Day 1 Canberra
I thought the lap top was staying home but some urgent buisness deal with some African country came up for Mr Flamingo so lap top came along for the "holiday",
We were in Canberra by 10.30 am after an 8.30 flight. We couldn't get into our room until 1pm so set off to see some sights. Headed to Parliament House only to find a throng of people outside for some celebration. Armed with camera we actually elbowed our way into the press area and started snapping. We had no idea what was happening until the speeches started and it turned out that today was the 20th anniversary of the opening of our "new" Parliament house and so they were marking the event with more of a media event than anything. The Leaders of the Senate and the House of Representatives both made speeches and there was the traditional aboriginal dance so it was quite fun for awhile. We felt very West Wing! No sign of the Prime Minister though...buit there is still tomorrow.
In the afternoon we went to the War Memorial. It was incredibly moving to see all the names of our fallen from all the conflicts we have been involved in. So sad to see how many people have been killed needlessly. Many of the names have little red poppies placed next to their names, and that made me so sad. Families who remembered someone. We went up the the chapel like memorial to the fallen soldier which is just absolutely beautiful with mosaic murals and stained glass windows. I felt very emotional in there.
I also got really angry. A group of Japanese tourists realised that there was an echo in there so they started made a very loud noise just to hear the echo. This went on for some 5 or so minutes. It was horrible. So disrespectful. I would like to think I am not racist but in that moment I would say I failed the test. I was disgusted by their thoughtless behaviour in such a solemn place, especially as a number of those fallen were killed in fighting their nation. I must say that I did say in a rather loud voice to my husband that I was VERY ANGRY that anyone could be so thoughtless and insensitive in such a beautiful place. It is our memorial. I would respect your memorials should I be in your country, Culturally stupid. Once they left everyone else there just fell into complete silence and it was the most moving moment.
After that it was almost dusk so we drove to the top of Mt Ainsley which overlooks Canberra and stopped at the scenic lookout, It was breathtaking. Canberra is a purpose built and well planned capital city and there are vistas aplenty to be seen. It was lovely.
We were up at 4.30 this morning to have time to drive to the airport etc so by dinner time we were both fading fast, which meant a minor disagreement over where and what we would have for dinner. We finally sorted that out and I ended up with a lovely seafood crepe. Now we are back in our room and I am about to sleep the sleep of the once were innocent, and dream of tomorrow - the Turner to Monet exhibition, a visit to old parliament house, a cruise on Lake Burley Griffin and whatever else we can slip in.
Our room is very 1930s style - even has a very old 1930s style radio (we think an oriiginal) not sure if it works but will try soon. There are lovely gardens and I caught sight of what looks like some sort of grecian style garden folly from the window that I will have to investigate tomorrow.
So we are having fun. Exhausted, but smiling. Feet hurt. Will have photos soon I promise.
Canberra - nice place to visit, not sure I would want to live here though. You can feel the lethary and dullness pouring out of its every pore, despite its importance. Very beautiful city and yet strangely it comes across as a lumbering little city.
More tomorrow.
And thank you to everyone who has been so kind to me lately. I have been a grumpy old woman and I do apologise. I can be so self-centered at times, It is awful when I think what big problems some of you are dealing with in your lives. So thank you for being kind. I don't deserve such wonderful friends, You have all made my world so full, thank you!.
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I am glad that you got to the War Memorial - I was surprised that it was not on the list you posted of things you were going to see. It is a very solemn place. My daughter and I spent ages on the walls looking for some relatives names and then photographing them. It all felt very sad. We were there when they closed for the evening and they have a lone man playing a bag pipe at the end of the pool. It is unbelievably moving.
I agree - I would not want to live there!
I despise inappropriate behavior in places that require respect and dignity. We have seen it in many of our travels, whether to the war memorials in Washington DC, or the Pearl Harbor memorial in Hawaii. It never fails to take me by surprise each time it happens, that people can be so thoughtless and stupid in the presence of overwhelming sacrifices that others have made for them.
Please enjoy the Turner to Monet exhibit. I can imagine it is Outstanding.
Per MapQuest, Canberra is southwest of Sydney, probably by 100 miles or so. It's in southeastern Australia. Looking at a map, it's actually situated almost exactly halfway between Melbourne and Sydney. If I remember right, it's the capital city of Australia as a whole.
Here, in the United States, at our nation's capital, Washington D.C., we have a memorial to our unknown soldiers called the Tomb of the Unknowns. Soldiers from The Old Guard guard the tomb 24/7. Changing of the guard occurs every half-hour, hour, or two hours, depending on the season and time of day. Changing of the guard is a VERY solemn ceremony that is taken VERY seriously by those who guard the Tomb of the Unknowns. NO talking amongst the public at large in attendence of the changing of the guard is tolerated... at all. I was at a changing of the guard ceremony in the 80's, and someone was chattering throughout, and one of the guards barked, "There is to be NO talking during the changing of the guard!", or something to that effect, and if I remember right, the changing of the guard didn't proceed until it was silent once again. It's a serious process... the changing of the guard... and rightfully so. These people gave their lives for the protection of our country, and deserve our respect, in my opinion.
ANYWAY... You can learn more about the Tomb of the Unknowns by clicking on the preceding Wikipedia link. I also found some information about the Australian War Memorial at Wikipedia also... including a more official link to the Australian War Memorial
Turner to Monet was FANTASTIC. They also exhibited a few Van Gogh - and many many other romantic and impressionist painters. It was incredible. Just by adding a slightly thicker layer of paint with one brush stroke can bring the ainting to life....I checked more than one painting out mutliple times. The exhibition closes in May and has had over 100,000 visitors so far, many flying in from all parts of Australia (like us!).
wasn't that one reason for the war of independence?
The amazing thing is that most Americans don't realise that this is the case - hence the number plates to get tourists attention. I believe that when Bill Clinton drove out of the White House for the last time he had one of these numberplates on his car.