Old Parliament, which is no longer used by the politicians, as it became too small and subsequently New Parlliament was built. Inside Old Parliament I had a look in the House of representatives and the senate, both pretty old skool with dark leather seats...found the old office of the prime minister, and snuck behind the barriers to have a little sit in his seat... Wandered into the National Portrait Gallery (inside Old Parliament) and managed to get a sneaky pic of Kylie's dress before being told off for doing so (hence it's blurry!) and then managed to set off an alarm by one of the paintings, although I swear I didn't touch it!! Didn't stay much longer after that, as had pretty much seen all there is to see in Old Parliament! New Parliament, is a much bigger building, built in the 80's to fit in the ever increasing number of politicians, it's a really cool designed building, there are two grass verges on either side, that actually sit over parliament. And although most of it is actually underground the design of the building incorporates alot of natural light using sky lights etc. We did a tour of New Parliament, (on a side note- during the tour, there was a family which included a little girl of around 6yrs old, who felt it neccessary to stare at me for inappropriate amounts of time which was funny to start with but actually freaked me out after a while!) and found out some interesting facts, such as the "EMERGENCY EXIT" lights in the Senate house are the only red ones in the country, and had to have a special law passed to make them legal (so they would match the red room). The house of representatives and senate were much 'newer' looking, didn't have leather seats and were paler in colour than those in Old Parliament, and therefore, in my opinion, less 'regal' or 'important' feeling. Then onto the Australian War Memorial, which was a huge museum dedicated to all the wars since the First World War and the Australian soldiers involved in them. It was really well done, and left me feeling quite somber and reflective afterwards. For the evening we found a bar that served food and had some dinner, I don't know how I do it, but somehow it seems, I manage to find myslef in bar's with really bad cover bands/ singers more often than I feel is fair! This band had an average age of 35/40 and the lead singer (whilst playing a wooden block, I kid you NOT!) actually thought he was a rock star! The only possible thing for us to do was get lashed, so thats what we did!! Sunday, after a nice strong cup of tea to nurse self inflicted headaches, we went to the National Gallery of Australia, which was my personal favourite of all the things we did. Saw some awesome aboriginal art plus some real life Monet's, and many more pieces and sculptures inside. Venturing into the Sculpture Garden provided some good photo oppertunities. We had managed to navigate the roads in Canberra well by this time (don't be mislead by the lies in the guides around Canberra that claim it is "easy to get around" and "well-ordered" or that the attractions are "so close to eachother it's easy to walk around"!) and we had developed a special fondness for the bridge, which we drove over numerous times!! Then it was time to bid adeiu to Canberra and the cold weather and make the road trip back to Sydney... managed not to be flashed by speed cameras on the way home so two enthusiatic thumbs up for that! All in all, a cool weekend, glad I checked out Canberra for myslef and although I wouldn't want to live there, or visit again (as I've seen all it has to offer now) I've done it now so I can shut up about going. If anyone tells me they are off to Canberra for the weekend I will no doubt respond by asking them "why?????" with a somewhat pained look on my face, and warn them of the speed cameras on the way! : ) Over and out xxx