Canberra - lots to learn!

We arrived to Canberra - the capital of Australia (crest on the photo left) on Wednesday late afternoon, after driving through the thunderstorm. We stopped on our way at a supermarket and bought steaks and some other condiments. Since we had booked an AirBnB in a modern apartment building, we were lucky and had two rooms, a kitchen, a balcony, and, we were able to wash laundry and to spread out - a welcome respite for two nights!

The steaks (rump steak/porterhouse) were rather small/thin, but taste was fabulous! Tender and juicy, not like ours, and, rather cheap, too! Only around 10 Euro for the two Australian beef steaks, which we served with a salad, a "capsicum dip" (that's how they call bell peppers here) and fresh sourdough bread. Some Hunter Valley Shiraz to go with - what elso could you wish for? – served on the balcony (which is not really idyllic because directed towards the street, but okay).

 

 

Thursday morning, we were awake early, and, after an equally good home-made breakfast with eggs and chorizo, we took the streetcar in front of our door, into town (only about 10 min). It was much cooler today, only around 20 deg C, pretty pleasant, for a change! And it's me, saying that!

Arrived to downtown Canberra and noticed lots of construction going on, due to a planned extension of the streetcar line. Told beforehand: Canberra is not a destination for your "average tourist". If you are not interested in history, politics, art and architecture, don't go there! The city itself is not highly attractive, and, very spread out. 

Canberra is the capital of Australia and the main city of the Australian Capital Territory, one of six states in Australia. Founded after the colonies of Australia decided to form a federation in 1901, Canberra (470,000 pop.)  became the official seat of the Government – a compromise between Sydney and Melbourne. It wa splanned by American architects Walter and Marion Griffin from Chicago.

It's a government town, with lots of state institutions and offices, military organisations (Defence Force), foreign embassies and other government-related companies and organisations. Rather sterile. Main attraction is the National Triangle with all its museums and "political sights". First we went to the Visitor Center with the National Capital Exhibition (left, above) to get an introduction and directions. Interesting! We went on, but had underestimated the distances. Boy, it was quite a bit of a walk between the different sights and museums on the Triangle!

National Library was next (with exhibitions there, too) - photo below -, then on to the National Portrait Gallery (further below). 

Skipped the National Gallery and went on to the Old Parliament House (1927),  a beautiful building, nowadays seat of the Museum of Australian Democracy with highly interesting exhibitions and well-maintained original features of the former parliament house.

 Nearby the Parliament Gardens, with a beautiful rose garden:

,,, and on to the new Parliament Building:

The new Parliament House opened in 1988, with Queen Elizabeth being present for the opening, and it's huge: 300 m large and 300 m wide, huge with 4.500 rooms! A lego modell (below) shows the dimensions. We peeked in the House of Reps (eucalyptus green, below) and the Senate (red-soil-colored, above), checked the exhibitions and climbed on the roof for the views (which were blurred because of the clouds).

 

View from the roof:

Fortunately, feet tired, we found a bus to bring us to the National Museum of Australia, passing the large campus of the Australian National University (ANU). Next stop: The National Museum of Australia (left), another huge architecturally interesting complex with heaps of information about the Australian history, culture, industry, flora and fauna. All a bit overwhelming and not too clearly structured, but, nevertheless, a good source of information. Brain is rotating now,,, so much new and interesting to learn and see!

Above a Holden car, one of the only cars produced in Australia. Very sturdy and solid!

Saltwater crocodile -highly dangerous!

End of the day in downtown Canberra - guess where? At one of two local breweries, "Bent Spoke Brewing Company", packed with office people at Happy Hour. We had a "Feierabendbier" (after-work drink) and walked to the streetcar stop and back to the apartment from there. Dinner was a rather simple affair with leftovers from yesterday.